VIP District 8 Candidate Allen Wheatley Will Focus On Residents’ Pressing Problems Over The Next Three Weeks

Many residents in East End, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, yesterday morning heard the moving sounds of a trumpet.

As they drove along the Parham Town, they were pleasantly surprised that the lone musician was Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Eighth Electoral District Candidate Allen Wheatley.

When asked by  jahphixtelevision.com for the reason behind the  roadside music, Wheatley explained that he was “saluting my cousin and constituent who was in the hearse getting his final drive in the Village. I was playing taps.”

On the election front, the VIP politician added that campaigning is “a challenge but (I’m) making progress.”

Wheatley, a former financial secretary in the BVI, plans to spend the last three weeks before election day on April 24 “campaigning in the district. Resolving constituents problems, especially with government in areas such as trade licenses, work permits, immigration time, tax matters, custom duties, crown leases, construction contracts, etc”

He added that he will also be focusing on assisting with the senior citizen programme and  “addressing district problems such as sewerage and getting more attention to the two local schools.”

His company Phoenix Consulting will be adopting the Willard Wheatley Primary School this month, Wheatley revealed.

He is up against National Democratic Party (NDP) incumbent Marlon Penn, a member of the house of assembly since  2011.

Penn is the chairman of the NDP and was the Minister for Health and Social Development in the 2022-2023 Unity Government.

A total of 42 candidates have so far registered with the Office of the Supervisor of Elections – 13 from VIP, nine from NDP and another nine from the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM).

The 11 other candidates are independents or represent smaller parties.

The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) is fielding a full roster of 13 candidates – four territorial at-large and nine district candidates.

VIP other district candidates are Dr Karl Dawson (First District), Marieta Flax-Headley (Second District), Kevin Smith (Third District), Luce Hodge-Smith (Fourth District), Deputy Premier Kye Rymer (Fifth District), Alvera Maduro-Caines (Sixth District), Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley ( Seventh District),  and Vincent Wheatley (Ninth District.)

While the party’s territorial at-large candidates are Neville Smith, Carvin Malone, Sharie De Castro, Zoe J. Walcott.

Nomination Day is April 13.