Motion of no confidence against gov’t fails
The motion of no confidence brought against Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley’s administration has failed in the House of Assembly.
The sitting resumed this morning, July 31, with Acting Speaker Karl Dawson inviting elected members to indicate whether they wished to contribute further to the debate that was opened by Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn earlier this week.
Following a brief silence, Dawson stated that no other member wished to speak and invited Walwyn to deliver his closing remarks.
However, Deputy Premier Julian Fraser objected, arguing that Walwyn had nothing to respond to since no one contributed to the debate after his opening.
A brief exchange between Walwyn and Fraser followed before the House went into recess to determine how to proceed. Upon resumption, the Acting Speaker said he would allow Walwyn “the courtesy to wrap up in 15 minutes.”
Fraser again objected, stating: “The only position left for this motion is to reply, not to wrap up. Since there’s nothing to respond to, there’s no wrap up.”
Second District Representative Melvin “Mitch” Turnbull then addressed the House, explaining that he had arrived just before 10 am with the intention to debate but observed that members were attending a funeral. He said he left to also attend the funeral and had returned to contribute to the debate.
However, the Speaker ruled that the opportunity to debate had already passed. Walwyn then attempted to speak but was interrupted by Fraser, who insisted the Opposition Leader had no right to respond.
“We sat here for over three and a half hours listening to him speak. Is he going to respond to himself saying he made a mistake? That’s on him. There’s no wrap-up or reply, the standing orders are clear,” Fraser said.
The House was briefly recessed once more before the official vote was taken. Six government members voted against the motion, while Walwyn and Turnbull voted in favour. At-Large Representative Ronnie Skelton abstained.
At-Large Representative Stacy “Budda” Mather and Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn were absent.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
How they represent the people, by attending funerals and abstaining when there are important matters in the HOA to address.
However, the people have heard evidence why there is a Motion of No Confidence in the current government. It is on record, they cannot deny that,
Very well done, Sir Walwyn.
What was interesting to me is that Hon. Ronnie Skelton abstained. I heard him say on NDP radio that the resolution of no confidence motion was almost identical to the one he tried to bring when he was Leader of the Opposition. So because he is not leader of the opposition now he did not get up to support it and then when his time came to show he really cares about the country he abstained from voting. This was done all because Myron is the leader of the opposition and not him. Hon. Skelton, shame on you. You are not a good person. You have bad mind.
I too noticed that he abstained. Shameful! RS shows his true colors again and time after time we give him a pass. Not anymore! He is a washed up player that doesn’t know when to throw in the towel! RS – listen to me; you are past your prime and the games that you are playing we can all see rite through them! Like I’ve said before, you and Fraser are what is wrong with the BVI. I predict that if you dare run you will suffer the same defeat you tasted before this last election!
Even Ms. Parsons realized the true colors of you – albeit too late but she distanced herself from you and the den of vipers you surround yourself with for self-aggrandizement.
Just retire and disappear since you have nothing, and I say NOTHING tangible to add to the conversation and running of this country!!! You Sit should be ashamed and when you see the dirty looks from people you know the reasons why! Gtfoh!
God bless all of these crooks (from all 3 parties) how to figure out a way to keep all of their family members, friends, cronies, etc. on the corrupt payroll. Well played! The idiot Brit Governor will actually fall for it. Carry on!
It’s youtube is the saddest place on the internet
If you listened to Honourable Walwyn talk on Tuesday evening you would know whats really been going on for two plus years now. Not only did he deliver a detailed and crushing account of the mismanagement of this territory, under the current administration, but he also noted where they are breaking VI law and where they violated the constitution. No sane person could have sat through than and not been “shame like a dog” knowing they were complicit in any part of that.
Even while he shone light into some of the darkest areas of the current government Walwyn also offered real and valuable suggestions for how they could improve and what they should be doing.
Today the government had nothing to say because they could not defend the indefensible. The current VIP administration and their hangers on (flip and flop) should be thoroughly ashamed of the state we are in and all the work they have left undone. Time longer than twine and the VI people have had enough of this.
Those who voted No Or abstained did it all for Self-interest. These politicians are a disgrace.
This fiasco truly illustrates the psychological condition of the Black man in a nut shell.
