16 members of Constitutional Review Commission Named!
The 16 commissioners of the Constitutional Review Commission have been named and approved by Cabinet despite staunch opposition by some government members regarding two of the three persons nominated by the Governor.
During a press conference earlier this morning, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said the members of the review team include Lisa Penn-Lettsome, Chairman; Janice Stoutt, Deputy Chairman; Dr Charles Wheatley; Ronnie Skelton; Bernadine Louis; Reverend Dr Melvin A. Turnbull; Dr Benedicta Samuels; Dr Steve Lennard; Maya Barry; Sendrick Chinnery; Ms Noni Georges; Coy Levans; Rajah A. Smith; Sir Dennis Byron; Tanya Cassie-Parker; and Ms Susan Demers.
The Premier said he would not name the two members Cabinet opposed but he said the reasons behind the opposition were that the members were nominated by Governor John Rankin and some Cabinet members believed they did not represent the best interest of Virgin Islanders.
Compromise to avoid stalemate
Nonetheless, Dr Wheatley said the proposed framework the government agreed to indicated the Governor and the Premier would have joint powers in reconsidering members of the Commission Review Committee as opposed to the Governor having sole authority as recommended by the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report.
“Now, I am pleased that most of the committee that was in place remains intact. That certainly is a victory as they are persons of quality. We have been able to add other persons of quality. Now there are persons who have very passionate views that the Governor should not be involved in the process. We made those very strong representations in Cabinet over several days, and we did not reach an agreement until late last night,” Dr Wheatley said.
“The concerns of the people who have raised objections are valid and must be respected but, in the end, given the fact that the Governor and the Premier had to agree and for us not to be at a stalemate, it was important for us to move forward. We believe the persons in place on the committee can get the job done and certainly while many persons are not pleased and are not happy, it does not mean we cannot accomplish the goal that we have set out to accomplish,” the Premier added.
Dr Wheatley said people brought up personal experiences they had with some of the individuals as well as how they believe the members regarded and treated Virgin Islanders
“Very strong statements were made regarding the two persons. I won’t repeat those because I am very careful about how we characterise people especially if they do not have the opportunity to defend themselves. So, I’ll just let it be known that persons had very strong feelings about the fact that they were nominees by the Governor but also, they believe they behaved in various settings and how persons believe they regarded Virgin Islanders,” the Premier said.
“I don’t personally know the persons; I can only bring to the Governor’s attention what persons have said and as the framework has stated and we have agreed to. The Premier and the Governor must agree, and the Governor of course was quite satisfied with his picks and even though many people didn’t disagree with it, we had to find a way forward,” he continued.
Governor satisfied
Meanwhile, Governor Rankin said he was satisfied that all the people on the committee, including those he nominated, are honourable individuals who can contribute to the diversity of the committee. He added he believes they will be experienced in their deliberations.
“I have no evidence to suggest they would do anything to the country and of course as it happens, all the members of the committee are Belongers of the BVI,” Rankin said.
When asked if he was disregarding the people’s view by approving the two members that had opposition to their appointment, the Governor noted he was happy to accept all members put forward by the government.
“I was happy to accept thirteen of those, I don’t believe that my making of some additional suggestions suggests a high-handed approach by the governor. I believe these people will contribute constructively to the debate. I believe it is very important that the commission represents the people of the Virgin Islands on a whole and believe that the committee that has been agreed to will do so,” Rankin said.
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Looks like Sir D Byron and S Demers
I think its the last two names on the list.
Disappointed that a son selected his parent to sit on the board. Sadly lacking in transparency.
And do it goes in the BVI. Only politicians and the ruling families have a say. That is the main intent of Belongership. BVI=Apartheid. Racist to the core!!
Can’t blame them. There are only so many that can read and write. Can’t review the constitution if you can’t read.
Haul your salty a$$!!! You are probably vexed because you do not have Belongership status. BVI has nothing even close to South Africa and how dare you compare to say BVI practices apartheid. Your
‘narrative’ is BS!
