Members of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition have accused Premier Dr. the Hon. Natalio Wheatley of manipulating the parliamentary process to avoid accountability, but they have vowed to reintroduce a Motion of No Confidence in the House of Assembly.
During a press conference on Friday, January 17, Second District Representative Honourable Melvin Turnbull criticized the premier’s actions as undemocratic and disrespectful to the legislature and the people of the Virgin Islands.
He affirmed the Opposition’s commitment to holding the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration accountable, promising the motion’s return despite previous roadblocks.
Leader of the Opposition, Honourable Ronnie Skelton, detailed the setbacks the motion has faced, including its interruption in October 2024, when government members walked out of the House of Assembly, leaving the chamber without a quorum.
Skelton refuted allegations that the premier offered a behind-the-scenes deal to delay the motion in exchange for prioritizing other legislative matters.
The Opposition leader was also asked about his strategies to sway the government’s slim 7-6 majority and he responded with the following.
Meanwhile, Sixth District Representative Honourable Myron Walwyn also joined the criticism, accusing Premier Wheatley of undermining parliamentary norms through tardiness, procedural violations, and alleged efforts to manipulate the legislative agenda.
History of the No Confidence Motion
The Opposition first introduced a Motion of No Confidence in September 2024. However, it was removed from the Order Paper due to procedural errors in filing. It was rescheduled for the Twentieth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly in October 2024 but stalled again when government members walked out, preventing the required quorum.
Despite these setbacks, the Opposition remains resolute in pursuing the motion. They aim to challenge what they view as systemic governance failures under the VIP administration and to hold the premier accountable to the people of the Virgin Islands.