The Premier in a statement on Monday, February 20, 2023, said the UK Government had to be persuaded not to impose direct rule in the period following the sudden release of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) Report on April 30, 2022.

The Premier added that it was the UK Minister for Overseas Territories, Amanda A. Milling, who traveled to the Virgin Islands for crisis talks and made it abundantly clear before she left the Territory that she needed an initial commitment by the Government to implement the CoI Report recommendations, except A1, because there was very little to time to make a case to UK Ministers not to immediately suspend the constitution.

Focus on preventing suspension of the VI constitution

“It is extremely important for the public to know that from the first day of Minister Milling’s visit, right up until the departure of her advisors at the end of that week, that discussions had been ongoing between the government and officials from the Virgin Islands and UK to persuade the UK not to immediately suspend the constitution. The Government of National Unity was sworn in on 5th May and these discussions continued thereafter,” he said.

Dr Wheatley said the VI was asked to submit a proposal on implementation of the CoI Report Recommendations under 'continued democratic governance' by May 6, 2022, which posed a big challenge due to time constraints.

"In fact, in developing the Framework for Implementation of the COI Report Recommendations and Other Reforms, the UK insisted on including a provision on no early elections. In the final framework document agreed between the Virgin Islands and UK, you can find this provision on page 3 under the section on Cabinet. This is also another reason I am disappointed by the Governor’s statement that there was an option to go to the polls during the crisis," Dr Wheatley stated.

The Premier's statement came in response to a statement made by the Governor on February 14, 2023, that it would have been possible for a dissolution of the House of Assembly and a new election called; however, members of the House of Assembly chose to form a Government of National Unity and committed to the implementation of the COI recommendations.

The Governor made the claims following questions from a reporter.

Premier Wheatley said members of the VI community were too quick to give the Governor the benefit of the doubt after his comments and to call judgment on the Government of National Unity for their own personal reasons.

Unity Gov't was welcomed by UK - Premier Wheatley

"Ladies and gentlemen, I want to be clear. The Government of National Unity comprised of the elected representatives of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP), National Democratic Party (NDP), and Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) came together to save democracy in this Territory, which our fore-parents worked so hard to achieve."

He hinted that rather than elections, the formation of the Government was welcomed by the UK and seen as the best option to deliver the implementation of the COI Report recommendations through collective responsibility by all the major political parties.