Anti-Kartel gov’t ministers urged to back Opposition
Following news that two government legislators have voiced disapproval of dancehall artist Vybz Kartel’s upcoming performance in the BVI—an initiative reportedly endorsed by Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley—a member of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition has called on those legislators to support the Opposition’s vote of no confidence against the Premier later this month.
Vybz Kartel, whose given name is Adidja Palmer, is officially contracted to perform in the BVI in March 2025. Deputy Premier Lorna Smith and Communications Minister Kye Rymer have both publicly expressed their disapproval of this engagement.
In light of their public disapproval, Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn has urged them to support the Opposition’s campaign.
“I heard information that two ministers of government had spoken out against the Vybz Kartel show—the same ministers who vehemently stood up and defended the Premier. They defended him about the million-dollar loss that we had in the Music Fest, the same ministers who defended him about the 20 million dollar underestimation. Although I think the blame squarely belongs to him,” Walwyn said to ZBVI on Friday, October 4.
“I’m glad that they’ve spoken out now on this particular matter. On October 18, the vote of no confidence that was filed by the Opposition will be heard, and I hope the two ministers who spoke out will do what is right,” the Sixth District Representative added. “I urge the two ministers to think about their country and make sure that they hold their Premier accountable and support the vote of no confidence,” Walwyn stated.
There is information circulating that Premier Wheatley was integrally involved in plans to bring the Jamaican artist to perform in the BVI. Both Smith and Rymer indicated that they do not believe it is the right time for the government to engage in such initiatives.
They suggested that it would be a gross misuse of government resources, as the territory has more pressing matters at hand.
Walwyn echoed this sentiment, stating it would be disrespectful to residents who are currently struggling to keep food on the table and facing unemployment. He also noted that the territory is experiencing severe water supply issues.
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Myron is a very strategic politician. When I heard him speaking on ZBVI I took a smile. It was a brilliant political play. With all the failings caused by the Hon. Premier coupled with this latest fiasco, it will put these two, Hon. Smith and Hon. Rymer in a very precarious situation during the vote of no confidence especially since they cannot get the resources that they need to carry out some of their duties that are far more important and urgent than another party. If they support the Premier then they will come off as very disingenuous.
What happened to a once-promising figure on the BVI political scene? The Honorable gentleman had what many would consider the perfect combination for leadership—intellectual heft as an attorney and practical business experience as a successful entrepreneur. This made him the ideal candidate to navigate the complexities of government and apply real-world solutions. He even maintained the support of the public, despite being indicted, which suggests that people saw him as someone who genuinely fights for their interests.
But despite these strengths, he struggled to lead the National Democratic Party after being made Chairman. What followed was a political mutiny, the likes of which we have never seen in BVI politics. Now, he’s watching others, whom he likely sees as less qualified, gaining the support of the NDP leadership. It’s not hard to imagine the frustration this must bring.
That frustration appears to be driving his current behavior—constantly calling for resignations or defections whenever he spots a perceived weakness in VIP leadership. The problem is, this doesn’t show strength. Instead, it makes him look like he’s more focused on political maneuvering than on careful, systematic problem-solving. Ironically, this might validate the NDP leadership’s view that, despite his qualifications, he lacks the skills to lead effectively.
Now, he’s asking VIP members to jump ship and join a party that still looks dysfunctional and divided. But the time to build cohesion was right after the election, that was the time to demonstrate that as a Party NDP was ready to lead.
You have made some good points but let us not re-write history here! Hon. Walwyn’s inability to lead the NDP to victory at the polls as Chairman in 2019 was a well orchestrated hit from within his own camp. There is no way he could win an election with the emergence of PVIM which essentially split the NDP base thereby assuring a VIP victory. Myron, with all the baggage he may have is still by far the most suitable person in HOA at this time to lead the Territory and I say it without hesitation. The other members are jokers and are just happy to be in power, they have nothing to offer this territory and have never lead anything in their lives. Myron has a decent record as an elected official and has shown taht he can lead. The issue is the jealousy and nasty behavior of many who at the time preferred Andrew Fahie/VIP over Myron, despite knowing the risks involved. Now look at where we are just 5 years later.
You are quite right—he is indeed a skilled politician, and perhaps more importantly, he enjoys the support of the people. However, he must learn to dissent in a way that still builds consensus. Continually demonizing the VIP will not get him there; it risks undermining his sincerity. If he truly seeks to form a new coalition party, motivated by the betrayal he felt when his NDP colleagues turned on him during his chairmanship, he will need the support of some of those very same members. What is required is his ability—one we know he possesses—to hold the VIP accountable without alienating its members, or at the very least,alienating their supporters who he will need to succeed.
Comment well noted. The public does not know. But thanks for reminding the sleeping sheep.
As,the next time they awake,another nation could be in full total control,and they all will be begging bread or running off to mother got yah or the US.