Its not being a Belonger that defines the ruling elite. There are 13,000 or so belongers. Its the 2000 or so members of the 12 families. This committee will design a system intended to keep themselves in power and wealth at the expense of the rest. The two members they oppose will be the ones who are not part of the club.
So-called elites are present in every part of the globe whether it be big nations or small island states. Complain all you want but that elitism is not going away anytime soon whether it be BVI or elsewhere.
Whoever government opposes is exactly who needs to be on the committee, especially because quite a few of these are either family members and/or political cronies.
You have to give Julian Fraser his props. He is always looking out for his boy Rajah.
But seriously what does smith bring to the table
These mo mo Cindy should have been there!
Cindy’s protest came across as pathetic.
Even worse, she pretended to be a journalist to gain access to the press conference to push her agenda. That’s not journalism, it’s fraud.
So two of the governor recommendations are qualified professional attorney over the elite government family and friends pick and everyone is in an uproar why. We really in a sad state of affairs in the Bvi. 16 people on the committee not the one person everyone seems to have an issue with making decisions. Her alleged remarks are remarks other born here Virgin Islanders also shared. The BVI at this stage is so full of hate for a supposed God fearing nation. I cry for my country. If the elites don’t get to have an input in everything it is a problem and this is why we are in this mess.
We keep recycling the same set of people on everything with a country full of intelligent people. If the people of the BVi don’t repent and turn to God he is not please with the level of division and hatred portrayed by us as a people.
Clearly you do not have interaction or know first hand anything about these two individuals
I do know Ms Demers. We could not have a better choice sitting on the the review. An eminent jurist.
You make a lot of sense except that the majority of the BVI have jo fear of God.
You got some calling themselves Soldier for God but not obeying God’s laws instead living for the world.
A lot of people don’t take God seriously and use His name for their selfish ambitions.
James 4:4 Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
I hope you are the first to repent.
Those people on the morning Radio make me sick. No wonder Pope don’t call no more..It’s all about their personal insecurities . Mr Governor ignore them, you have the support of the masses, the majority.. How did we get here.? Let them answer that..
Looks like they dropped the ball.
EXACTLY!!!!!!!!
Mitch nominated his daddy. Imagine that…these people have learnt nothing from the COI!!!!
Plus Janice Stoutt is the Deputy Governor’s mother.
Rajah Smith was campaigning with Fraser.
What are they drinking that have them acting so moomooish?
Not to impress with the two nomination by John ranking shame on him
Clearly there seem to be a shortage in the name pool. With the exception of the two nominated by the governor – Is there anyone else on this committee qualified enough to be there. What do they know of Constitutional Law. Really, is this the best that we can do. Must be give them the rope to hang themselves – because that is all that is going to be achieved with this committee.
Congrats you win the award for most foolish or uninformed comment! Is it that you believe that only the Governor is capable of nominating suitable nominees or is it that you have simply not taken the time to research any of the others? In asking this question, I note the said nominees which include several very senior lawyers in the BVI and a former Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Court and President of the Caribbean Court of Justice in the person of Sir Dennis Byron, who is not a Belonger but is an eminent Caribbean jurist who has also worked in other parts of the world and will bring vast knowledge and experience to what is a well balanced, experienced and knowledgeable committee. I wish them well.
That’s an old, old man had his time. Nothing to show. Time to move on and find new blood,People in the present, people in the know. If it was an open voting process for members I would have voted for Sandra Potter Warrickhan.From ZBVI Radio. Good reasonable lady.
Divide And Conquer
All this name calling and finger pointing is creating more division in the country . How would the Jamacians who are belongers living amongst us feel after knowing an entire Government body was against Tamal pick?How would other National who are giving of their best to the community they now call home feel? Can 13 members outweigh two voices ? There are so many angles to look at what is happening. The BVI is Heading down a bad slope and look at the Precedence the leaders of Govt are setting for a country of multinational society . This is absolutely morally and culturally wrong . The Lord is speaking and we are too blind to see.
