Finance Minister failed to fulfil his main duty — Walwyn

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has picked up more criticism due to his absence from the majority of the Standing Finance Committee meetings where the territory’s annual budget was examined.

Sixth District Representative Myron Walwayn is the latest elected leader to lodge his dissatisfaction, saying Premier Wheatley — who is also the Minister of Finance — failed to properly do his most important job when he decided to miss the majority of the budget process.

Walwyn said the Premier’s absence was unconventional, adding that he has never seen such behaviour from a Finance Minister.

“I noticed something very unconventional during the Standing Finance — the Minister of Finance was absent for most of the period. This is my ninth budget and I’ve never seen anything like that,” Walwyn lamented in the House of Assembly on December 18 as elected leaders debated the 2024 budget.

He said the Premier missed the opportunity to hear directly from civil servants across the public service, who have intimate knowledge of the challenges and important areas that need to be addressed.

“You can’t substitute reading that information for actually being there and hearing what the departments say that they need. I think the Minister of Finance missed a golden opportunity. I know he said he went to COP28 or whatever you call it and he gave a nice speech. But that speech was just to cover what he knew would come,” Walwyn said.

Walwyn also bemoaned the few government members who were present throughout the whole budget process, adding that Opposition members outnumbered ministers for most sessions.

“Madam Speaker, you would notice from your own minutes that at every single point in Standing Finance, you had more Opposition members present than government members,” Walwyn stated.

While lashing the government, Walwyn commended Deputy Premier Lorna Smith, saying she ensured her ministry was examined during the budget process before leaving the territory to conduct business. He said this was a smart, responsible move by Minister Smith and very different from the actions of Premier Wheatley.

Recently, Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton called out the Premier for his absence from the budget process, saying he should have been there as the leader of the territory. The Premier has since responded, saying he was absent because of important matters and left the territory in capable hands.