I won’t collect a dime from ‘greedy bill’ payouts — Premier
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has vowed that he will not accept any money deriving from what residents have been calling the ‘greedy bill’.
While speaking at a political debate forum held at the H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) last evening, the premier once again reminded persons that he has already gone on record as acknowledging that his support for the Retiring Allowances (Legislative Services) Amendment Act, 2021 had been a mistake.
Opponents have flayed the law passed by the Premier’s Virgin Islands Party (VIP) over its numerous excesses doled out to lawmakers as part of a dubious pension scheme.
“I’m going to man up and I’m going to say that was a mistake and I’m going to man up as well and say, I will not collect a dime,” Dr Wheatley said. “I will not collect a dime on that Retirement Act in its current form and I intend, God willing, [if] I’m given the opportunity, to repeal the entire bill.”
It is the first time the premier has publicly assured residents — since first promising on the campaign trail to repeal the law if re-elected — that he will not seek to benefit from the legislation that reward lawmakers with lump sum payments, gratuity and guaranteed salaries for years after they are voted out of office, after serving as first-term legislators.
Dr Wheatley and other party leaders were asked why nothing was clearly and articulately stated by any lawmaker involved when the bill was first passed two years ago.
“I’ve gone on record in saying that my support for the [Retiring Allowances] Act was a mistake,” Premier Wheatley said in response. “And if you can’t — being a new legislator and being someone new to politics — go through four-year terms or four years without being able to admit that you’ve made some mistakes, [then] I don’t think you’re introspective enough.”
I won’t be silent
Meanwhile, Premier Wheatley has promised that he won’t be silent on any future wrongdoings committed by any lawmakers, arguing that he has learnt from the mistakes that he has made and these have made him a better leader.
“When you make a mistake, you have a choice,” Dr Wheatley stated. “You can allow that mistake to make you feel guilty, to make you feel broken down as though you can’t contribute to anything, or you can use that mistake as a means of becoming a better person. And that is what I’ve done, and that’s what I’m committed to doing.”
“You won’t see me being silent when anything wrong is taking place moving forward,” the premier said to loud applause from the audience.
As part of his solution to the current challenge, the premier has already proposed that lawmakers should not determine their own salaries and pensions. He emphasised that he felt that such determinations should be made by an independent body and argued that lawmakers should instead be paid something which is commensurate with their roles and responsibilities.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
He is correct with what he is saying because Perline is going to take him out and that greedy bill will be repealed
Even if it is repeal all current first term members will receive their portion of the greedy bill. That is why he’s chatting nonsense. At first he was just saying he is going to repeal it knowing he was only going to collect funds under the law. he’s speaking about not collecting now because he fear he will lose his seat.
He would be entitled to it but can decide not to take the money, which is what he seems to be saying. Whether he does it or not is obviously left to be seen. I’m sure anyone entitled to the money can opt to not get it or donate it to a charity etc. Highly unlikely but that’s how it goes. You can’t say he is lying until the time comes where he is eligible to collect.
Well said Dr Wheatley – let’s see if any other members of the House will follow your lead – especially those who are perhaps unlikely to be re-elected. Fraser stands to make over $1m is is loses – he says he is against the Greedy Act – let’s hear him say he won’t accept any benefit under it! But there are others than stand to make huge windfalls if they lose the election.
Then give back the lump sum you already received. Then REPEAL the bill if you are serious. It was wicked to pass this bill in the first place. Advantage never done. You greedy politicians only take advantage of your constituents. You all don’t give a shit about the Virgin Islands and the people. If this atrocity did not become public it would have been your dirty little secret forever. All of you greedy mother f**kers give us back our money.
What lump sum? Sowande is still an elected official who has not retired so how would he get a lump sum?
Wheatley and the rest of the pack were fine with the greedy bill as long as they thought they could keep it secret. As soon as the public found out about it they are claiming it was all a mistake.
Yet another reason why none of these hypocrites should be re-elected.
Why has it taken an election for all these politicians to jump on the “not me” bandwagon, we did not hear a beep from them prior to this. Catch me once shame on you, catch me twice, shame on me.
He has plenty of income from other sources presumably.
Thats why the Governor needs to come now and release what is hidden in the incomplete report
He doesnt have the cojones.
We need a strong governor here ( elected preferably ) to sort out these charlatans.
Can anyone believe a word from this Defacto Premier?
I say a big “NO”. This Boy needs to go siddung along with his VIP Team. This is silly season and there will be more lies and empty promises. Picko is right. If the NDP was in power, there would have been no COI and if the corrupt Bunch re-elect a VIP Gov’t there will be another COI. The Greedy Bill was for the Greedy Bunch..Even the UK Gov don’t want the VIP to be re-elected. Ray Charles can see that.The Territory needs a fresh start. The Negomancy is choking the Residents. The Territory is too cloudy right now. Too much foul air we can’t breathe good and its not Covid 19.
