‘Alliance’ would drag financial services down the drain — Premier
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley took a thinly veiled swipe at the recently formed opposition ‘Alliance’ during yesterday’s House of Assembly (HOA) sitting, warning that their attempts to halt the House sitting could jeopardise the BVI’s financial services sector.
The ‘Alliance’, a loosely formed coalition of opposition members including Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull, Stacey Mather, and Myron Walwyn, recently announced its intention to foster greater unity among the tripartite opposition members.
The dispute erupted when Turnbull, the Second District Representative, challenged the legality of the sitting, arguing that the government had violated Standing Order 8(1)(d) by failing to provide at least 10 days’ notice to members before the sitting. He was supported by Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn, who claimed that the breach rendered the sitting invalid.
Walwyn also pointed out that Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton previously brought a vote of no confidence against teh government, and this was halted on the basis of a technicality. “You made the ruling that it had to be done a different way because the procedure was not followed,” Walwyn argued.
Severe consequences to BVI’s financial services industry
Premier Wheatley dismissed the Opposition’s argument as an attempt to disrupt government operations at a critical time. He accused them of being “an unhelpful set of members” and suggested their actions could have severe consequences for the financial services industry. “We have a mutual evaluation report. We have the post-observation period that finishes on February 21. The lifeblood of our financial services industry depends on the members of the House being united. And yet we have another example of dividing the House on national issues,” he stated.
The Premier warned that following the Opposition’s approach would put the entire industry at risk. “If we are to abide by what the alliance says, our financial services industry would go down the drain,” he argued.
He also rejected the notion that the sitting should be considered invalid, pointing out that similar sittings had taken place without issue. “We’ve had meetings of this House without providing notice in the past,” he asserted, adding that the standing orders allow for flexibility and the Speaker has the authority to rule on such matters.
Questionable motives?
Premier Wheatley also questioned the motivations behind the Opposition’s move. “I’m not sure what the motivation is in seeking to frustrate our ability to be able to do the work of the people of the Virgin Islands and protect the financial services industry,” he said. He suggested their actions were politically driven and could derail vital work needed before the ‘post-observation’ period ended.
Speaker Corine George-Massicote ultimately ruled that the sitting had been improperly scheduled due to inadequate notice and decided to suspend it. The Premier expressed deep concern over the ruling, stating that postponing the sitting could prevent the government from addressing critical financial services matters before the February 21st deadline.
While the Speaker upheld Turnbull and Walwyn’s position, an agreement was reached to reconvene on Thursday, February 13, to pass the necessary legislative amendments. However, the Opposition insisted that the upcoming sitting also include their long-overdue questions to the government, ensuring a balanced discussion.
With tensions in the House remaining high, the debate over procedural technicalities appears to be another flashpoint in the ongoing political battle between the government and the Opposition.
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Since when is the financial servitude to drug pushers and mafia important above the laws of the BVI, you already hiding the public register of these criminals that the UK is after order in the council, Mitch and Myron and Corrine the speaker is right, it’s all about you natalio Wheatley and not the country, and the s**ke Marlon Penn and Lorna smith sits there salivating at the mouth for that trip to Asia, they don’t care about the country, and Ronnie sounded so docile and lethargic, bravo to the 3 young opposition who decide to step up to do the people work, that’s a brilliant move, and sowandie doom and gloom for the country about if he don’t get to go Asia to meet the mafia’s the BVI financial service is doom give us a break natalio, if only the Ballance of opposition members join with the I-3’s opposition the BVI would be fixed, because they would be able to pull over a vip member to change the government.
All thirteen of you are a DISGRACE – you’re against each other, but for each other, just want to keep making your money, maintain power between the lot of you, pad your nests, and f*ck our country in the process! You guys win, a few of your cronies also benefit, and the rest of us all lose the home we love, down the drain, for decades to come.
Let me get this straight. So Natalio fell asleep at the wheel like he usually does and did not properly schedule the House of Assembly sitting for the very important financial services bills. The Alliance members held his feet to the fire for not following the standing orders. And now they are the ones dragging down the financial services? If these bills were as important as Natalio said isn’t it on him to make sure he follow the rules to get them in on time? He has time to party, be on the radio chatting every minute, up and down traveling and but no time to do his work. Good job Alliance. The team work was brilliant.
The Alliance for the win! I love it.
Ronnie fast asleep. Lorna and Marlon done pack to go on a trip with Natalio. Support the three members who came together. The team work yesterday was good and effective. Give these gentlemen a chance. I believe they could make a difference.
The standing rules aren’t new. That they were all blissfully unaware of the rule of law whilst doing the people’s business should be of offence to all of us.
It is not the Alliance who are dragging Financial Services down. It is You and the Corner Woman who already dragged this Territory down with you all Personal Agendas. This is the lowest this Territory has ever gone. You all are worse than Donald trump when it comes to Leading a territory as small as the BVI. The Alliance has finally seen the Light and needs to act swiftly to remove the Dead Weights so the BVI can finally Breathe again.
Myron say he wasn’t going to let nothing slide from now on and he mean it. Is you like to bring up rules so take rules.
My people please keep your eyes on Marlon and Lorna, going forward, Marlon was the minister of health under the Unity Government, which was formed to ” save the BVI” no input from the people who elected them. Under his leadership Assistance Grant ended up by social developments, simply because he did not want to deall with any controversial issues,Just recently they were about to vote to give children who were born here rights, Marlon stayed home on the day of the vote, it is vey clear he is not a leader.
Lorna you can not say that she is incompetent, but an opportunist, not for the people.
Both penn and Skelton need to just fall back and let Myron carry the team as he is the only one there can do it. How many times Skelton have to mess up before we can all agree he not doing good as opposition leader. Marlon is Marlon and Lorna for whoever making her the best offer.
The Alliance under his skin. I admired the team work yesterday. It was effective. Keep it up guys.
If none of these members control support from their respective parties how will the alliance work? If NDP supporters are with NDP (Marlon) and PVIM supporters are mainly with Ronnie how will this work? Glad to see the younger guys become bold and make moves but the moves need to make practical and political sense.