Premier slams Hon Malone over statements about 'coup' in VI
While Hon Malone was a guest on the August 11, 2022, episode of ‘The Narrative’ talk show with host Calistra Farrier on the VI and other current matters in the territory, he was asked about the state of politics in the VI.
He responded, “Right now it's been clouded with this Commission of Inquiry because, at the end of the day, you will recall that after the events of April 28 within a five-day [period], whether it's questionable or not, we were able to… form a coup, for lack of a better word.”
Calling inaccurate information a disservice to the general public, Dr Wheatley, while not naming the legislator, slammed the statements.
“I was highly disappointed recently to hear persons on the airwaves just last week saying that the current reform process is the product of a coup here in the Virgin Islands, that brought the Government of National Unity to power,” Dr Wheatley stated during a press conference today, August 26, 2022.
Coup statements 'blatantly false'- Dr Wheatley
Dr Wheatley continued, “This is blatantly false, and spreading such falsehoods is completely irresponsible and self-serving. To be clear, the Virgin Islands Party Congress in early May elected me the Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party. I am the leader of the Virgin Islands Party,” he said.
The Premier then detailed that elected members of the Virgin Islands Party, all of the elected members of the National Democratic Party and the elected members of the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement then indicated they supported him as the leader of the Government of National Unity at its formation.
“No coup has occurred in the Virgin Islands and it is important that persons not spread such falsehoods, which is highly irresponsible, especially by persons in elected office,” he said.
With the Government of the Virgin Islands and the Opposition, along with the people, against direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK), the Government and Opposition announced a coalition government on May 4, 2022, with the hope of staving off UK direct rule over the findings of the 2021 Commission of Inquiry in the Virgin Islands.
