BVI Premier dismisses early general elections rumours

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, CMC – Premier of the British Virgin Islands, Dr Natalio Wheatley, has dismissed rumours that his administration could be moving towards holding early general elections. 

General elections are constitutionally due by mid-May, but it has been widely suggested that the polls could be held as early as March.  

With the House of Assembly (HOA) prorogued weeks ago to end its Fourth Session, questions have been raised as to why it was not dissolved instead to facilitate the holding of elections.

But, Wheatley addressed those concerns when questioned by reporters during a recent press conference.

“The first meeting of the House of Assembly in 2019 was in March, I think March 12, so the House has to be dissolved by March 12,” said Wheatley whose reference to 2019 highlighted the last general elections.

“We are not going to have early elections,” he said.

Wheatley further explained that in the framework agreement for the implementation of the Commission of Inquiry recommendations, his government committed to completing a full four-year term.

The Premier also confirmed that he intends to lead his Virgin Islands Party into the elections.

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