BVI doing constitutional review with gun to its head!
Fourth District Representative Mark Vanterpool said the BVI is negotiating the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report’s recommendations with a proverbial gun to its head.
Vanterpool insisted that because of this, there should be no negotiations between the BVI and the United Kingdom (UK) regarding a move towards a constitutional review – which forms part of the COI recommendations – until there is no threat of direct UK rule.
Vanterpool was at the time arguing in the House of Assembly (HOA) for a debate over the COI report, which is now expected to take place today, July 19.
While insisting that the BVI was already under direct British rule because of a looming Order in Council in the UK parliament, Vanterpool called the COI report a serious matter.
“We have a Commission of Inquiry that says that we can’t run our own country and we let it go by like that?“ Vanterpool asked.
“If the Governor of the country isn’t satisfied with anything that the Cabinet does or the House does, he has a right to institute the rule right away; without even asking anybody,” the legislator asserted.
“We have to speak up,” Vanterpool argued. “We are going to talk about a constitutional review with a gun to your head by the people who you (the BVI) want the constitutional review against. [Do] you understand that?“
“[We should] leave the constitutional review alone till when we get past this stage. You cannot have a constitutional review to go discuss how we upgrade ourselves in terms of governing ourselves better when the same people who you’re upgrading yourself against have passed a law in the parliament of the United Kingdom to tell us ‘do what we say, or else’,” Vanterpool argued.
He said while there are some residents who believe the territory should go in that direction, that is entirely their prerogative and not for someone else such as the UK to determine.
“Don’t tell me that at this stage in my life, I cannot determine what I think is best for myself and my country, or if we went wrong, we can’t correct right without the help of somebody else. Don’t tell me I can’t do that,” Vanterpool added.
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He is in denial and certainly not speaking from a position of strength. The COI outlines dozens of serious infractions that can’t be swept under the rug. The UK isn’t going to abdicate its authority to enforce the investigations, prosecutions and reform outlined in the 900 page report.
Merky Merk is a very worried sole. The noose be tightening and he squirming. Investigations into the projects he involved with going to cause some serious jail time… Sit quite Merky. Better to be thought a fool then to open your mouth and prove it.
Mark melting down!!!LOL
There will be none, zero, prosecutions as a result of the COI report. Mark my words.
The unity government is soft…….bunch ah lil boyz and gals……@$$lickers if yo ask me
These people are incompetent fools who will say or do anything to stay on the govt payroll. UK, please step in a get rid of all of them
What have we got for the billions of revenue the government received since the 1980s?
Third world infrastructure and terrible schools; while a chosen few got rich. That’s what.
Why should we take any notice of this lot. Best case, they are all tainted by association.
Because that is the only way you will ever do one.
Without the UK and the COI , it would be the same old corruption graft and crony feeding.
We owe a debt to the concerned and honest people of the BVI who by bringing the attention of the UK onto what the rotten BVI government caused this to happen.
” if it is suppressed, a fatal distemper may develop.” Now dem ah wonder from weh de judgement enter.
seems to be this mans state of mind. Everyday new complaints about the CoI, the UK, the Governor, etc. The more he talks the more guilty he becomes so keep talking.
MVP, you are absolutely right. The COI was a travesty of fairness. Its recommendations should not be accepted without full and proper discussion. Anything else is blackmail and is undemocratic.
“Don’t tell me that at this stage in my life, I cannot determine what I think is best for myself and my country” Obviously “myself” comes first. He’s getting very nervous, starting to panic.
“You can’t do that”. There, I said it!
One of the best quotes I’ve ever heard
At least you can talk and shout because our Premier did a good Job of stopping Britain from constitution suspension. Mark you pushing too much, you to combative.. Use diplomacy. U R going to force Britain to do the obvious.
We have not heard from this man in 3 years. Now he is fighting against the betterment of the country. what do you need to hide?