Government walks out on no-confidence vote
The government staged a walkout from the House of Assembly (HOA) last night, just ahead of the Opposition’s planned no-confidence vote.
Just before midnight, the House was about to resume following a short recess when government members, including Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, were seen heading for the exit.
Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton proceeded to read his motion but was interrupted by House Speaker Corine George-Massicote. “I’m sorry, Leader of the Opposition, it has been brought to my attention that there is no quorum,” the Speaker stated.
Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer was the only government member who returned to his seat before the Speaker attempted to summon other government members into the well of the House. Opposition members exchanged words with Rymer, urging him to join their ranks, as the HOA’s Sergeant-at-Arms left to summon the other government members.
Once the Sergeant returned empty-handed, the Speaker counted the remaining members and determined that only six were present in the House at that time—five Opposition members, with Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn absent, and one government member, Rymer. These numbers proved insufficient to meet the quorum requirements.
“Given that we do not have a quorum of seven members present, I have no other choice but to adjourn this House,” the Speaker said. “This House is therefore adjourned until the 11th day of November, 2024.”
No confidence motion
The Opposition, outnumbered in the House by one vote, said its concern and lack of confidence lies primarily in the “poor leadership” and “sheer incompetence” displayed by Premier Wheatley over his conduct of the territory’s affairs. The Opposition’s no-confidence motion raises issues such as economic mismanagement, neglected public infrastructure, and a lack of concern for community welfare.
It presents a bleak portrayal of the territory’s governance, and accuses the Dr Wheatley-led VIP government of deteriorating living standards and decreasing public trust.
The Opposition also pointed out that Premier Wheatley’s government committed serious financial blunders and lacked defined economic plans.
According to the motion, the Premier and Minister for Finance confessed in the HOA to overseeing an error in estimating salary increases for public officials, which resulted in an additional burden of around $20 million on public resources.
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Government accountability at its best. Don’t want to answer to the opposition? Run away!!!
Antics like this damage the BVI internationally.
The plan was for Smith to be Premier and either Walwyn or Ronnie as Deputy, Mitch and Marlon would get Ministries and Stacy given a Jr Minister. Frasier was to be left out. Once the VIP uncovered the intentions it was easy for Frasier to make the transition. He never trusted them all along and his seasoned political instincts were correct.
Who wants on their team a selfish player?!?! fracZar is for himself alone and no one else!! Natalio will regret this I’ve as he’s welcomed the mongoose into the vipers den.
Power corrupts. FracZar is already co**upted by his own actions and self interests. Just like a cancer cells replicate and destroy the host, so too will this move prove fatal for the VIP.
This is a legitimate political strategy and is practiced in many countries.Those that are claiming the end of civilization are simply practining hyperbole because they want to see this Administration replaced with one that are so unorganized that they make an easier target for take over by UK
Especially after Fahie, Maynard and the CoI the less effective scrutiny we can point to, the better! We are doing so well without it.
This is disgraceful. They are pushing independence with this type of immaturity and lack of respect for accountability. Natalio is the worse leader this country has ever seen. We have got to start making better choices in this country.
Wow, this is the house of children, not the house of Assembly.
Why not remain in plain sight and vote “No” bravely and in plain sight . This I interpret as “Yes” vote too tmid to say it loud.
Unfortunately Marlon commenced his travels yesterday some time so could not be present.
Stop spreading lies and venom. Penn was slated months ago to be at Commonwealth…. In Australia.
Stop talking piddle
lorna caused this
Marlin should have been summoned to the House to meet the requisite quorum. Where the heck was he?
Exactly. Then the Ayes would have had it.
On an already planned trip that the speaker of the house should have informed the members and general public about.
I wonder if I should read anything into Rymer and Penn’s maneuvers?
So Marlon penn want he own power, so he sabotage the motion of no confidence?
He was on a planned trip of which others were aware. This is another convenient move by our government. Time longer twine
That damn trip by Marlon penn was planned and manipulated by sowandie, Marlon should have put country first over a chit chat, because nothing he is going to Australia to do will make the BVI world go around, and the title ” commonwealth” is a creature of the same royal family who we pretend we want independence from, so even if you live the design the elongation of colonialism into our future as functionary puppet of the UK, he Marlon loved what he could get to enjoy above the people of the BVI, a grand first class trip for sight seeing and top of the line hotel and meals and travel allowances, it’s always the interest of the politicians above the people, were it me I would postpone all travel until the business of the state and people was done, do you think the royal family would spank Penn for not attending that social gathering he design with fine meals and a little chit chat while they harvest and mold these young future leaders into a stooge for future betrayal of the BVI and it’s people, plus Marlon has been approach for a position in sowandie gang.