Thats why the Governor should bring all the COI unfinish to the public NOW
Another mistake. Oh boy. His campaign should have been themed 1000 mistakes in 1000 days. I waiting to hear about the mistake concerning the water rights he give way. Then talking some lie about 800,000 tourists by the end of this year. That need to get fix before election day but the people will get rid of him anyway. Can’t pay increments but can steal our money AND can give away our economy? MISTAKE! MISTAKE! MISTAKE!
Pressure Burst Pipe, a pressure (DEM)under.
Besides all these claims about the “Greedy Bill” revelling on and on! What about the Civil Servants Increments? These Politricksians that blabbering about this and that. Nothing about the promises unfilled for Years about these Increments. The One there talking about education gone backwards. When he was the Minister in charge, a parent went to him with an Issue, his alleged response was he didn’t give a darn who voted for him, he wasn’t going to address the issue.(close friendship with the Subject and Family). So you see where im priority will lie if elected again. God help Us to make the right selection of INDIVIDUALS that can come together and work as One for this Territory.
A lot of the increments are a go ahead for the government official, but those in office that need to sign of on it are willfully not signing and taking there time to make the government look bad. There are a lot of mischief makers in the offices out there, and the government officials are getting the blame.
If you don’t believe me wait and see, a lot of increment will be given after the election has passed, (people in offices playing their games) just to be spiteful, and vindictive.
Don’t worry about your increments. You will get it on the 21 April 2023.
The accidental premier will not take a dime because them allegedly already getting paid by association and kickbacks. If he know what good for him he would just quit the nonsense. We will get rid of him in district 7. The entire bvi will thank us later.
https://bvinews.com/brewers-bay-bathroom-contractor-blasts-critics-over-video/
I will personally march down Government house if any of Andrew Fahie cabinet get back in especially this accident.
You are a l**ng NDP Cowbird! The fact is, NDP lost the last elections because SAME PICKO, along with Ronnie and Mitch destroyed the f**king party. If they did not act that way we would’ve never had a VIP so let that sink in. Further, if not for Irma there would’ve been a COI on NDP because that is why Gus was sent here. You can continue to post your scripted nonsense believing the nonsense from the NDP but the people are wide awake. Nobody is voting for Dr. Pickering or NDP. How can the same old guards that put us in these messes take us out? Sowande has been Premier for only 10 months and he hasn’t done a terrible job. I’m willing to give him a chance at 4 fresh years rather than electing Kedrick, Lorna and the old NDP Brigade. They are calling Sowande the accidental Premier but Marlon Penn is the accidental Chairman of NDP who nobody wants as Leader. If NDP were to win 7 seats and form a Government (We know they cannot but let’s say hypothetically), Marlon would no be Premier. The VIP held elections and elected Natalio Wheatley as their Chairman so there is nothing accidental. Ask Marlon and NDP how did they come by their so-called leader. Glass house?
What are you smoking? The NDP lost and the VIP won because a large number of NDP voters quit the party and voted for the VIP because nMyron Walwyn was put in charge of the NDP. That’s FACTS!!!!!!!! Ask them. Those same persons who left the NDP are yet to return. As long as Myron Walwyn is in there they will not return. Soooooo please put that in your pipe and smoke it because you are on something that is not healthy.
The math of the last election results does not support your argument. PVIM and NDP split what wouldve normally been NDP support hence VIP won. The same thing will happen again as elections are a numbers game that the VIP obviously understands well, hence their full slate. Elections are not about emotions, it boils down to numbers. I wont argue with you, the past results are public. Dissect them and you will understand that your notion that NDP voters went to VIP in droves cost them last election is flawed. If that was the case why PVIM got so many votes? If you add NDP and PVIM votes VIP was beaten. If Kedrick remained with NDP Sowande couldnt have won. If Mitch remained with NDP they wouldve gotten him and the atlarge votes and quite possibly 7 or 8 total to form govt. Its simple math.
Huh is correct. You ever heard of split votes?
Ask the NDP voters how they voted last election. And while you are at it, ask them how they will vote this election. I am sure you see most of them wearing their blue shirts and/or telling you plain out they with PVIM all the way this time.
if Kedrick had stayed independent this time he might have gotten some of their votes but teaming up with Myron is going to be fatal.
I mean is it that you believe the voters are stupid? What is wrong with you? You all painting this picture like you all so great and the country is in turmoil basking in international disgrace because of the VIP. Fahies arrest was just part of it the whole COI and the bad spending during and after the COI is just mind-boggling.
