Enough blame to go around but let’s seek to fix BVI’s problems
Former Deputy Premier under the last National Democratic Party administration, Dr Kedrick Pickering, said the BVI ‘dropped the ball’ as it relates to governance. He also said the territory is quite capable of picking it up on its own.
Dr Pickering, while appearing on the Honestly Speaking radio show, said successive governments fumbled on achieving things that should’ve happened after the 2007 constitution was implemented.
According to Dr Pickering, he was not only a part of the government at the time that the BVI‘s 2007 constitution order was introduced, but was also a part of the delegation that visited London in the United Kingdom (UK) to help negotiate the final document.
We got too comfortable
“Those of us who were in leadership positions ourselves might have gotten too comfortable with ourselves and took our eye off the ball,” he expressed.
The former Seventh District Representative also reasoned that the malaise that the BVI was currently experiencing is not simply because of the British or anyone else, but was a self-inflicted problem.
He offered a word of caution for persons who feel that the UK Governor should take over the territory and who thinks the BVI should get rid of its politicians, even for a time.
“May I dare say, be careful what you wish for in life,” Dr Pickering stated.
He said residents should not beat up on themselves and wish for things they are unsure about that may likely create greater problems down the road.
“We created these problems for ourselves. Let us find a way to make ourselves accountable and then start putting the pieces together to rebuild from it. It’s a golden opportunity for us now that we understand where we went wrong and to start doing the things that will make it right,” the former Deputy Premier said.
Not the politicians alone to be blamed, electorate too
And while stating that he would be one of the first to take the blame for any missteps made while serving in political office, Dr Pickering said it was not politicians alone that were responsible for the BVI‘s current situation.
“Those of us who are in elected office and who have been in elected office didn’t put ourselves there. We didn’t put ourselves there,“ Dr Pickering argued.
Dr Pickering said he pointed this out to emphasise that everyone needs to take responsibility for their own actions.
“Those who elected us and put us in places and things happened can’t just run and blame. You have to ask yourself, ‘did I make the right choice?’,” the former legislator said.
He argued that if this introspection is not done, the question will remain once the choice to elect persons arises once again.
“Let’s not play the blame game because we are where we are. Where do we go from here?“ Dr Pickering asked.
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After 20 years of nothingness
He is blaming the electorate for his own failings.
As for you , YOU HAVE DISPLAYED THAT YOU ARE NOT A FRASS ROOT BVILANDER. YOU HAVE SOLD US OUT TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER. YOU HAVE NO MEDICAL AND POLITICAL BATON TO CARRY ON. WE DO NOT NEED NOR APPRECIATE YOU! PERIODT!!
SO U ARE GOING TO SAVE US FROM OURSELVES / WELL HALLELUIAH ( EVERYONE REALLY THOUGHT YOU WAS GOING TO BRING SOME INTEGRITY TO WHAT A HONEST POLITICIAN SHOULD BE , BUT WE SURE GOT A RUDE AWAKENING , WHEN THE POWER GOT TO YOUR HEAD AND YOUR TRUE COLORS SHOWED UP ?
I agree with every word DR P says except for one thing- the UK should step in to help because right now, we simply don’t know who is equipped to govern us.
We’ve been without good governance for a long time. The COI report, completed well before the end of April, warns us that we cannot at this point know which former and present politicians and civil servants to trust. And now, we have a bunch of prospective politicians stirring up a tempest in a teapot in order to garnish attention.
We need help getting our bloated public service departments cleansed of the money and power hungry, on track and focused on service and our future. We need time for those caring and vital to rise up and show us they can lead as politicians (perhaps even once again). We need guidance in prioritizing the repair of our broken infrastructure, particularly education. It’s been two months and all the words and directives just languish.
Of course, it won’t be a bed of roses- the UK clearly doesn’t want to step in- if the UK does, it will become clear to us who wants to keep the status quo, who only seeks attention and who will lead us in establishing and sometimes fighting for a system and a future that WE, not the UK- wants for us.
Hmmm first this one need to give account of who much money waste/ get stolen under his administration (talk about how it would be recovered) before he can come from under the rock he was all the time telling ppl to forgive
Sorry Doc! We don’t trust you to deal with these while people. They will be your rich white friends and you will turn on us.
The BVI dropped the ball? Enough blame to go around? When you was building beach in places Elders tell you will NEVER KEEP cause the water will reclaim it and up and down “doning deals” with all kind of unscrupulous people….was we involved?
The only blame we will shoulder is not dragging you fools out and holding a tribunal when all governments around that 20 year span was enriching themselves and their rich white friends. Blame yourself and sit down.
Yes we need you as our next elected premier
Not his Ar$$$ again, I see Doc as a walking dead.
I like Pickering
Has he fixed up his beach yet ?
These mistakes you all claim as mistake are wilful, deceitful and deliberate acts thinking you all smart, taking the people for fools. Quit the apology. Glad you have man up. Give someone else a chance.
He now has a security company and needs contracts from Burkley’s white rub, uncle Pete and comes out like Top P. He better prepare to declare all the interests of his and his immediate family.
Sell out!