Free mason … Lodges … obeah .. forces in high places are undermining the BVI … We have eyes but are still
Blind … ears but still deaf … thank God for the honest praying persons still saving the BVI from more drama
If there was a constitutional review in Jamaica, would Jamaicans allow non-Jamaicans to be on their review committee?? Hmmmm!
@Anonymous, Most of the hate comes from people from other countries and can’t stand the people of the BVI, they hate the BVI people most of them can’t stand us but they live amount us and get status in the BVI. I lessen to some of them, I even had a few who said real nasty things to me about the BVI so I ask if you feel this way about the BVI why are you hare there reply I am hear for the US dollar, I never let on to them that I am from the BVI. On the other hand there are some that love the BVI and always have good things to say. I grew in the BVI without any HATE but in the last 10 years it’s really bad, the Island is too small for this, it’s coming from white and black. If you can’t live with us please leave.
I hear you Bro/Sis!!! I have lived here all my life, went away to school, and returned in the 90s. My observation is that migrants that came here before 1990 were more about interacting and integrating with VI people and looking for new opportunities.
From 2000 come forward the migrants are mostly about the US dollar and obtaining a job letter for onward movement to the US mainland. It is sad how this small Territory is so polarized. Then the same foreigners want to call the BVI and its people xenophobic after allowing them in for a better opportunity. Always complaining and ungrateful! If you do not like a place and its people; then leave already! When people do not get their way or do not make enough of their goal (US Dollar) this is what ends up happening.
How many work permit holders are working side jobs without their sponsored employer’s permission? How much tax are they paying on that side hustle? Work permit holders receiving trade licenses to compete with the employer that sponsored them here in the first place? The SYSTEM needs a full overhaul and proper monitoring!
Having the Governor make recommendations for our constitution is like the USA getting input on their constitution from Russia. The UK wants us to make decisions that are not sensible for a 24 square mile place. We cannot give everybody status. It isn’t discrimination, its for our own survival. Where will we put everybody. The BVI due to its successful economy has seen the population grow from 10,000 to 30,000 in a relatively short span of time and with that came many negative effects on our culture, environment, crime rate etc. Traffic is already a hot mess. They want UK people to be able to vote, run for elections and get automatic rights which does not make any sense for the BVI as some of the smallest cities in the UK have a bigger population that the entire BVI. They can change the whole look of the BVI to be more European than Caribbean with the stroke of a pen.
This is nonsense. There is nothing in the current reform to plan to give everybody status or destroy the BVI way of life. The only reason you’re trying to scare people into thinking this is because you benefit from the old, corrupt way of doing things. We are not falling for it anymore.
Some of you are too xenophobia and don’t understand your rights , your own constitution which governs you , the role the Governor plays and the role of the elected officials (government) instead of teaching it as part of your civic history , some of you busy making plans how to keep down each other your own and plotting others downfall . Crab in the barrel mentality. Say what we all like the fall of the Premier has changed the face of the BVI .
Life will no longer be the same . Blame out former Premier for : greed, being gullible, vindictive, using the Almighty as a cloak …. The chips are falling down . Blame dat
Sorry to burst your bubble but VIslanders are not xenophobic but rather protectionist which is normal throughout the globe. You cannot expect to be King or Queen in another person’s country. We have our issues yes but can do without foreigners in our politics and the direction of our culture.
Sorry to disappoint you, it will take more than that to put us under. if you stop to think, it is not making you leave. If we go under you will go under with us because your life is so much better here than where you came from.
I added the following comments to an article about the composition of the Review Commission on the “Yellow” we site. I’m waiting to see if they publish it. If not, here’s what I said:
“What is clear from the article is that (1) Belonger status means nothing to the racist section of the BVI community – unless you are one of what they declare to be “indigenous” people, then birth or legal status are irrelevant; and (2) this journalistic outlet V*** is happy to print unsubstantiated slander and attempt to hide behind saying that they have not substantiated the comments. What S**T. If a comment has not been substantiated then professional journalists don’t print it. V*** is peddling hatred and division for its own ends.”