Ralph O'Neal
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The Honourable Ralph O'Neal OBE |
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O'Neal (right) being appointed as Premier by Governor David Pearey.
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| Premier of the British Virgin Islands | |
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In office 23 August 2007 – 9 November 2011 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor |
David Pearey Inez Archibald (Acting) William Boyd McCleary |
| Preceded by | Orlando Smith (Chief Minister) |
| Succeeded by | Orlando Smith |
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In office 15 May 1995 – 17 June 2003 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor |
Peter Alfred Penfold David Mackilligin Frank Savage Elton Georges (Acting) Tom Macan |
| Preceded by | Hamilton Lavity Stoutt |
| Succeeded by | Orlando Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
15 December 1933 Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands |
| Political party | Virgin Islands Party |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford |
Ralph Telford O'Neal, OBE (born 15 December 1933) is a politician in the British Virgin Islands. He is the longest ever serving elected representative in the British Virgin Islands, and has served as Chief Minister (when the office was so titled) or Premier of the British Virgin Islands for three terms.
Ralph O'Neal was first elected to represent the district for Virgin Gorda and Anegada on 1 September 1975, and he held that seat continuously until the 2015 general election. He is the longest serving elected politician in British Virgin Islands history having served in the House of Assembly and Legislative Council for 39 years, 280 days, and his 10 election victories (including one uncontested) are second only to Lavity Stoutt in the Territory's political history. Ralph O'Neal has indicated that he will stand down at the next general election.
Ralph O'Neal was first appointed as Chief Minister when Lavity Stoutt died in office on 14 May 1995. He then served as Chief Minister until the 1999 general election, which he won. His party would later lose the 2003 general election, but he would return to power as Premier (as the office was renamed) for the third and final time following a landslide victory in the 2007 general election. He remained in office until 7 November 2011, after the Virgin Islands Party lost its majority following the 2011 general election. His combined 12 years as head of the elected Government is the second longest in the British Virgin Islands, behind only Lavity Stoutt.
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