COI was exactly the kind of reason stimulus cheques were delayed
With the recently announced Commission of Inquiry to investigate corruption claims within government, residents should now better understand why there were delays in the distribution of the various COVID-19 stimulus funds.
This is a belief held by the government minister responsible for Social Security, Vincent Wheatley.
Speaking at a recent community meeting, Wheatley said most of the delays came as a result of the government’s adherence to the necessary public spending protocols to ensure every cent distributed to each successful applicant was accounted for.
He said: “Everything is transparent, plain and accountable. As a matter of fact, one of the reasons why somethings took so long to happen during this pandemic, we had to make sure and we said that these things are going to be audited, we had to make sure every ‘t’ was crossed and every ‘i’ dotted.”
“And you all complained, ‘why are we taking so long?’ Now you understand why we took the time to make sure that all systems of accountability were in place because we knew the possibility of this happening and here we are now,” he added.
COI an act to deter self-empowerment
Wheatley also said the Commission of Inquiry is being used as a tool to deter locals from successfully seeking self-empowerment, by painting the territory as one which is filled with corruption and lots of criminal activity.
However, the minister said despite the attempts, they will not distract his government from their mission and purpose of empowering locals — a pledge that was made during their elections campaign.
“We ran on two or three very specific things we want to achieve for this territory. One of them is the empowerment of the people. As a matter of fact, that message was so well taken, so well received that it got some people scared, they say ‘you people are going too far with this empowerment idea’,” Wheatley said.
He continued, “So they’re trying their best to dissuade us from continuing down that trend, but it’s the only way we’re going to go, that is one way, the empowerment of our people to handle their own affairs at some point or the other. There’s no turning back. I don’t care what they try, we are on this path and we are going to stay there.”
More attacks expected
Wheatley further said his government will not be backing down with transforming the BVI and because of this, he expects much more attacks by external sources on his government.
“So you’ll see these attacks here and many more to come, but we know from where our strengths come so we’re not afraid, we’re all sleeping good at night,” he stated.
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The stimulus cheques weren’t delayed for all, some got theirs pretty fast. I wonder who those people were.
You are as guilty as you come and yes you sleep well. D as omeone good that does something bad does not sleep well. However a crook in his heart and sole sleeps well even after committing murder. Wheatley you will be sleeping well in p****n soon we hope.
Isn’t this the man who stood up in the House of Assembly and said the accountability is holding back the process of getting the stimulus checks? To late, words have power.
https://bvinews.com/uk-has-weaponised-accountability-to-cripple-exert-influence-over-bvi/
Disclosure. This matter can be put to rest if he releases a list of who received what and when they received it.
Whistleblower Legislation. Why hasn’t the government instituted this new law that they promised us during the last election cycle?
The purpose of the COI is actually to empower the people and give us a voice. Why, again, is everything trying to be twisted? We now have a voice, stop clutching at straws. The truth will soon be revealed to all of us BVIslanders, that will be the true transformation we all need.
You to l** it delay way before that you all was hurry social security to release the money . But since they give u all the money u all wasn’t in no hurry to deliver stimulus cheque and as for you school children say you is 10% Wheatley.
Follow the money and connect the receiver
So now Vincent has just turned the untruths of his dear leader upside down. Andrew is busy blaming the NDP for the commission of inquiry but here is his own minister now saying what the real reason may very well be. And this is not just any minister. It’s the minister with responsibility for Soxial Security. When people tell lies all you have to do is wait a little while and the truth comes out.
Press Conference 7 January, 2019 (Why Are They Crying Wolf)
“Hon. Fahie referred to the Motion of No Confidence that he brought on the government and stated that none of the former government members who are currently with the PVIM supported the move. Therefore, Hon. Fahie called on the residents to remember this when they go to the polls:
While continuing to allege that both the NDP and PVIM are the same Hon. Fahie said: “The blue NDP members and the red NDP members are equally responsible for the current hardships in the society, the botched recovery efforts and the rampant corruption in the land. Based on answers to questions in the House of Assembly; based on events that are now unfolding – I can safely state that I have been fully vindicated when I proclaimed years ago that “this is the most corrupt government in the history of the Virgin Islands. I will go out on a limb to say that in my opinion, they all must be equally punished by the electorate of this Territory.”
From what WE THE PEOPLE CAN SEE, VIP SHAMELESSLY IN YOUR FACE WITH UNETHICAL DECISIONS.
There is no attack, there is simply a desire for true transparency.
Should be standard practice nowadays
Checks need to be issued to everyone like the US. We are all suffering.
My sister who lives in the US just receive a second stimulus check in the amount of $600.00 and the Government is about to release a third stimulus in the amount of $1,400 dollars. ST.THOMAS IS SUPPOSE TO START RECEIVING THEIR STIMULUS THIS WEEK.
Wheatley had NO idea the Inquiry was incoming! This is total bulls#$t.
Anyway, why do they only have to follow the rules i.e. “cross the t’s and dot the i’s” when they think they might be held liable? THIS SHOULD BE DONE 100% OF THE TIME!
Still waiting. Still out of work. BS
find another excuse, we will see who got theirs in the COI, wonder whether they actually were entitled to it.
