New approach needed regarding candidate selection –Douglas Wheatley
BVI News Staff - Wednesday, March 6th, 2013 at 8:40 AM
Douglas Wheatley
Social Commentator Douglas Wheatley has underscored the need for a new approach to be adopted regarding the assessment and selection of candidates to contest general elections.
Wheatley, who himself unsuccessfully faced the BVI voters as an independent candidate, is the son of the late Chief Minister Willard Wheatley.
Ahead of the elections which are due within the next few years, the social commentator hopes to see improvements in the area of candidate selection.
“We have to adopt a new approach to how we handle things politically, the way we assess candidates. We need to take another look at that… And so I think, from the next election, we will have to be more selective in the persons we get to do these things,” Wheatley said during his ‘Speak Out BVI’ radio programme last evening.
“Sometimes we look for a candidate who perhaps cuts a nice figure and might be a very good businessman and so forth. And we say well, this person would be a good person to be in the legislature; somebody who it is easy to package and that sort of thing.”
Wheatley also indicated that measures should be put in place to ensure persons running for political office are qualified to do so.
“I think what you have to do is to look at the person to see if the person is really qualified to be able to handle matters of government, has a good knowledge, has a good background and that sort of thing.”
He further stated that the BVI should enter the next general elections with candidates being more aware that “the voters are king”.
“I think we should always let them know that they are working for us and we have to have a good interaction between the two parties – the persons who hold the governmental positions and the rest of us the electorate.”
“When we allow the representatives to become leaders over us, then I think we are making a big mistake,” Wheatley continued.
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The unicameral HOA includes 13 members (9 districts, 4 at large) who are elected by the people; the Speaker of House and Attorney General the other two members of the HOA.
BVIslanders did not always have the right and opportunity to cast votes directly for representatives. The general election of November 1950 was the first time that Virgin Islanders had the opportunity to vote directly for representaives. Still they could only vote for 4 members of the 8 member LegCo (2 ex-official, 2 nominated, 4 elected). I.G. Fonseca, H.R. Penn, Carlton deCastro and Brudenell Bruce were the first elected members. It is important to note that during this period that there were hurdles to some Virgin Islanders standing for election. In order to stand for election one had to have 1)income, 2) own property, and 3) put up a deposit. Further, voter qualification included a literacy test.
Clearly, the BVI is leaps and bounds from where it was in the 1950′s. Much has changed socially, politically, economically, culturally and economically. Specifically, the political process and the electorate have matured. Thus, the electorate does not need to be protected from itself; it is highly capable of exercising sound judgement in casting votes for the candidates of its preference. Secondly, there should not be any unnecessary hurdles to qualified Virgin Islanders standing for election.
Ideally, the BVI needs to have the best team in place with the requisite knowledge, skill, knowledge, ability, talent and experience for effective governing. But the electorate is key is forming the team. The selection process may not appear to be perfect. But it is the process that the majority of Virgin Islanders bought into through their duly elected representatives. Further, the electorate role does not end on election day; it has a continual role in holding the government of day responsible and accountable. Every government, especially a new government, will go through the forming, storming, norming and performaning phases yet it needs to be held accountable.
I have reached to the point where I am disgusted with this gentleman. Cant stand to hear him on the radio anymore. Some how he is straying from all the “broughtupcy” or upbringing he had from his mother. He likes to make reference to her all the time, but right now I am sure that he is far from what she taught him. Sorry man!
The bar should be set so that ordinary citizens are not unduly restricted from running for elections. Setting other requirements than those currently in the constitution, benefit a few and unnecessarily restrict the many from running for election. With requirements such as college education, specific work experience…..etc, some of our most effective politicians would not been able to get over the bar yet they represented and represented well.
Further, requiring qualifications that most citizens cannot meet means the HOA will be the abode of a certain class of people. There will not be any mixed representation. And the BVI will hearken back to a time when locals had no representation in Leg. Co. This additional requirements remind me of the Poll Tax in the USA for Blacks.
“Mandating non-constitutional qualifications such as college education, governing experience, business experience…..etc is saying that some citizens have a greater right to run for elections than other citizens. This is akin to George Orwell’s Animal Farm where some animals were deemed more important than others.”
Not mandating all the aforementioned is exactly why our country is in the mess that it is in today and why some of its most fragile social elements such as education continues to be neglected. Many of our present elected representatives neither have the wherewithal nor the moral fibre to make the tough decisions because of lack of a proven track record in business, education or personal enterprises. Mandating that an elected representative have a college education etc is not saying they are better than any other citizen. Competence is needed and sadly we have many ministers in our HOA without college education or proven track record in proper governance. Perhaps if our constitution mandated the aforementioned, the country might not be in the mess that it is now. We are not in the 1960s anymore, this is 2013 the electorate has to demand more from their representative besides flimsy speeches and promises, the future generations deserve better!
What other qualifications save for age, citizenship, residency should be instituted? Doug raised the qualifications issue, but he was light on specifics.
The constitution sets the qualifications as to whom can run for election. And any Virgin Islander meeting these minimal requirements can put him/herself up for election. Then it is up to each “king and queen” voter to cast ballots for the 5 candidates of their choosing. Their choices can be unskilled candidates or highly educated and experienced candidates. The constitution provides them the right and freedom to choose. And no constitutionally-qualified candidate is more qualified or has greater right to run for election for a district seat or at large seat in the HOA than any other qualified citizen.
The HOA is a representative body and it should be a diverse body. The populace has the choice of electing either all business people or lawyers or teachers or just ordinary people. True, the HOA should be comprised of members who can effectively govern, lead and manage the territory affairs. And the electorate thus far has demonstrate that they are capable of meeting the needs.
Mandating non-constitutional qualifications such as college education, governing experience, business experience…..etc is saying that some citizens have a greater right to run for elections than other citizens. This is akin to George Orwell’s Animal Farm where some animals were deemed more important than others.
Further, if one is a member of a party, one agrees to the party’s rules of selecting candidates to run on its platform. And this is different from any citizen regardless of their station in life having the right to run for election, provided he/she is constitutionally qualified. Setting other artificial barriers for running may be elitist. Perhaps, we are trying to solve a non problem, for every 4 years the electorate go the polls to either maintain the encumbered government or elect a new one. And thus far the process has gone smoothly. And though some may not like the people’s choice, that does not mean it was wrong choice.
Totally agree with this line of reasoning
The people decide who they want to run their country. We didn’t want Doug. We don’t want his son who has no accomplishment except that he is Willard Wheatley’s grand son.
We didn’t want Doug. We don’t want his son who has no accomplishment except that he is Willard Wheatley’s grand son.
Rubbish
I agree with Mr Wheatley. He makes valid points.
I don’t care if he or his son runs because they won’t get my vote, but he is making good points. He can be a good advisor.
Adviser to who? Those backward ways cannot serve anybody. He and Edmund should form a party called TSA – Talking Season Alliance.
Doug wheatley is a snake in the grass. We see you putting your son on the radio to profile him and now you’re trying to cut down accomplished people to make him look equivalent. We neither want you or your son to lead our country. Neither of you are Willard Wheatley so knock it off. This country owes you and your son nothing.
Doug you and your son will not cut it. We know what you are up to Mr Wheatley. Stop it. By the way it’s time to catch your ride east end.
Make sure they are not broke or desperate to swing deals…Must be highly educated and sucessfull
Yea right, and if they are rich you will say they are for special interests. There’s no pleasing ignorant fools like you as long as you are not getting money in your pocket.
By the way, tell me how to put a picture as my screen name. For the last few weeks I see you have a picture of your brain as your screen name. How do you do that? Please let me know. Thanks.
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