Governor shouldn’t try to bypass democracy — Premier
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has accused Governor John Rankin of attempting to bypass democracy in the territory by seeking additional powers to help implement the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommendations.
Governor Rankin, in a statement last Friday, said he wanted to seek additional powers from the UK to help ensure that the BVI government delivers on its commitment to the COI recommendations and promised to write to the UK Overseas Territories (OTs) Minister to seek those powers.
But Dr Wheatley said members of his government, as well as those in the opposition, are ‘highly disappointed’ with the governor’s request for additional powers.
“In his most recent update on governance reforms, it appears he wished to act in areas of constitutional responsibility devolved to the elected arm of government,” the Premier said. “The Governor should not be seeking additional powers to bypass democracy and the people of the Virgin Islands so that he can implement measures as he sees fit.”
Premier Wheatley suggested that Governor Rankin’s move lacked democratic accountability and contended that it would be a ‘clear colonial act’.
He further contended that it would be an insult to voters, particularly after last year’s democratic and incident-free general elections, for additional powers to be granted to the Governor to empower him to push his agenda in areas outside of his responsibility.
“Subjects such as Immigration and Crown lands fall under the elected arm of government,” Premier Wheatley argued. “And there’s no justification for powers being transferred or given to the Governor to undermine the democratic will and democratic rights of the people of the Virgin Islands.”
Dr Wheatley said that granting the Governor additional powers would go directly against the political declaration that the BVI and other OTs have just agreed with the UK and promised to write the OT’s Minister to decline Governor Rankin’s request.
According to the Premier, the move to increase the Governor’s powers would do considerable damage to the relationship between the two countries, setting back democracy in the territory and destroying any trust between the people and government of these islands with the UK.
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Some of us are highly disappointed with the Government’s lack of action on the COI issues, despite all the promises….
If you’re actually committed to the reforms, why be afraid of assistance? That is, of course, unless you’re planning just lie to everyone while ignoring them and hoping they’ll go away. Carey out your responsibility and get it done. The alternative keeps getting worse for you and worse for us. The only thing “highly disappointing” here is the elected government’s repeated failure to deliver.
Please….populist nonsense intended to get people to take their eye off the ball. The whole CoI was about the fact that there has been no good democratic (as in for the good of the people) governance in the Territory for decades. That it takes a lot of effort to rectify things speaks to how bad things have been.
It is taking so long to comply with the recommendations because they all, both sides of the floor, like the way things were/are. There is no real motivation for them to deal with the Register of Interests, for instance. That was smoke and mirrors when it was implemented. The mere fact that Reps who were in Government then, and in the House now, never complied, and still don’t want to comply, tells the entire story. These are people who sign contracts with folks who they know do not have the capability to meet the parameters of the contracts, but do it because “they have to hire them”, they are their constituents. The requirement to fix how contracts, and petty contracts are handled is to much trouble, too complicated and cumbersome. They say it wastes their time, takes too long. Sure. The fact that we actually read, listen to them speak, understand the words that are coming out of their mouths, does not impress them because they will just continue to ignore everything and go their merry way. Throwing the word colonial at us all the time may impress some, but not all of us are fooled or intimidated with their diatribe.
Nail hit right on the head
How are we a democracy when so few taxpayers have the vote, even after being here years?
Meanwhile, Natalio has disregard every single piece of advice or feedback from the community…
– Travels
– Party
– other time wasting initiatives
He was voted in by 400 people..
What does he know about democracy.
Some changes are difficult to be implemented under a democracy as it depends on the lawmakers and ours are not the best ones… UK intervention is welcome.
Ain no democracy for we locals with our goverment cuz no matter who yuh vote yall ain doing nothing beneficial for the people or the territory.
#StopTheNoise
This man really trying to treat ppl as though they are stupid. For those that can read, pls take a look at the Governor’s report. No where does he talk about extending powers beyond what is necessary to ensure the government complies with the COI.
S!0w W@nde and the A$$ C!0wn Brigade just want to spend money the way their party wants to and ten like any of us to ask and expect controls over, and reconciliation of, money and resources.
They want to incite a riot using dog whistles such as racial thropes when this issue is about their and past administrations terrible decision making and lack of skill. Shame on you, S!0w W@nde, Luarna in the Corna and the rest of the A$& C!0wn Brigade
You bypass it many times. You are still victimizing people who didn’t vote for you. That was our democracy right.
From all the comments it would appear that the BVI community in general disagree with the Honorable Premier. This writer would suggest that a referendum is perhaps long past due to seek the opinion of the BVI people as to whether the UK should take control per the recommendation of the COI Commissioner. So, Mr Premier, put true democracy to work and see what your people want.
There’s no democracy when the people in power stop fighting to benefit the lives of common people. Bickering and fighting over appearances while the people suffer,
Between government & the governor there is a cannabis bill that was supported by the people & the people’s elected representatives that has yet to manifest in benefits to the people through access to clean medicine & freedom from senseless oppression that creates a culture of corruption because we all know including the police that it is literally insane to put people in a cage for a plant.
The nonsense of Slavery is over yet here we are acting like barbarians and tolerant of nonsense by having police running after people tending a plant? Would we be offended if they bring out the dogs to chase the farmer down next time like the old days? Nonsense.
Top authority doesn’t understand the harm those policies continue to have on our culture.
They create the environment for corruption by senseless oppression in a endless cycle of war against the common sense & decency of people.
I wonder if the premier understands why even his own BVI people not standing with him now. Enough is enough man we need to do better. Our government cant just continue going along finding ways to waste money and doing the bare minimum.
I don’t want to see UK nationals making decisions in/for BVI but the whole situation is just unfortunate. The elephant in the room has to be addressed… Our local government is and has been garbage for a long time now! Just a set of poppy shows making promises who don’t actually make nothing better in the BVI. Every minute talking about what their grandfather has done while not doing anything. sturpss. I hate that our leaders so less smh.
Stupid dude
WAKE UP! Look at the UK the USA the WORLD! Better to get prepared for what is about to happen. For those who are blocked from knowing, there is a great battle happening, and BVI is but a dot in sand.