This is the same so-called Premier who stood in Church of God of Prophecy Long Look promising God he will do better including for this country. Instead he frolicking with the devil time and time again.
He will learn about mocking God!!
1. Schools need supplies
2. VG still without proper medical assistance
3. No running water for many weeks at time
4. Roads are the pits
This man pushing the UK to take over.
Disagreeing with the Premier does not amount to a vote of “no confidence”. Walwyn and the opposition will have to come better. None of the members of the ruling party is going to dismantle the government and placed themselves in a position where they might get re-elected to the HoA There will exhaust their full political term.
Ban him from coming like what was done with the Dutty Wine man Toney Matheron
Dutty wine man was banned by Ms. Lorna husband
BRING ON THE VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE
Arrested and charged really hungry for power but he will get the same thing he got in 2019
You must be a very sad person to have this kind of ugliness inside of you. Remember when you celebrate in the downfall of other people you are opening the door to invite those same problems into your own life. When things happen to us we like to say it’s somebody else but very often it is our own wicked and nasty minded ways that backfire on us. Myron will be just fine in the name of Jesus.
Given the terrible state of our country the premier has no right to be putting more of our tax money into music festivals.If the promoter can not afford to bring an artist in without government money then he needs to find himself another line of employment .
Where is the accounting for the last music fest?? Guess he is hoping in time we will forget about it.
Was this money given through the government’s new small business grant program or did the premier office just up and blow some more cash on a whim?
Look Tall up guy; we do not support Natalee on anything he’s done to date, but leave this one here alone pal!
Vote him out after – Gaza!
Worl’ Boss to the VI in2025 ️
So the rest of us must suffer just so you could see a big belly man with some skinny foot?
@ @Gaza – we are already suffering so why not have some entertainment in the mean time to alleviate the daily stresses?!?
You don’t have to go to this concert – go bible study that night instead.
So the same Lorna they get vex with and throw out of NDP they looking to help them with their motion of no confidence? Cause Kye not leaving VIP he might very well be their next chairman.
Don’t forget to add that it’s the same Lorna who crossed to give Natalio power and now we are all suffering. You conveniently forgot that part?
… the same Andrew Fahie traits,when someone show you who them be, believe them, Fahie was always choosing to align with criminals, hiring a barge to secure the territory against drug infiltration and refuse the UK coast guard from doing it so his bodies can get through, now come to W* who seem to be on a collision coast with the BVI people aspirations and his conspicuous consumption of travels abroad and party jamming over the needs of the BVI, in health care and roads etc. cost of living where BVI natives are homeless and bank coming down on their homes but that * would not help them, he used the COI as the scape goat, but could allegedly go pay Kartel USD $500,000.00 which is half a million USD. Kartel will then be able to build are bit a new home any part a this world while banks sells hard working underpaid BVI landers homes, and food purchasing power reduce due to inflation, the road that s* is going down is going to lead to the BVI been a ghetto, I would hope a descent lady like Lorna put him over lap and spank him with a no confidence vote, he is sullying the smiths family etiquette in business or government , and likewise kr should exculpate himself to create a more descent narrative of himself to continue in future government by voting in the no confidence…, trust me Fahie use to be stubborn,being on the media back and forth cursing people who objected to him and deep down inside it was a facade he was putting up, W facade had been exposed by his association, the things he does, and no interest in the people, anyway he is an American citizen. Will the people of the BVI treat themselves to a Christmas gift or luck of a new government to turn things around? S had been advised that the millennials votes rule the future aided by marijuana legalization they will become zombies to command, so he is catering to that gallery with all this party jamming concerts, an Antiguan prime minister has been doing that the population while the countries infrastructure goes to ruin and steal virgin beach from lands on barbuda for rich white customer, be careful W don’t turn on anegorda lands, restore BVI to it’s glory by removing that boy from office.
Has anyone googled Vidz Kartel. Do you really want this person in the BVI?????
This man a**i in ALL aspects!
A lawless society will always support slackness. How many of Kartel songs are positive without profanity???
Is this a government concert or is this a yolo promotions concert? If it’s the latter then why is the government footing the bill? Will the government be collecting a portion of the proceeds as an investor or did we just throw away another couple hundred thousand? This is the same issue I had with horse racing government shouldn’t be footing the bill for the operations of a private organization. If they had say Kartel coming for music fest next year and it was being done by BVI tourist board/ festival and fairs committee it wouldn’t have seemed so sketchy.
Luce it is your time to make your mark in the landscape of our country! Cross the floor quietly. You already can’t get anything done with this government and really have no role. You see the nonsense this party premier is doing. Cross the floor and make a stand against this poor leadership. Shift the trajectory of our country Luce! It only takes one small pebble to create a ripple effect! Do it now Luce! For country!
