Local representation beats the alternative ‘big time’ — Premier
When the BVI first elected its own representatives, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said everything took a leap forward, including the territory’s tourism and financial services industries.
While celebrating the territory’s past leaders recently – including his grandfather Willard Wheatley – Premier Wheatley said it was the accomplishments of these leaders that helped ensure the successes achieved by the BVI.
Despite those successes, however, the BVI hovers dangerously close to a United Kingdom (UK) takeover following the release of a damning Commission of Inquiry (COI) report last year on its record of governance in the territory.
But Premier Wheatley has pushed back consistently on that threat, arguing that the BVI holds itself to a high standard.
Premier Wheatley made that argument weeks ahead of his planned visit to the United Kingdom (UK) where he intends to press UK Overseas Territories Minister Lord Zac Goldsmith to remove an Order in Council held in reserve in the UK Parliament. The order is to ensure the BVI complies with agreed governance reforms.
Dr Wheatley has also insisted that the UK’s threat of a takeover through the order in council which could see a suspension of the BVI’s constitution, is a colonial relic that needs to be left in the past.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, with having our own legislators, having our own ministers, having our own Minister of Finance, things improved drastically for us here in the Virgin Islands, as opposed to when we did not have that,” the Premier said recently.
“So, as hard as we are on ourselves because we hold ourselves to a very high standard, we must never forget that having local representation beats the alternative, big time,” Dr Wheatley added.
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Agree 100%
“Without a shadow of a doubt, with having our own legislators, having our own ministers, having our own Minister of Finance, things improved drastically for us here in the Virgin Islands, as opposed to when we did not have that,”
Nobody disputes this idea, yet after years of local leadership, what have we as a country accomplished? Are we able to be entirely honest with ourselves here? We do not need the UK’s intervention to show that we are our own worst enemies; the proof is plain to see. We should be a much more advanced country than we are right now. We must take responsibility for our actions because if not now, when will we? Our LOCAL leaders’ extravagant spending has put our future generations in a terrible financial situation.
The UK’s performance is the worse under the Governors. They are abusing their powers through the COI and other measures to try to hide this fact.
We should not be pushing back blindly. As flawed as the COI was it did bring to light some weaknesses in how we govern ourselves.
I am not saying bow down to Uk on every issue but we should confront them with facts in an intellegent manner. I could be wrong but it seems like we are being combative in our words too often.
No place is perfect however, it would be foolish not to wish to improve our government in the areas that were pointed out in the COI. Nobody likes criticism but wise people learn and grow from constructive criticism and accountability is necessary in good governance.
I think the BVI is lacking true local leadership and hopefully next elections will take care of that. Sowande seems to be trying but not sure if it’s enough. However, one just needs to take a look at the UK and their own affairs to realize that while we need work here, don’t be so quick to throw away our own for others as if they’re doing any better in their backyard. Let’s hold our own accountable and get it going.
Only if that local representation isn’t slow AF. Can add actual value to my life. Otherwise why is he there?
It is sad that he thinks we are so gullible.
Yes we are forgiving but not stupid…….
Please take some time off
Hold ourselves to high standard in front the camera
but what about behind the scenes…..
fed up of pure undliuted BS
everything is darkness be brought to light now!!!
I respect and agree with your opinion. We need to take a more mature approach to this whole situation. There is no doubt that we have fallen short in fact blatant injustices have been committed that will leave innocent people dispossessed of their birth right for eternity. These are grievous wrongs that must be acknowledged. Repentance consists of a change of mind. Create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me. See how rude boy had a rude awakening in the middle of prayer before he touch the money.
And now the end is near so face the final curtain
My friend, I’ll say it clear
I’ll state my case of which I’m certain
You’ve lived a life that’s full
you’ve travelled a lot and still travelling
Oh, and more much more than this
You did it your way
You did what you thought you had to do
And saw it through without exception
You planned each charted course
God knows what you ate up and what you spat out
You have had your fill
I find it all so amusing
To think you did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way
You did it your way and now you will pay
That’s all I am going to say
Your grandfather was a true gentleman with integrity , of which you should of tried to emulate, but, you ain’t ready yet , in fact you have have embarrassed him , with all that you sat down and agreed to with saint andrew that we are now experiencing the side effects from you wannabe aristocracts . ( may his soul rest in peace
Local representation is better than the alternative, if you want:
huge quantities of government revenue wasted over 40 years, terrible infrastructure, poor public education.
I won’t say anything about Head Coach and the former Director of Ports or that office it turned out the BVI was paying for in Miami; no one knew what for, supposedly.
It can’t be that when water and sewage cannot fix a broken pipe in East End in a day. Who of East End out of water because of the inefficient staff at water and sewage. If the staff was efficient they would have fix that in an hour.
would be better for the BVI for the next 40 years than what local governments did to the BVI in the last 40 years.
Do all of you who have the UK as saviors know that crime is so bad in the UK that in certain areas when crime is committed they do not bother to report it as the police does not have the resources to deal with it. Do you know that many chief of police in the UK are crying out to these same UK officials for money and resources as their budgets are being cut and crime is rising out of control. Why do you all think they have our best interest at heart.
So we must continue the downward spiral and fully become a Godforsaken piece of purgatory with our people empty handed,semi literate roaming pillar to post in scorn and degradation begging entry and recognition in kinship with those neighboring Black and local self determined calling themselves Island Nations and Caricom???!!
The only winners are the repulsive self enriching
elected ,eh .
Do you not understand the disgust, loathing and distrust that has been dumped on we the people by allyo actions? Nothing worksexcept idiocy. p Every thing in disorder and disrepair and fantasy.
Please qualify that with the adjectives “competent, transparent, with integrity…and who doesn’t thief”