Unity for him is still centuries ahead.
Sadly, his enemies know this. Won’t be surprised if some of them were paid off for its failure.
WE DONT WANT NO ISLAND MAN TO LEAD US
HIS PARTY WILL BE DEFEATED SAME WAY
All of the politicians are building a voter’s platform for themselves. What people need to do, Is to look at the
A. Infrastructure
B. Water Issues
C. Tourism
E. The contracts
F. The unemployment rate
G. The Health Care system
H. The Electricity Bill
I. The food prices
K. The price of rent
L. The quality of education our children have when they leave high school
And Just figure out- Are our lives and living standards getting better for the more than average prrson living
And w orking in the .BVI .
When we can say it is better quality life then we can applaud the government who does that.
Until then let truthfully facts be our guide
Their position of not debating reinforced even more why I never voted for them and will never vote for them. The vote of no confidence did its purpose for me. Showed the state of the territory and the position of those voted into represent the people.
As for Ronnie abstaining totally disappointed. Interested to know why Marlon and Stacy were absent.
Nowadays if you want to have a meeting with a member of government, just attend a funeral, any funeral.
Ronnie Skelton is a horrible man. The people of this country are suffering and he chose not to support the vote of no confidence because of his feelings toward Myron. Yet he turned around under a different segment of the sitting and re-stated the very things that Myron said in his debate. Ronnie and Marlon are both very wicked people.
Today showed me that Ronnie and Marlon are the power hungry ones who are really the problem with NDP and PVIM not uniting. Ronnie abstained from a crucial vote on real issues affecting the BVI. I understand that Marlon sat in his car outside until after the vote was done and he came inside. I will not be voting for those jokers.
I finally see for myself that Skelton is the problem. If he is not in charge he does not support anything. He is suffering from a bad case of entitlement. He abstained from an important motion because Myron brought it. Yet he proceeded under other business to raise some of the issues that he refused to debate and support under the vote of no confidence. There is a special place for people like him. Ronnie at this point just needs to retire. He has nothing to offer this country. If he seek reelection he will be very embarrassed.
Ronnie we see you. You dutty.
The motion of no confidence did exactly what it was set out to do.
It was the metric for each representative to show how they really felt about the vexing highlighted issues outlined in the Vote of Mo confidence. Silence is consent!
So don’t expect any change from the incumbent and Hon Skelton and Penn are just wind socks blowing in the prevailing wind. The government feels emboldened with the outcome but the voters will have the last say.
Every politician is the same it’s all smoke and mirrors.
Lorna said she is quite happy on the other side. Said she saw unity in the VIP. They are unified alright. Unified in robbing the treasury for themselves, family and supporters. For her to get up and say she is quite comfortable being a part of that speaks volumes. This is the same lady who had much to say when she was on the other side. What is a voter to believe? One thing for sure, she nor Ronnie could ever get my vote ever again! Disgusted and disappointed!!!!
Ahhh boi! There she goes again glossing over her actions as if we are all dumb and deaf. Is it a DNA thing to flip flop and have no morals? Gotta be. Both Lizard and Kangaroo share the same ideology- it wasn’t me, it’s for the benefit of the country, and $$$ always goes missing.
But hey; regardless of what the constituents feel and say, the country is performing better than ever and the collective happiness is greater than anywhere in the world!
Seems like a serious case of drinking the kool-aid and cult like the inking by the ministers with their two assassins in the opposition- Ronnie & Marlon.
Ahhh boi! There she goes again glossing over her actions as if we are all dumb and deaf. Is it a DNA thing to flip flop and have no morals? Gotta be. Both Lizard and Kangaroo share the same ideology- it wasn’t me, it’s for the benefit of the country, and $$$ always goes missing.
But hey; regardless of what the constituents feel and say, the country is performing better than ever and the collective happiness is greater than anywhere in the world!
Seems like a serious case of drinking the kool-aid and cult like the inking by the ministers with their two assassins in the opposition- Ronnie & Marlon.
People that have good sense knows a vote of no confidence don’t need to be won,the emphasis is mainly to put on record the failing conditions of the existing government. It’s very difficult for a minority opposition to unseat an existing government holding the majority, hence the vote have served its purpose.