Natalio Wheatley

The Honourable
Natalio Wheatley
MHA
Wheatley in 2022
Premier of the British Virgin Islands
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 May 2022
MonarchsElizabeth II
Charles III
GovernorJohn Rankin
Daniel Pruce
Preceded byAndrew Fahie
Deputy Premier of the British Virgin Islands
In office
7 August 2020 – 5 May 2022[1]
MonarchElizabeth II
PremierAndrew Fahie
GovernorAugustus Jaspert
John Rankin
Preceded byCarvin Malone
Succeeded byKye Rymer
In office
6 March 2019 – 6 June 2019
MonarchElizabeth II
PremierAndrew Fahie
GovernorAugustus Jaspert
Preceded byKedrick Pickering
Succeeded byKye Rymer
Personal details
Born (1980-06-02) 2 June 1980 (age 44)
Political partyVirgin Islands Party
Alma materClark Atlanta University
Purdue University
SOAS University of London

Natalio Dixon Wheatley (born 2 June 1980)[2] is a British Virgin Islands politician currently serving as Premier of the British Virgin Islands.[3][4] He is the grandson of former Chief Minister, Willard Wheatley. He has at times expressed a preference to be referred to by his adopted African name, Sowande Uhuru.[5][6]

Political career

Wheatley is from one of the main political families in the British Virgin Islands.[7]

He first ran for election in the 2011 general election for the People's Patriotic Alliance (PPA) as an at-large candidate. He finished 10th in the voting with 798 votes (2.3%).[8] He subsequently ran in the 2015 general election for the People's Empowerment Party (PEP), also as an at large candidate. He finished 11th in the voting with 470 votes (1.3%).[6] He then ran in the 2019 general election for the Virgin Islands Party for the seventh district, and was elected after defeating incumbent Kedrick Pickering with 44.76% of the vote.[9]

He was appointed Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture from 2019.[10][11] He was the acting Premier during the arrest of Andrew Fahie in April 2022 on drug trafficking and money laundering charges in Miami, United States.[7] A Commission of Inquiry into corruption in the British Virgin Islands found that there were "appalling" failures in the islands' governance and a "high likelihood" of serious corruption, with the inquiry recommending the partial suspension of the islands’ constitution and the imposition of direct British rule of the islands for up to two years. He opposes direct rule from London during the crisis.[12][13] On 5 May 2022, he brought a motion of no confidence against his own government for the removal of Andrew Fahie as Premier.[14] The motion was passed unanimously. Wheatley was sworn in as Premier on the same day.[15]

Electoral history

Year District Party Votes Percentage Winning/losing margin Result
2011 At-large People's Patriotic Alliance 798 2.3% -3,424 Lost
2015 At-large People's Empowerment Party 470 1.3% -4,160 Lost
2019 7th District Virgin Islands Party 384 44.8% +46 Won
2023 7th District Virgin Islands Party 487 57.0% +120 Won
Political offices
Preceded by House of Assembly Member, 7th District
2019–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Premier of the British Virgin Islands
2022–present

References

  1. ^ "Deputy Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley Humbled On His Appointment". Government of the Virgin Islands. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  2. ^ "2011 Candidates". BVI Beacon. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  3. ^ "British Virgin Islands names Wheatley new premier after Fahie arrest". Reuters. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  4. ^ "VIP seeks Fahie's resignation! Party backs Wheatley for premiership". BVI News. 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  5. ^ "Sowande Uhuru: "Who is a Virgin Islander"". VINO. 10 September 2021.
  6. ^ a b "VIRGIN ISLANDS 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS – TERRITORIAL DISTRICT RESULTS" (PDF). Government of the Virgin Islands.
  7. ^ a b Stott, Michael (2022-05-01). "British Virgin Islands premier rejects direct rule from London". Financial Times. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
  8. ^ Juliette Penn (31 July 2012). "2011 General Elections Report" (PDF). Government of the Virgin Islands. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Official Final Results Of The 2019 General Election Held On Monday, February 25". Government of the Virgin Islands. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Dr. The Honourable Natalio Wheatley Is Deputy Premier". British Virgin Islands London Office. 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  11. ^ "Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley, MHA | Government of the Virgin Islands". www.bvi.gov.vg. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  12. ^ "British Virgin Islands: UK minister dispatched for governance talks". BBC News. 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  13. ^ "Plan for direct UK rule of British Virgin Islands opposed by acting premier". the Guardian. 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  14. ^ "UPDATE: HoA unanimously passes Resolution to remove Hon Fahie as VI Premier". Virgin Islands News Online. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Dr Wheatley sworn in as Premier! New cross-party gov't also installed". BVINews. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.