Gov’t to formally reject new UK report
The government has signalled its intention to formally reject the United Kingdom’s new report, which identified corruption within the Virgin Islands’ law enforcement agencies and recommended placing key offices under the governor’s purview.
Published on April 8, the report has been widely criticised, with all members of the House of Assembly and some segments of the public rejecting its findings. Several elected officials have urged Premier Natalio Wheatley’s administration not to accept the report in its entirety, warning that doing so could lead to harmful consequences.
In a statement issued yesterday, Premier Wheatley said the government is open to considering many of the report’s suggestions but will categorically reject others.
“The report itself has several practical, detailed suggestions and observations that we will consider. But it also has many that we must reject categorically,” Premier Wheatley’s statement said. “More broadly, the Government of the Virgin Islands cannot accept its mischaracterisation of the situation on the island, nor the characterisation of our citizens’ talents and capability.”
The Premier also noted that the report fails to acknowledge the progress the Virgin Islands has made in strengthening governance and institutions in recent years. He reiterated that his administration does not support placing key law enforcement agencies under the governor’s authority.
“The governor already has constitutional responsibility for the security of the territory, which is the subject of criticism in this report. To accept this premise would also represent submitting to colonial overreach, and represent a retrograde step for democracy in the British Virgin Islands,” the statement said.
According to the statement, members of the House of Assembly will come together to thoroughly assess the report before issuing a formal response to the UK government.
The government’s stance comes amid criticism from Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn, who accused the administration of capitulating when it accepted the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report released in 2022.
Walwyn argued that, before accepting the COI report, leaders should have consulted legal experts from across the Caribbean who could have helped them understand the long-term implications.
He also claimed the COI report paved the way for the UK to brand the BVI government as corrupt and to release damaging reports like the recent review of local law enforcement.
However, Premier Wheatley has maintained that elected officials who accepted the COI recommendations acted in the best interest of the territory by agreeing to implement good governance reforms. He said doing so helped prevent the UK from enacting an Order in Council that would have stripped local leaders of their authority.
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We are in this mess because you accepted the recommendations wholesale because you wanted to be Premier. That’s all you wanted. Now that your deeds have caught up with you you want everyone to come to support you. Let your brothers support you.
Don’t worry it got more deeds to catch up with him. We will deal with him at the polls then God will decide if he should let him enjoy our greedy money.
he chuckled when he said that he always dreamt of being Premier.
showande you went to england and agreed to do everything they asked, now you are backtracking. I hope the u.k takes over this place because it is clear you guys aren’t serious about ending corruption.
Does not a thing ,unless the HOA , police , and judiciary have the intention , integrity, skills and budget to enforce the laws . There lies the truth I’m afraid the UK has had to force through the HOA to have the laws on the statute now let’s get the tools in the hands of skilled people with integrity willing to use them. I’m sorry to say in the main those citizens are not the current incumbent’s of those positions mentioned above.
Do we know that our Premier is actually an American? Somehow we seem to forget this important fact.
2022:”However, Premier Wheatley has maintained that elected officials who accepted the COI recommendations acted in the best interest of the territory by agreeing to implement good governance reforms. He said doing so helped prevent the UK from enacting an Order in Council that would have stripped local leaders of their authority.”
2025: Accept all these new recommendations or the Order in Council will be enforced.
Let the People decide!!
The current BVI elected Government has proven to be of little use to effective governing and are ineffective on all fronts.
The American Premier with a Vincentian wife and not a word from Claude Cline and his clan. Ayo really special mehson.
Did the American premier file his tax return with the us Internal Revenue Service before April 15?
Don’t reject accurate reporting on corruption..
Who defines ‘corruption’ and when will citizens start being charged for selling their votes etc.? The so called corruption cannot be a one-way street. Also, the UK is one of the most corrupt places on earth and they are talking down to us? The RVIPF and Prisons that are under the Governor and ran by UK ‘Professionals’ are the most corrupt agencies in the BVI so what are we really saying/doing? We believe so much in foreign powers that we are willing to act dumb, deaf and blind? There are things that need to be addressed, let’s address them but to paint the BVI as this completely lawless place with nothing good happening is just rubbish! The UK is a complete shit hole and should be the last to say anything.
I neeed the UK to come in and suspend the consitution and put in the Law Enforcement law.
Listen be very careful what you wish for, the UK did take over our island and it was very hard for years so be very careful
Everybody got one head now that their corrupt practices are being threatened. Cookie jar getting harder to reach so everybody on the same team now. Lol
If UK leaves it will be back to infighting. Back to bringing down one another and back everybody helping them friends and family rape the tax money
I think you will find the Uk at number 20 in the perceived corruption index 1 being seen as most honest 180 seen as the most corrupt. The BVI I assume because of its size doesn’t feature, I would suggest that is a relief to you as you could claim your covered by the UK rating . On the other hand you could enquirer where we would actually sit in reality I very much doubt you’d appreciate the answer!
