The Premier was at the time speaking during a Friday, September 23, 2022, press briefing on current matters.

While addressing a question on whether elections will come, Dr Wheatley said: "I'm not quite sure why there is some uncertainty about whether there will be elections, elections will be constitutionally due in 2023, and so the constitution outlines when we will have elections by," he added.

Local social commentators like Claude O. Skelton-Cline have complained that no heavy campaigning has not yet started for the elections expected in 2023.

Speaking on Political, Dr Kedrick D. Pickering contesting the 2023 elections as an At-Large candidate, Dr Wheateley said everyone has a democratic right to run and the choice is for the people of the seventh district to elect.

Everyone has a democratic right to run - Dr Wheatley

Speaking on former Deputy Premier Dr Kedrick D. Pickering contesting the 2023 elections as an At-Large candidate, Dr Wheatley said everyone has a democratic right to run and the choice is for the people of the Seventh District to elect.

Dr Pickering announced at a public meeting in Long Look on September 23, 2022, that he was not running for the Seventh District seat, which he previously held for 20 years.

"Everyone who has the desire to serve the people of the Virgin Islands and they want to make a positive change for the territory, it's their democratic right to run," Premier Wheatley stated.

"I am also going to exercise my democratic right because of course I have a lot more that I want to contribute to the people of the Virgin Islands and the choice is really for the people of the Seventh District, whether they elect me or not, I will certainly work for them and I hope that they will give me their support," the Premier detailed.