During a recent press engagement, Premier Dr. The Honourable Natalio Wheatley addressed concerns surrounding the impending election.
When questioned on growing uncertainty in the population on whether the Territory will be proceeding with an election as planned, Wheatley said “I’m not quite sure why there’s uncertainty about whether there will be elections. Elections will be constitutionally due in 2023. The constitution outlines when we have to have elections by”.
In recent times, Talk Show host Claude Skelton Cline and Fourth District Representative the Honourable Mark Vanterpool have publicly aired their concerns surrounding the election, and pointed to an uncanny silence across the political arena as evidence that something might be up.
Some speculate that things could shift gear following the announcement that Former Deputy Premier Dr Kendrick D Pickering intends to contest the election as an At-Large Candidate.
When asked for his views on Pickering’s candidacy, the Premier said that the decision to contest the seat was within the democratic right of anyone “Why has the desire to serve the people of the Virgin Islands” and “Wants to make a positive change for the territory.
As such, Wheatley said that this is a right that he too will act on in the next election.
He told reporters “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 next election is due by May 2023.