Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jun 05, 2025

Premier denies D7 neglect, promises ‘greedy bill’ repeal

Premier denies D7 neglect, promises ‘greedy bill’ repeal

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley struck a buoyant tone as he sought to rouse constituents at his campaign launch in the Seventh District last evening, assuring them that despite mistakes made, he remains their best option to deliver on the issues that impact them.
“I have made mistakes and District 7, that ‘greedy bill’ was a mistake… on the first opportunity I have, the first piece of legislation that we will repeal will be that greedy bill,” the Premier promised.

The ‘greedy bill’ is a reference to the Retiring Allowances (Legislative Services) Amendment Act, 2021, a law passed by the Premier’s Virgin Islands Party (VIP) that has received intense backlash from residents over its excesses doled out to lawmakers even when they are voted out of office.

Dr Wheatley and his VIP have been locked in a war of words with members of the National Democratic Party (NDP) since the NDP criticised a section of the so-called greedy bill and promised to repeal those parts of the controversial legislation, if the were elected into government.

But even as he acknowledged the numerous issues that continue to trouble residents and members of his own district — including poor infrastructure, high unemployment, mounting piles of derelict vehicles, and escalating crime — Premier Wheatley denied that he was at fault in any way or that he had been ignoring his constituents and focusing on national issues to their detriment.

The VIP Chairman instead portrayed himself as the problem solver that will fix their ails, arguing that he was well equipped to lead the reformation that will deliver the progress the district desperately needed.

“The challenge is not with your district representative,” Premier Wheatley assured. “The problem is with the system. We are being failed systematically.”

Premier Wheatley shared plans to negotiate with landowners to identify land for a community project, construct new facilities such as a basketball court and playground, address unemployment and infrastructure issues, and establish district councils and awards to encourage community service.

He also mentioned the need for implementation of the National Sustainable Development Plan, completing the various outstanding Commission of Inquiry (COI) reforms, and developing a new constitution.

But in order to deliver on those plans, Dr Wheatley told residents he must be voted in with a majority government. He also assured residents that he will hold his team accountable as he expects to be held accountable once the VIP is re-elected.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
Majority of French Voters View Macron's Presidency as a Failure
Hungary Partners with China to Boost Electric Vehicle Production
‘Vibe Coding’ Emerges as the New DIY Trend
AI Pioneer Yoshua Bengio Warns Models Can Deceive Users
Big Four Firms Rush to Create AI Auditing Systems
Musk’s xAI Pursues $113 Billion Valuation in New Share Sale
Walmart Increases Revenue Despite Shrinking Workforce
Hims & Hers Plans UK and EU Launch of Replica Obesity Drugs
Toyota to Acquire Supplier in $33 Billion Buyout
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
×