Decision about an election up to the UK
Despite elections being constitutionally due next year, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has noted that the decision to call an election is out of the hands of the current government.
According to the newly-installed Premier, Governor John Rankin now holds that power.
Speaking at his first one-on-one press conference as Premier of the Virgin Islands, Dr Wheatley noted that this power shifted to the governor based on the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations to partially suspend the constitution in relation to areas led by the elected representatives.
The Premier noted that no discussions have been held within the National Unity Government regarding when an election would be called.
“Elections are constitutionally due next year. But of course, those are decisions for the United Kingdom (UK) and the Governor right now,” the Premier told members of the media.
“They have the decision of whether they will impose a direct rule or not. If they impose direct rule, there will be no election in the Virgin Islands. People will not have a choice as to who will represent their interests, there will be no House of Assembly. There will be no Cabinet,” Dr Wheatley added.
He noted that, for now, the National Unity Government is focused on implementing the COI recommendations and reform strategies while maintaining the Virgin Islands’ democratic integrity.
“This government of national unity would like the opportunity to implement reforms. We made a firm commitment to do so, and we are hopeful that the United Kingdom accepts our proposal to implement reform,” Dr Wheatley said.
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Dissolve the House it’s time. No confidence in this Government.
Good! no more snap elections
The only vote that should happen any time soon is a vote of no confidence by residents in this phony ‘unity’ government.
Give the new premier a chance to see if he can fix matters- if not then we will have UK Direct Rule for 5 years
the people of this land are not ready to elect an honest government
it will be another white envelope affair and the election of corrupt leaders and backhand merchants
no he and his party were part of the problem, they all flouted the rules the u.k should rule until all the suggestions are implemented
Give h a chance? We ignoring the $1mil elevator he just signed off on. That’s a pay off. With our money.
to uk, we dont want our constitution suspended, we dont want no uk rule. but we also dont want the leftover vip government. this waste of time gov let andrew control everything, trying to make bvi a drug empire and he the emperor.
sowande, chief clown in the circus where andrew was ringmaster. lucked in to premier but still a clown.
kye, puppet but his puppetmaster is patsy. he needs to grow a pair.
sharie, watchman was sleeping or looking the other way until andrew stopped juggling and she got a seat
sheep was out in the pasture looking more contracts when andrew was in the pen. what will he do, now that andrew is in the Pen?
carvin was down in one of his sh1+h0le when he got fired so he stay down there
vincent was drowning his sorrows in his usual sh1+h0le when he got fired so he stay there
shereen, leave them people for the sake of virgin gorda. see if you can join up with marlon and mitch below
alvera jumped the sinking ndp ship. will she jump the sunk vip ship. wherever she land she got to go
willox firing willox was the 1 good thing sowande has done in 3 years
fraser in coi so he got to go
mark in the coi but no investigation so he can stay to election and then go. no flipflopping
myron named in the coi so he cant come back
ronnie useless but not in coi so he can comeback if the people want him
cuban not in the coi but too useless so he cant come back. sowande do another useful thing and ban him
marlon not in coi so he can stay. if he get health right might make him premier
mitch not in the coi so he can stay. if he get labour right might make him deputy
but uk, we dont want no direct rule and we definitely dont want this leftover vip gov that allow andrew to bring our lil country to shame. see suggestions above.
look wha we come to!! There are a lot of ancestral spirits, if one believes, qite angry right now, because all their hard work, sacrifices and more are now all in vain.
Only thing missing now are the chains, and if the offspring of former slave holders decide to put us in chains he can, he now has the power to do so.
A constitional review and recrafting is neede yesterday!!
Most of those FOLKS calling for UK take over crying over spill milk and just plain out against the VIP. They don’t have a clear understanding of what the suspension of the Constitution Means.
Every one is entitled to their beliefs, speech, and Actions. Remove your thoughts from mental anguish due to Personal indifferences. Try and get your Issue or Plight to the Forefront in gaining a solution.
We need to unite for the benefit of restoring and passing on the History and Heritage of Our Forefathers to Generations to Come.
Self centered and tongue lashers appears only as attention Seekers. Let’s get serious and put differences aside and unite to get Our Territory in Order.
No need for naysayers! You’ll ain’t worth it!
“Post Emancipation of slaves in 1834 and the precipitate decline of the sugar industry in the VI, the planter class aristocrats sold their lands to former slaves, packed up, and bolted from the territory with supersonic speed, positing that the place was a land of misery and depression, the poor house of the West Indies, and only useful as a bird sanctuary.
The former slaves and descendants were left to fend for themselves poor and with little or no resources saved for the will to survive and succeed, surviving the atrocities and dehumanizing action of slavery.
They turned the land they acquired to develop a peasant economy. A hardy and a will to survive people, they farmed, fished, reared livestock, sailed, and traded with the USVI, Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) and Cuba, smuggled, etc to eek out a living.
Through all this hard struggles and hustle, the VI was still a UK colony with few, if any, freedoms, rights, or any of democratic privileges enjoyed by others; it has been a UK colony since 1672.”
We don’t to far to backwards to arrive at where we bean.. What and who will change this?
“Post Emancipation of slaves in 1834 and the precipitate decline of the sugar industry in the VI, the planter class aristocrats sold their lands to former slaves…
Really? SOLD? And what did they all pay with?
The land was given to the fortunite survivors and that is Why Tolans got their land.
They were the lucky ones… while the rest of the Caribbean islands is mostly Crown land and few and far between down there benefited.
You’ll ain’t worth it. We need to unite for the benefit…………………mix up and blenda. Silly rabbit trix are for kids.
Land in the BVI was acquired by various means. Several families inherited through bloodline. Some were able to purchase property. Former slaves also occupied the land they had worked on for generations. One of the most serious rebellions second to Haiti occurred on ST. John and Tortola drove the whites out. It has taken a long time for the British to cunningly recolonize these islands with the help of educated sell out fools who are recognized at every port, park and public space. The truth is we could have done much better having ample time and chance to take control of our destiny. Preachers and politicians were the main stumbling blocks. Check who Amanda Milling met with to understand who are the agents of recolonization. Research the seven pillars of Babylon’s control and wake up.
Where is sheep? Well sah, Like the security contracts for csl have sheep busy and not politics…
According to the newly-installed Premier, Governor John Rankin now holds that power. In translation, the UK is already taking over.
Cunning, they!
You won’t get good and honest local people to run for anything… the good name will be dirty up too. Sad day for my country
No, the decision is the Premier’s. He can recommend the election in accordance with the same constitution he professes to want to save.