Opposition didn’t set out to win no-confidence vote, Walwyn admits
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has acknowledged that the Opposition did not bring forward the recent no-confidence motion expecting to win, but instead used it as a platform to highlight the public’s concerns about governance in the Virgin Islands.
Speaking at a press conference last week, Walwyn stressed that the motion was never about numbers in the House of Assembly, where the Opposition was outnumbered.
“We went into the vote of no confidence under no illusions at all that we would win. That was not the objective because a vote of no confidence serves different purposes,” he stated.
He explained that the motion allowed him to outline issues facing residents, including water shortages, poor infrastructure, and questionable spending.
“The key thing is for you to be able to articulate what the concerns are of the public because what was written in that vote of no confidence is exactly what is affecting each and every citizen of this country. In articulating those concerns, sometimes a solo can be just as effective as a choir. I was a solo and I sang quite well, articulating the concerns of the people of the country,” Walwyn asserted.
Motion was successful
Despite the loss, Walwyn maintained the debate served its purpose by drawing attention to the struggles faced by ordinary residents.
“The government heard those concerns and even though they did not debate it, it must be resting very heavily on their minds. So to me, the vote of no confidence was quite successful because it conveyed what the people of this country have on their minds,” he explained.
The no-confidence motion, debated in late July, was aimed at Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley and his Virgin Islands Party-led government. The Opposition accused the government of fiscal mismanagement and prioritising non-essential spending, including $1.3 million on parties and overseas trips, while failing to address basic needs such as water supply and healthcare.
In the end, only Walwyn and Second District Representative Melvin “Mitch” Turnbull voted in favour of the motion, while Territorial At-Large Representative Ronnie Skelton abstained and government members closed ranks around Dr Wheatley. Territorial At-Large Representative Stacy Mather was absent during the vote for personal reasons.
The motion was only the second such attempt in recent years. The Opposition previously tried to oust Dr Wheatley shortly after he took over leadership for a second term. That motion also failed, but it highlighted ongoing divisions over governance and public trust.
Walwyn said the Opposition will continue to use parliamentary tools to hold the government accountable, even if outnumbered.
“People send who they want to the House of Assembly to represent their interests. Every single person must be responsible for their stewardship to the people of this country. If somebody wants to sit down and abstain, that’s a matter for them. I chose to stand up and speak on behalf of the people of this country,” he declared.
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I commend Hon. Walwyn on bringing the vote of no confidence. He was able to show all the failings of the government and he did it in a very effective way. I learnt a lot of things that I didn’t know was taking place. The fact that the government did not debate it show me that they have no proper responses to the issues raised. I noticed they cowardly tried to answer under other business to avoid a robust debate on their performance. Hon. Walwyn you did well and the people heard you and feel the same concerns that you have put forward.
Not you becoming Premier Tall Boy
Is he toxic?
That is why all the other opposition members hid/absent
MY RESPECT TO YOU , AND THAT US TELLING IT AS IT IS ( AND IF I MAY ADD ) , AND IN DOING SO ~ HE EXPOSED THE HYPOCRITES WHO THE PEOPLE SELECTED TO LOOK OUT FOR THEM , THEY HAVE NO SHAME , AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, OUR PREMIER WAS BRAGGING AS IF HE WON A WAR OVER WALWYN / IT WASN’T WAR , WALWYN ONLY BROUGHT THE PEOPLE’S NEEDS TO
THE HOA AND THE ISSUES ARE STILL NO BEING TAKEN OF ,SO WHAT HAS HE ACCOMPLISHED ? AND THE CANARY ON ON HIS YELLO SITE WAS EVEN MORE HAILARIOUS IN EMBELISILING WHAT WISHED NAT-AL-EO YHEM HAD DONE TO WALWYN , BUT WE KNOW BETTER THAN THAT / BOTH OF
THEM ARE 2 MEGALOMANICS
We are a people that help promote and maintain negativity of ourselves, negative spirits and negative progress throught our various aspects of lives.
Teah boi you out today blogging hard! Focus on getting potable water in D3 and other areas where your lame duck government can’t get sh!te done!
The opposition (I’3s good). Focus on your deadbeat ministers!
But when Skelton did it? When Frazer did it? Your tune was different sir!
enough rope to do. fake
BLONDIE YOU ARE THE DEVIL) & @ HE WAS DESERTED ) HE DIDN’T NEED A CHOIR , HE IS QUITE CAPABLE OF SPEAKING FOR HIMSTLF , Q-TIPS ARE CHEAP TRY SOME
What a crap of s__t by the walwyn boy. Your people knew the effort was a waste of time now you trying to make excuses to save your face. Boy go siddown.