Gov’t repeating mistakes that led to COI — Turnbull
The government has been criticised for making the same mistakes that resulted in the Commission of Inquiry (COI) in the past.
Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull, the Second District Representative, highlighted Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley’s recent decision to bring the VI Festival & Fairs Committee under the oversight of the BVI Tourist Board.
He suggested that the government has been implementing changes in violation of the law, despite the failures that resulted in the COI.
Turnbull stated that the government was continuing the trend of dismantling systems, as it did upon taking office in 2019, without comprehending their original purpose.
“The systems were put in place. The festival affairs committee was put in place for accountability to protect you from yourself,” Turnbull argued. “You erode systems, you remove people, you dismantle boards and you appoint your own and it led to COI.”
He argued that the government was in a rush to finish a box-checking exercise by the May deadline for COI recommendations and has gone “behind the bushes” to accomplish the same task, hoping for different outcomes.
Turnbull stated that the opposition would not accept the government repeating the actions that led the territory to its current struggle to uphold its status and potentially lose hard-fought constitutional progress.
He stressed the importance of the government taking the time to comprehend their actions, asking questions if uncertain about guiding the territory’s direction.
Premier Wheatley recently described the matter as a non-issue and said there was a transition process to effect the change.
“We’re making a transition so there’s going to be some spill-over. I’m not sure why persons are planting their flag on this, nobody is going to go to jail. This is not the thing to plant a flag on, there are a lot of things happening that we need to correct in this territory. But really and truly, to the persons who are trying to make an issue out of this, it’s a non-issue,” the Premier stated.
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He is so right
What Hon. Turnbull is saying is 100% correct and that is not the only thing. This Government hasn’t change one bit even after the COI. I can give you another situation. The Premier is supposedly the Minister for Natural Resources. Can you imagine the Crown Land Policy was finalized a few weeks ago which speaks to having a Land Authority Body or Board? Well before the Policy was even put together, there are Individuals who were awarded letters to receive Crown Lands. These Letters come from The Ministry with the Minister’s authorization But in this case, Not the Premier. Go figure!!!
And then check to see who all was granted Crown Lands ( Non-Belongers Alien Landholding License Owners) How can the local natives carry-on tradition, culture and leave inheritance for their generations to come. Only in the Virgin islands our priceless culture and lands are being sold out to mere outsiders. The truth will be bitter. We need to preserve our culture and heritage for future generations. The Government and personnel working in these departments needs to reconsider their decisions and let the natives buy and preserve the Territory. Let them have access to affordable prices and financial services to retain our soil.
The opposition is the biggest joke in the bvi history
I see the point he’s making with just making decisions without checking for the law but… “The festival affairs committee was put in place for accountability” This a joke?
2000000000% correct Mitch. But like the elders always say who don’t listen shall feel. That damn drunk in love for power Premier …….
This guy first needs to learn the difference between cheeks clapping and gun shots. Then he can explain how the administrations that he was part of didn’t contribute to the last COI