It is highly unlikely that an election will be called in the territory within the upcoming weeks following Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley’s statement that the BVI is not going to have early elections.
Premier Wheatley made the statement in response to a question posed by the media on why he opted to prorogue the House of Assembly in late December as opposed to dissolving the House.
This is against the backdrop that it is mandated by law that the House must be dissolved four years following the first sitting of the House of Assembly of a newly elected government, which gives the current government until March 12 to dissolve the House.
Responding to the question, Premier Wheatley said, “In the framework for the implementation of the COI Recommendations and other reforms we committed to doing a full term, a full 4-year term. So of course, the first meeting of the House of Assembly in 2019 was in March, I think March 12th so the House has to dissolve by March 12th.”
“We’re not going to have early elections,” he further said.
The premier was also asked whether he will be leading his Virgin Islands Party into the next general election.
While neither confirming or denying the position he will be taking, he responded, “Media has reported that of course, other parties which were within the Unity Government will be putting forward a slate so the Virgin Islands Party will be no different.”
The next general election in the BVI is due by May 2023.