Premier Wheatley roasted on radio show for keeping VI in dark over UK Minister visit
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) was put on blast for not keeping the Virgin Islands public in the loop concerning the visit to the Virgin Islands (VI) by United Kingdom (UK) Minister for the Overseas Territories, Lord Frank Zacharias Robin Goldsmith.
24 hours into the visit of Lord Goldsmith, the Virgin Islands public was still in the dark about his visit and his itinerary.
Additionally, the local media was shut out of any meetings with Lord Goldsmith.
A press release on the visit was only published after the VI public and media began to demand information.
Co-host of the Hot Seat, Mr E. Walwyn
Brewley has said Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable
Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has to take full blame for failing to inform
the people of Lord Goldsmith’s arrival in the Virgin Islands and his
itinerary.
Premier put on blast
Premier Wheatley, who has already been accused of not keeping the public informed of pertinent issues and decisions affecting the Virgin Islands, particularly regarding his dealings with the UK, was slammed by co-host of the Hot Seat, Mr E. Walwyn Brewley aka 'GM'.
“The Premier needs to keep the people informed,” Mr Brewley, a former Fourth District Representative, stated on the show broadcast on ZBVI 780 AM on February 1, 2023.
Mr Brewley expressed deep concern about the Premier’s action and was not optimistic that the public would be fully updated on what transpired during the meetings with Lord Goldsmith.
Host of the show Mr Julian Gordon noted that the Governor, John J. Rankin, CMG also knew about the visit of Lord Goldsmith but he was not obligated to update the Virgin Islands public.
“The Premier is who we elect so he should be the one telling us,” Mr Brewley added.
Lord Goldsmith arrived in the Territory on January 31, 2023, and had begun a series of meetings with the UK-appointed Governor and elected officials. He is expected to conclude his visit today, February 2, 2023,
Premier Wheatley was asked by Virgin Islands News Online on February 1, 2023, to share Lord Goldsmith’s itinerary with this news site; however, he did not respond to the request.
Meanwhile, persons in civil society have complained that such a high-level visit from a UK Minister appeared to have been intended to be a secret from the VI public, which they expressed to our news centre as concerning.
24 hours into the visit of Lord Goldsmith the Virgin Islands public was still in the dark about his visit and his itinerary.