I hear Frazer saying how the COI was a deliberate attempt to embarrass the country. You all politicians need exposing and embarrassing and although it’s done you all still won’t do better. Natalio you went along with fahie to do this greedy Bill at the worst time when the people were distracted with Covid.
Achilles and Odysseus
By Tafari Zharr
Let’s make love Not war
Reassess how low you take the bar
The locomotion of your commotion
Stop running campaigns on emotions
Desperation tactics exposed to view
Unprecedented Paid campaign Ads that Block
Add Silences to FedUp voices Of Bedrock
What would Faulkner, Fonseca & Lloyd
Emogene Augusta Creque VI Calling On You
Like a page from Iliad, You Greek Grads
Quit making us scared and sad
If you wish VI well your grace will tell
I wonder, Will the aggressiveness
Cause VI a long wandering mess
Are you taking us an an Odyssey
Green changing Blue’ strategies
But for whom Is this war brewing
Changing: For whom your colors showing
Between Odysseus and Achilles
Can we climb from doldrum bliss
This fight to seize the Premiership
An Arrogance – a clamor- armor for power
Shouting sunken confidence of fury and fumes
Competitiveness – which party will it consume
Time favorably rewards great leaders
Humpty Dumpty May get to sit on the wall
Though Time forgives pride goes before a fall
Politics divides us – alienates us – by default
But which of you dare to repel and halt- dust
heels of distrust- Lil- Their eyes are watching us
Perhaps our Greek mythology is a bit Rusty
Camaraderie: Elections, tells the greatest parodies
c) 2023. Tafari Zharr. All rights reserved.
This current premier Wheatley cannot be trusted today or tomorrow. His * was Olevine Maynard Pickering’s personal assistant at port authority. They need to stop this nonsense from fooling off people and telling lies. Olevine now incarcerated and them now trying to escape. Investigate them alll. If the police can’t do it the public should not vote for shady people let … tell the public what she know… her friends people done know wha going on.
Sowande performed the best last night out of all leaders hands down. Good VIP, bad VIP.. you have to give it to the leader that he was outstanding.
In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king.
What did we do in the 7th district to deserve such representation. I wish it was like the first, third or fourth districts that have multiple good candidates contesting for the election, we in the seven can’t even get have one smh.
You have a choice , crook 1 or crook 2.
In all the talk of people with records no one is talking about the candidate who did jail time for social security fraud in the USVI.
And she is asking to be let loose in the treasury?
fOR REAL?
Don’t say that to comfort us. Then when you get in its excuses after excuses.I already start hearing some excuses why it can’t be repeal, like ” Its already Law and its not that simple..It will need court involvement..It will need legal minds……I doubt it will be repeal.we will see..Only a Britain take over can fix these greedy bills.. Wonder why the governor sign it…The people say its a set up and they so greedy they can’t see it
Where is report Natalee?? You don’t think the public need to see it?? You were hoping the election pass and we wouldn’t hear or see it EH. Come on .an do right thong.
What about ‘Wig Man’ and the money Government paid on his behalf when the Courts mandated that he be the one to pay it? Tell us about that too Mr. Premier!
Didnt his son get exactly the same amount as he owed in education grants?
Authorised by the Accidental Premier
They think we are stupid
If Sowande is so bad for the 7th District, why PVIM doesn’t have a candidate there? Why doesn’t NDP have a candidate there when Kedrick, their atlarge Candidate was elected for 20 years representing that same district? Do not pay attention to words, especially negative words to paint others dirty, look at actions. They have no respect for the constituents but are talking nonsense. If they cared so much about the 7th District and could do so much better then Kedrick would’ve been there contesting that seat on behalf of the people he claims to love so much. Instead they are playing games, padding the district and hoping that bad talking Sowande will get them a ‘win’. Have some respect for the populace, we are not blind, dumb or asleep. We are watching and paying close attention to these slick moves. The 7th District voters would be the stupidest ever to vote against the Premier in favor of a failed WSD Director especially given the issues now.
HE WILL NEVER BE PREMIER AGAIN…NOT HE!
Is saying )> ah gotta confess it was my coach idea , and it was wrong , but, things happen
…”ahhh, nah….nope…they expect me to say dat….no way….it wasn’t me’….
If our good Premier was not. Exposed by concerned citizens and people did not take to the media about the GREEDY Bill, he would have never said Andy hung or shoe remotes .
He is only saying so because he was caught .
He never once refer to the shameful behaviour of his former Premier . Is he sorry No it is because he was exposed
Pearline has a clean record . She will whoop you at the pools
None of your team members said nothing either
Coruption is a team sport. Some will be fooled, others will remain very, absent concrete facts, skeptical.