Who is responsible for compiling the listings? Show me the corruption and convictions from the COI and the blatant corruption.
Firstly, The Premier is not the only Virgin Islander who was Born in the US. There are many more and that is not a Sin as am sure many others who live here were not born here either. It’s called having Dual Citizenship.
Secondly, I must agree with Hon Walwyn when he said that the recommendations were accepted from 2022 when the Threat to suspend our Constitutional Order
was laid, thus bringing us to this Point.
This maybe lengthy, But bear with me.
In 2022 when the COI Report was presented to our Government with a decision already pending, it is clear to note that it was indeed somewhat a Heart wrenching time for ALL Citizens of our Territory and the Then Government being Young at Heart in Politics and caught unaware. caused a lot of pre-mature or Hazardous Decisions to be made as even Members of the Then opposition were unaware of their role in the whole equation and the Consequencies. many might say considering the Time and nature of the whole Ordeal. it is normal to say It was indeed a Serious Situation which caused for Critical Thinking Skills to be applied. However, I do not agree with the Notion that the people of the territory could not be included or made aware of what had taken place and that their support was needed Then just like Now as being said by Elected Officials and other Minds in the Territory.
Here we are again faced with what might very well be a repeat of 2022 and Now comes the Clarion call for all Hands to be on deck. While I agree that Unity is Strength and divided we will fall, I will also mention Not knowing then what we know Now, This Time should be different from the Citizens standpoint. This territory is and has been in serious Trouble for a while and especially in recent times. Therefore, I would advocate for certain stances to be taken before an agreement is made or expected by the Citizens.
1. The current Premier needs to relinquish the Portfolio of Finance Minister which should be held by someone more responsible and Financially qualified.
2. The Minimum Wage Workers MUST demand their increase before any March or signatures are asked to be affixed to any official Document in support of any decision that may made concerning the way forward for this territory.
3. There Must be an Immediate Financial Audit done by the Auditor general to ascertain how our Finances are up to date. (Income and Expenditure),
4. And Most Important, If push comes to Shove We should be ready and Demand Fresh Elections forthwith.
It is High time that we get this territory back on Track. We are in Limbo while the Mayhem continues.
To prevent the UK from labeling the Virgin Islands as corrupt, investigate the stimulus funds distributed throughout the territory. Focus on recipients who lacked proper documentation, lacked business licenses, or falsely claimed to be farmers or fishermen to obtain grants. Many misused funds to buy vehicles, personal expenses, and other inappropriate things.Why not start from there.prove to them, that we can handle our own affair. Accountability is want we need.
What is the possibility that with the elected Gov rejection of this proposed Bill,the UK will opt out of financial support for police and prison related expenses.
Why would they financially support what has failed and what they deem to be not effective and in the interest of good and safe Governing.
While you are rejecting the report, is there also an option for us to reject VIP now and get you guys out of there? What are you doing to fix the issues instead of only talking?
It would be a set up because there was a territory wide business grant. People love to blame the farmers and fishers and forgot the whole private sector in the territory was invited to apply with many innocent business receiving.
I am a Virgin Islander. My country is the Virgin Islands. And I am not afraid to protect and defend the Virgin Islands. Wrong is Wrong. right is right. we all need to fix this mess. Starting Now.
I Think a New Dictionary needs to be Printed to define the true meaning of the Word “Corruption”.
After what happened with the Former Premier and his Administration with the Millions of Dollars of the Citizens Social Security Funds being distributed to Friends and Families and Cronies, ALL Members of that Administration should have been made to repay the Public funds, sent up at the Hotel on the Hill and NEVER be allowed to contest any Elections EVER. But instead the Beneficiaries along with the Elder from Mc Namara saw it fit to re-elected them and still no better. You can call it what you want But CORRUPTION in these Virgin Islands is here to stay unless the UK takes over. We should be Ashamed to call the UK Corrupt when We are no different.
that some members of the HOA do NOT comment on the blatant malfeasance of public funds for the aforementioned ‘grants’?
Why is that? I dare anyone reading this to ask that question to the ‘honorable’ members of the BVI HOA!!
Some of us already know the answer as to why they have not. Others, ponder how such blatant acts in plain view can go unpunished. What messaging is this to our society?
We have a failed society.
Premier is a part of the problem. Was he Andrew’s right hand?
That is why whenever the Minister for Overseas
Territories comes to our Shores, They deliberately keep him away from The Ordinary Citizens because they know that We will tell on them and insist that the UK take over this Place. This Administration needs to be Gone!! We will not stop until it happens. Letters have already been sent to: Whom It May Concern, requesting a UK takeover. The Chips will fall where they may. Enough is Enough!!
The bvi have had many Governors. Some good some bad but good of bad be they we’ll never know. We’re just consumers of whatever is on the menu. There are choices though eat or starve. Who amongst us is without faults? Some people suffered for their transgressions while others rewarded for theirs. The system that they’ve set up has been failing for centuries and only they have the solutions? Smiley