Wheatley rejects ‘recall’ proposal: “Wait four years”

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has warned that proposals to add recall provisions to the Virgin Islands constitution could harm governance and political stability.

Recall provisions are legal mechanisms that allow voters to remove underperforming politicians from office before their term ends, typically through a petition or referendum.

Speaking in the House of Assembly during debate on the Constitutional Review Commission’s report, Dr Wheatley argued that such provisions would encourage short-term reactions rather than long-term planning.

“If you want to be able to govern properly, you can’t have an election every second,” Premier Wheatley stated.

The Premier explained that the current four-year electoral cycle already presents challenges for leaders seeking to carry out their programmes. He cautioned that recall measures could undermine the ability of governments to deliver on their promises.

“Four years is already a short period of time. And if we seek to introduce things to the electorate that will not allow them to take a broad view of your performance, and there are knee-jerk reactions to every decision, especially as we have a media and an opposition who may be particularly good at painting you bad, anything could happen,” Dr Wheatley argued.

He urged residents to use the general election to hold leaders accountable, rather than pushing for recall options. “Wait four years and then make a decision whether you want to continue or whether you want to go in a different direction,” he insisted.

The Constitutional Review Commission was set up in 2022 to consider reforms following the Commission of Inquiry into governance and corruption risks. Public consultations across the islands led to recommendations on term limits, the structure of government, and the possible inclusion of recall provisions.

Some residents expressed support for recall mechanisms, saying they would give voters more power to remove ineffective representatives before their term ends. However, others, including Dr Wheatley, have argued that the move could create instability and hinder development.

Debates surrounding recall and term limits reflect broader concerns about accountability and public trust in government. Critics of the recall idea fear it could be used for political vendettas, while supporters see it as a safeguard against poor leadership.

Dr Wheatley told the House that the BVI must address its challenges through stronger democratic practices rather than constitutional fixes that risk undermining stability. “Most of these manifestos you could never even accomplish in four years, much less trying to evaluate somebody after a year or two years,” he suggested.

The report of the Constitutional Review Commission now moves to the committee stage, where legislators will decide which recommendations to adopt before formal talks with the United Kingdom.