Like comprehension is hard to understand
Marlon was slated months ago to be at the Commonwealth meeting in Australia
Get your facts straight. He did not sabotage anything or anyone
Nicompoop
If a seasoned politican like Frasier could not make headway with them what makes you think they are sincere? You will one day Lead the VIP the same cannot be said for the NDP. Everything dosent have to be right now you are playing chess not checkers.
After that power move to put Lorna back to her corner, he wimps out now. They are certainly not taking their responsibility to represent this territory seriously. `
All 13 are mentally absent.
LOL
You should consider a career in writing fictional stories. You are wasting your talents just here blogging in Tortola. All now you could have been on the moon writing stories.
We will see when the true stories come out
Cowards!
This slithering out of duty by the Royal elected Snakes if these BVI,announces their YES vote and dereliction of duty to publicly and appropriately right the obvious and acknowledged wrong for the betterment of country.
Cowards!
This slithering out of duty by the Royal elected Snakes of these BVI,inadverdently announces their cowardly YES vote and dereliction of duty to publicly and appropriately right the obvious and acknowledged wrong for the
betterment of country.
I maintain that ALL 13 members of the HOA MUST go. It is crystal clear that they are not interested in the affairs of this country. Their quest for power and the need to enrich themselves is what is important to them; it’s not the country. This type of immature behavior from our SO CALLED leaders is totally unacceptable. The actions of the premier and his colleagues last night (with the exception of Kye) is an insult to democracy. They are busy inflating their own egos at the expense of the country while forgetting that there is still an Order in Council hanging over our heads. It’s time for them to refocus.
they are all a pack of actors / when a pack .or school of PIRANHAS ON A FEEDING FRENZY , IF ANY OF THEM GETS IN THE WAY IT WILL BE EATEN UP ALIVE JUST LIKE THEIR PREY . THEY SAY THE MAN IS “SLO ” BUT HE IS SURELY MAKING SOME SLICK MOVES / BT GETTING THE EXPERIENCED PEOPLE YO WORK FOR HI. AND LEARN FROM THEM YHEN IF THEY DARE TO BE INSUBORDINATE , HE DO A TRUMP ON THEM, THE (3RD ) IS EITHER IN FOR A RUDE AWAKENING OR WILL BE SHOWING THE “BIG youth” *
WAH TIME IT IS * AND AS VTHERE IS MO INTEGRITY AMONGST THEMSELVES , WE WILL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HOW THIS DRAMA PLAYS OUT ITS BEGINING TO LOOK LIKE ANOTHER EPISODE OF ” WHATS NEXT ” WE HAVE THE HERO CHILLING OUT IN MIAMI , WE HSVE A JUDGE HERE HOLLERING OUT FREE HIMB , WE HAVE 3 HOLY BOYZ PLAYING WITH PEOPLE’S MIND / HAT BA PIT ALL THESE HITORIC EVENTS WASN’T CAPTURED ON CAMERA OR THESE WANNABE SETS OF HYPOCRITES WOULD OF GOTTEN OSCARS FOR THEIR PERFORMANCES IN DECEPTION , ONT STAND OUT IS , HOW BIG DADDY ANDY PLAYED THE PART ON HIS KNEES THAT WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE , THAT IP TO UP THIS DAY WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE LIKE THE WIGGED ONE HOLLERING OUT THAT THE DREW WAS SET UP ITS REALLY UNBELIEVABLE / LOOKS LIKE HE IS
STILL SUFFERING FROM * COI * SIDE EFFECTS
if Kye will be the next one on the chopping block and Marlon the minister of works. This would present a serious checkmate for Allen Wheatley and add to the drama.
UK, will you PLEASE step in and takeover so there will be at least one adult in the room….
So the HOA had 12 members present which would have met the quorum?
Yet the government side which has the majority vote walked out? Something else is up in the HOA. The Premier still doesn’t believe he has the support of all on his side. Time longer than twine as a poster said.
“voting has consequences”
The reason the Government does not give a f**k is because by weekend everyone would’ve moved on from this s**t and be focused on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Stop acting like you guys really give a s**t outside of the political theatre…NEXT!!!!!
Children playing at politics. We need leaders.
why keep mentioning the 20 million for salaries, he made a calculation error but so what at the end of the day the salaries had to be improved and paid. so you want to crucify the man for a miscalculation, at least we know the monies going into better salaries for all!! yes natalio doing a lot of Bs but the salary raise isn’t one it was well deserving!! so if we knew it would cost 20 million more public officer would not have gotten their raise anyhow?
Please replace this horrible government.
As crocket as the day is long.
Independence them say
You lie down with dogs, you’d be bitten by fleas