Governor already has powers he is seeking
Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn and other Opposition members have argued that the governor already has powers he is trying to acquire from officials in the United Kingdom to help improve the pace of implementing the Commission of Inquiry (COI) good governance recommendations.
Governor John Rankin recently sought additional powers from the United Kingdom which he said were necessary because there has not been sufficient drive and determination across the various ministries and departments to deliver on the agreed-upon COI deadlines.
Walwyn said he listened carefully to the governor’s justification for advanced powers and argued that many of those powers were already available to him.
“He mentioned the ability to be able to bring legislation directly to the House of Assembly, the authority to exercise a certain level of control over departments and ministries to get certain things done, and [over] matters relating to contracts being brought before the Public Accounts Committee,” Walwyn said. “I submit to you that within the current construct of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, and the usual functioning of government, the governor can achieve each of these three things that he gave above.”
Regarding additional powers to exercise greater control over government departments, Walwyn said section 92 of the constitution gives the governor full authority over the public service and not just over the terms and conditions of service as he said in his recent press conference.
“In fact, from practical experience, civil servants respond with absolute urgency when a request is made by them from the governor right now,” Walwn said.
He further argued that, in his reserved powers, the governor can delegate or ask the premier or any other minister to bring legislation to the House on his behalf.
For the additional powers that the governor is seeking to bring legislation to the House, Walwyn contended that he will have to go through the very same procedure as any other minister right now.
“I’m not entirely convinced that having the authority to bring it to the House directly himself would cause it to move any faster than it’s moving currently,” he added.
As Chairman of Cabinet, Walwyn said the governor can summon any department, including the COI implementation unit to ascertain what may be the cause of any delays if he’s not satisfied with any responses given by the minister with responsibility for implementation.
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This is why Hon Walwyn deserves to be the leader of this territory! See what happens when you sabotage your own, BVI? They are the ones you will need to save you. So you mean to tell me Sowande couldn’t argue these points? Does he even understand his job? Is his role just to throw a tantrum when he is honestly criticized for his egregious disregard of the matters that significantly, negatively impact the territory? Hon Walwyn for Premier! Until then, carry on with the clown show.
Sowande said the same thing on heritage show on Monday morning. Y’all, like Cindy, just wasn’t listening.
A lady from the nineth, (VG) deceased had a saying that goes like this; “This to Know”.
Apparently we have some folks a.ongs our Leadership who doesn’t know. When that happens, Scare Tactics kicks in.
But we are still intent on being #OneBvi #BviLove
We need to wake up and realise that the intention of the UK Government is to bully us into doing whatever they want us to do.
The UK Govt executed, but did publish, the instrument suspending the constitution so that they could intimidate the BVI. Is a very simply document that could be prepared in 15 mins, so the fact that it has already been prepared is not such a big deal, save that its existence clearly intimidates our politicians.
The UK Govt has always had the ability to adopt imperial legislation that is valid in the BVI without any involvement of the HoA – the legislation overturning the death penalty and legalising homosexuality are recent examples of imperial legislation adopted without the HoA.
The suggestion by the Governor that he wants additional powers is not real – he already has the powers – what he is trying to do is to intimidate the BVI.
I am not saying that the BVI is moving quickly enough to implement the sensible CoI recommendations – merely that the tactics used by the UK Govt amount to bullying, and we are allowing ourselves to be bullied.
I would not go that far. Myron self-sabotage his own shot at the head seat because he himself was involved in corruption. Just because he is a clever lawyer and well-mannered doesn’t mean that he is not self-serving.
What proof do you have that Myron was involved in corruption? Do you know that the police could charge and arrest you this moment wrongfully? Does that make you corrupt or a criminal?
What I find interesting is, and correct me if I am wrong, I have not heard one of the many contractors say that they gave Myron money.
Ask the lady from virgin gorda. He couldn’t even say welll I ask or told her. He left her to dry but time longer than twine.
Hon. Walwyn, Im not sure if it was an error when you spoke yesterday but I read the Constitution and the Governor is not in charge of the civil service like you made us believe yesterday. If I am wrong please respond to this post and let me know what specific section(s) of the constitution states that he is. It appears there is joint responsibility with the Governor indeed being responsible for the terms and conditions like he stated last week. I’m not pro or anti U.K. I just need us to provide the people of the BVI with accurate information.
The governor is in charge of the civil service. There can be no argument here at all.
Well reasoned points Hon Walwyn. You are clearly capable of sitting around the negotiating table, while the others who are not engage scare mongering diatripe
Myron is wrong again. And he sounds so convincing. No, the Governor DOES NOT have this power and it is embarrassing as a lawyer, Myron, that you could publicly humiliate yourself like this. You take us for fools? People, please read and never take these so-called educated politicians word for it!! READ it – it is short.
Myron, Ronnie and Fraser all said that the governor has powers to do some of things that he is talking about. So none of them know what they’re talking about but you know? Doesn’t the governor have control of the civil service? Isn’t the governor the chairman of cabinet? Doesn’t the constitution allow imperial legislation to be made to implement laws? Please do your research before you talk.
Myron: Come clean, the NDP knew about the warnings of this COI since 2012. All of you need to replace the census people in order to be in a position to kiss all of the behinds in the Territory for your incompetence
The only person that the country ever heard calling for a COI was Mr. Head Coach. The UK never called for it. Andrew Fahie, while trying to destroy his political opponents called for it. Now the same trouble he tried to cause other has been his undoing.
My point isn’t that NDP called for a COI. It is that the UK raised their concerns on the points raised in the COI long before Head Coach and VIP were at the wheel.
They raised their concerns to the NDP administration and the NDP did nothing whilst in the back the UK was gathering information which allowed them to raise the COI many years later. So both administrations have contributed greatly to where we are.
None of dem have clean hands
If you all have given Myrom leadership we would not have been here
BADMINDNESS and pitting down and undermining our own is what have us here and we still have our eyes wide open but blind because of hate for the white man
We misuse and abuse our Caribbean brothers and sistets
We use indigenous when it suits our interests and our purpose
We despise Asians but now we want them to march
The government and opposition have to separate press conference
You cant come as one unitef front how do you expect us to follow and March
Ayo playing into the UK hands Not a wise move
If the governor is not in charge of the civil service then who had the power to send the Comptroller of Customs on leave? Simple question. Simple answers only please.