“Commission of Inquiry is being used as a tool to deter locals from successfully seeking self-empowerment”- what nonsense. It’s purely there to stamp out corruption. It worked in Turks and Caicos and it’ll work here too- simple as that.
The VIP including Wheatley claimed the BVI was totally corrupt under the NDP. Now all of a sudden it isn’t and never was.
This meaningless “ empowerment “ rubbish does not compensate the people who can’t pay for rent or groceries.
Hi Vicenzio
Your stimulus cheques (if any) were delayed because you only cared to give handouts to a specific type of person only (allegedly your friends and family mainly).
I remember some time ago that you said that too much accountability is required and that therefore your staff did not want to prepare any accounts and where scared to go to jail. And now all of a sudden you say everything is transparent and that everything is accounted for.
Do you hear how trustworthy you sound?
These guys are clearly out of their minds!! WOW!!!
Not only out of their minds but out of their depth. A drowning man will clutch at straws.
Stop l**ng and making excuses. BLAME IT ON THE COI JUST LIKE PEOPLE BLAMING EVERYTHING ON COVID.
VIP BETTER GET RID OF THE BIG MAN AT THE TOP FAST – OR YOU ALL GOING DOWN WITH HIM AND HIS CLIQUE
SUSPICION IS GROWING MORE AND MORE EACH DAY. SEEMS LIKE THE WHOLE CABINET KNEW OF CERTAIN THINGS AND THEY STOOD COMPLICIT AND CONSENTED TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING. HOW CAN WE EVER TRUST THESE PEOPLE AGAIN? THE UK NEEDS TO TAKE OVER UNTILL A NEW GOVERNMENT IS ELECTED. THIS IS UNFORGIVEN.THE PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO GET BURNED LIKE THIS AGAIN.
Lying a**, go ahead blame it on the dog as well. It seems to me that our government is very uncomfortable with being investigated, I mean they’ve done nothing wrong surely there shouldn’t be any problem with the COI.
Vincent Wheatley You might have had good intentions when you joined the VIP headed by Andrew Fahie.
Some minsters in the party keep their mouths shut but you just can’t because you are one who has become like him.
When this is all over we all will know what went down, I don’t think that we would have a Commission based on nothing.
You can some of the people some of the time but you can’t fool all of the people.
BVI people always full of talk. How come nobody aint protest nothing here.
Is he d****ing again?
COI here for stimulus checks…how about concerning the unfair and unequal treatment of your work permit force. Where have all their hard earned money gone or been withheld. Were they given their rightful share.
We the voters hear you LOUD and CLEAR, FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER. Dark Night on the RUN, Day Light “A” Cath UM.
You people are as dumb as a log! Vincent isn’t blaming the current COI for the delays with providing the checks. What he’s saying is they were following the protocols that are in place to prevent financial misuse that could lead to a COI that’s why there were delays.
That’s not what it sounded like to me
YOUR BOSS IS THE ONE THAT SET THIS WHOLE THING IN MOTION. HE OUTSMARTED HIMSELF. I WILL SAY IT, SEE? FOY HAVE A BIG MOUTH LIKE RALPH FROM THE HONEYMOONERS. ALICE, I HAVE A BIGGGGG MOUTH. HE WAS FEEDING THE GOVERNOR INFO ON OTHERS AND IT BACKFIRED ON HIM. LITTLE DID HE KNOW, MOST PEOPLE DON’T LIKE A** KISSERS. CAN’T BE TRUSTED.
This is the minister who has denied work permits for employees who can prove with pay stubs their employer took out NHI, SS, and IR fees, but that the thieving employer never paid. A minister who won’t go after the thieving employers who are stealing from the government and the employees. The minister who promised on line applications and payment.
Wheatley said most of the delays came as a result of the government’s adherence to the necessary public spending protocols to ensure every cent distributed to each successful applicant was accounted for.
He said: “Everything is transparent, plain and accountable. As a matter of fact, one of the reasons why somethings took so long to happen during this pandemic, we had to make sure and we said that these things are going to be audited, we had to make sure every ‘t’ was crossed and every ‘i’ dotted.”
If this is so then why the worry and why the expensive lawyer???
This is a next b***h
Y’all ain’t expect to get caught
Ayo think y’all will thief all the money and live lavishly
Is the poor ppl social Security and tax money ayo ripping off
Which cheque? I was denied a stimulus cheque becuz I earned $1200.00 for the month an the qualifying amount was $1000.00 or less. This is my salary cut in half and after 7 months of waiting, a family to maintain and rent to be paid.
I wonder who got stimulus cheques? Transparency my a**. Who got, got and who didn’t no one cares until now.
You not meeting the criteria does not mean corruption or wrong doing.
The blame game again, always someone else’s fault
The BVI is going under if some brave souls do not step forward QUICKLY! The level if ignorance, ego and downright stupidy on display by our senior officials is totally mind boggling.
Vincent Wheatley has certainly stepped up, he is talking as much rubbish as the Premier and CSK combined. These men are scared of what the COI may find.
Listen to this d****en Minister chat NONSENSE
I need say nothing further.
Wait a minute??!!! Are these guys out campaigning? 2 years early! Talking the same drivel again. Guess what VIP!? We are a lot smarter. Keep spewing shyte out of all you all mouths to the public. Keep it up.