Aug 1, 2024 — Vybz Kartel is a free man. After 13 years behind bars, Vybz — born Adidja Azim Palmer — was released from prison on Wednesday.
vybz kartel trial for the murder of Clive Williams started on 18 November 2013, and on 13 March 2014, he was found guilty by an eleven-member jury (10-1) of the murder of 27-year-old Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams. And Natalio Wheatley thinks this is what the tourist is interested in. I am not against artist coming to the BVI to perform but someone who has been in jail for murder shouldn’t be allowed in the BVI, we use to have standers but with the new VIP government those went out the window.
@James I googled Vidz Kartel And from what I saw he shouldn’t be allowed in the British Virgin Islands, he went to jail for murder I don’t think that anyone with a rap sheet like that should enter the BVI where we have enough murders of our own.
One minute we kicking up against allowing the gay people to marry each other because we a Christian community, next minute we spending tax dollars to bring Vybz Kartel. It’s just crazy how we pick and choose when to remember that we a “Christian Community”
I don’t see what all the back and forth is about. This should not even be a regular conversation, we should be calling for the Premier to resign! If it is true that the Premier has already given $250K of our taxpayer money to fund a one night concert with a Jamaican ‘bad man’ for one entity to profit, this is beyond crazy. What’s all this talk about? If we can prove the money was spent then some sort of action needs to be taken. We sit around and blog/talk too much, this is the worst of the worst. The roads are bad, schools re in bad shape lacking resources, basic things such as fans/ac to cool the place is lacking, people can’t take a proper bath for weeks at a time, burning raw garbage down in the west, sewerage issues, major issues and shortages at health facilities and this man, the Minister of Finance takes up $250k quietly and we are just going to blog? 3 days now and he hasn’t said one word which should the disdain he has for the populace.
What message are we sending to our youths? That anything goes in the BVI? No morals whatsoever.
This Spree Mare needs to wheel and come again instead of squandering what we the people worked so hard for.
He need to stop paying them young boys with our
Tax money for them a$$ he worrying about vybes kartel
People in this country would rather see these blessed islands go done the drain than vote a party that have individual who can make a little living difference in the lives of the people in this territory. This is what the deep issues are:
1. Eileen Parsons , Ronnie, help to mash up this country
1. PoWER
2. Hatred for people whose people / roots cannot be traced back three generations on both sides .
3. It has not stopped – It is evident in every decision made
So
Natalio while you take time and destroy the BVI the others badmindness cover their eyes and heart from doing the right thing
We will get a rude awakening. It is not going to be long from
Now
Just rememeber to hold VIP leadership accountable for who is the Premier.They ae not in the news are headlines but they are the ones making the decision on who runs and in what position.
@honestly..thas real talk..
VIP government falls from power over controversial music concert!
Oh wal w the staff of the one particular charter company will never forgive you. we know you have to do your job that they paid you t do but why find clauses to fired hard working workers. Do you those same positions that you make them made redundant are being filled with with the employers relatives who are not your Caribbean brothers and sisters that lost their jobs.
You sound so ridiculous. If people like you cannot contribute sensibly to mature conversations why don’t you stay out of them.
Bring Sean Paul or burna boy and bring back konshen. Let Kartel get back to him old self first. Him not looking like the Kartel we know 13 years ago.
I will not vote for the ouster of Mr. Hon. Walwyn.
As, he has a multitude of gifts and talents to offer my and our country and territory.
Our past Legislators were good, but he represents the/a new generation of training and expertise that these islands needs.
Indeed, he is seemingly sent to propel these small nations forward, yet too many eyes and minds are poisoned against him and the progress he potentially represents. I was
.
My people take the wool off of your eyes, the hatred, biasness, prejudices and small notions out of the heart and forward thinking apparatuses’.
Today, given the state of the world’s economies, the birthing of untraditional political philosophies emerging throughout the world, and given the declining of the countries’ economic, moral and social well-being, the time has come to elect capable minds that will that will be genuinely in tune with and make the correct decisions that will lead this nation forward into a new political paradigm and era.
The lack of any reasonable progress over the last too many years have been seen and witnessed. Such must be or reason and national call for change, positive and intellectual progressive change, whose intent should be to enhance the territory’ and its citizens worth.
We must not continue to blind ourselves to small-minded thinking, family names, friends and small mental capacity leaders. Maneuvering through and gaining the best from the developed world and its leaders require strong, powerful thinkers leaders, yet we continue to elect the ineffectual.
It is time for a real awakening. A new Renaissance in our politics and leadership! If you think you have good abilities to serve, jump in, but don’t jump in and produce nothing while loading your pockets on the sly. That serves no childneedinga note bookor pencil, a full belly or a full scholarship.!
I would like to see this paradigm shift and a new ship steadied and begin moving forward before I leave for my next journey. Let us elect a prepared man in Mr. Walwyn.