Governor may dip into consolidated funds to boost reforms
After months of successive reports of slow progress over the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommended governance reforms currently being implemented, Governor John Rankin may now be inclined to fast track progress on his own terms.
Governor Rankin’s third quarterly report on the progress of the Implementation of the Commission of Inquiry Recommendations was released late last week and showed little difference from the previous report that was issued months ago.
In the report, the Governor stated that although there have been some welcomed achievements over the past few months — such as the application of the protocol for statutory board appointments and procurement process improvements in some areas — progress continues to be slow.
Governor Rankin indicated, however, that the general elections held two months ago impacted the government’s ability to progress reforms and urged that momentum must be regained.
“If we do not see the ‘meat on the bones’ of these reforms by my next quarterly review, additional action will be necessary,” Governor Rankin said in his report. “I will hence be exploring options for additional resources, powers and technical expertise to accelerate reforms.”
He added that he will consider whether the necessary resources are allocated to the reform process, whether work is sufficiently prioritised, and whether the reforms are implemented in practice.
But when questioned at a press conference over what further actions actions or orders might be necessary to speed up the governance reform process, the Governor hinted that he may have to rely on powers granted under the constitution.
“I do have the part under Section 103 of the constitution to order funds to be paid out of the consolidated fund to provide the necessary resources,” Governor Rankin told reporters. “So that’s one action that could be taken. In terms of additional powers, that remains a matter for consideration.”
The move is not altogether unprecedented in modern times, as former Governor John Duncan sought nearly $2 million from the consolidated funds six years ago, largely to address security concerns that were affecting the territory at the time.
It remains to be seen whether Governor Rankin will take such an approach, as he noted in his report that Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has publicly committed to delivering on the COI reforms.
“I will publish my fourth quarterly review at the end of August and it is imperative that both the Premier’s Office and Governor’s Office keep the public informed on how these commitments are being delivered at such a critical time,” the Governor stated in his report.
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UK is to provide the money. DO NOT TOUCH MY MONEY.
@hell no, shut your a$$. Why you don’t tell slowman not to use your money to fete. Should UK send their money down here for slowman to hold fete. The UK tax payers is saying not our money.
Mr Governor don’t wait until end of August dip in the fund now. You have the power, start spending our money wisely and not for fete. Love you Governor.
BVI better wake up and pay attention. We are being dooped by colonial masters. Pay attention!
WE HAD NEED A PREMIER LIKE RONNIE OR FRASER TO STAND UP TO THIS MAN
This is more of the same racism and white supremacy very sad time for the bvi
Some of you are as blind as The Trumpers. Unquestioning faith in our own who are screwing us and dragging their feet. Dont you want less corruption and more accountability?
bring it beach
HOA think they can drag their feet and find a new Governor, reappoint Mr Rankin give him a bonus let him finish the job.
Sorry, but both the Governor, and elected Government just talk, talk, talk – to date the people see no forward movement or anything of substance. Both sides spend like drunken sailors, while we the people standby for any semblance of a result!
Sick of all of you sucking on the people’s purse strings while you all sit pretty with retirement packages that will set you up for life! And I mean all of you, elected and appointed!
Catch where I am coming from Governor? We the people want results!
‘Action’ sounds like a moomoo. Which part of the comment promotes any support for the idiotic $250,000 party? I do not care who touching the pot. Both actions are unjustified. Leave the damn taxpayers money alone! If the UK is responsible for certain things, they have to pay for the things they are responsible for. This has always been about tax money for them. Keep your hands off the people’s money! Sowande better wake up if he thinks bringing folks from the UN wouldn’t make the UK behave more unjustly than they already are. Talking about if you want to be in the game… Boy, it ain’t looking good. We need a better leader.
Pay us our Increments pls and thank u.
BVI PORTS MAKES THE MOST MONIES AND NO ONE GIVES ACCOUNTS TO WHERE THESES MONIES SEEMS TO BE DISSAPPEARING TO.
Governor Ranking we needs our increments pls
2020 2021 and 2022.
Its long over Due.
BVI Ports brought a whole decastro Building on main street and not even using it why can the people who in patsy building go in the decastro building and work there.
Why are u still paying this woman rent thousands of dollars
… came here and ask us couple years ago choose if we want party or increments???
Wickedness and she gone and still collecting. Governor look into this pls. We tires and upset.
They also buy boat for over 400 thousand
Land virgin Gorda that not even using for over 5.5 million.
Paying P a set of money form our hard earn monies. Then coming with stories that they broke. Stop f** in playing around. Mannout here desperate.
Pay us now.
We need our monies. Now.
Maynard gone and so did the financial controller who was handling all theses matters.
Pay the staff we want whats our
The plan is to divide and rule by putting Caribbean Expats against locals. People like Ronnie or Julian Fraser will have a very hard time because of the agenda as a matter of fact so will Myron. A sell out puppet will have the best opportunity. Isn’t it funny how the Maynards are hanging Andrew out to dry when they are the ones that allegedly approached him with the grand idea in the first place. He should have known better. We are in this dilemma because our elected are all about representing themselves.
Yes, dip into it like bowl of salsa.
UK tax payers pay 20% plus of their earnings in taxes. They pay sales tax of 20% on most everything they buy. They pay tax on inheritances received, on bank interest received, on pensions received.
If you expect the UK tax-payors to pay for your reforms, expect the UK to expect all the people of the BVI to start paying equivalent rates of taxes on their incomes too. Be careful what you wish for.
What happened to the billions paid into Government since the 1980s? A budget of $404 million last year I believe; and what have we got for it?
The money gets wasted or stolen.
Is there not a timeframe that these reforms have to be completed by? All the governor have to do is remind these local politicians and the people that if the reforms are not completed by the deadline the constitution WILL be suspended… Let them have to explain to the people of the BVI that the reason white people making all the decisions for BVI now is because we didn’t do what we needed to do so that don’t happen. You think anybody gonna want to hear any excuses bout understaffed or whatever else in the face of that reality?
@Hell no! Did the UK put us in this position? Our governments are the ones that have us where we are today.
Governor John Rankin cant you see by now they are not going to change, You shouldnt be using the pewoples money to take this goverment out of a hole.
You sholud let the UK come in and fix this place so we may one day things will be better for us.
People from the u.n will only ween you from colonialism to neocolonialism, so you would have never been independent. You think the other Caribbean countries so call independence is real? Only freedom created for politicians to loot unchecked by the judiciary.all things remain the same neocolonial through constitution, education , religion, financial because in the end all this have to be decolonize. King short shirt Calypso “an illusion” is relevant.
@Action so you offended because our premier is going to spend tax money to jump start our festival. This is a reminder that people like you and the Governor still around after 1834 . This Governor John Rankin wants to be in charge so badly that he would do anything to undermine this Government . And persons on here blogging s**t believing that this man is some saviour coming from the UK to save you when in fact he’s trying to chain you mentally a bunch of stuff necked fools.
to just let the HOA politicians continue to live in dreamland for another uncooperative year then enforce the Order in Council in May 2024.
Police has not gotten their increments yet.
Ronnie and Fraser are diplomats. Not everyone with book sense have common sense, but they evidently know how to be co**upt?