OT Minister concludes visit to BVI! Plans now to update UK Foreign Sec
United Kingdom (UK) Overseas Territories Minister Amanda Milling said her visit to the Virgin Islands has now concluded and she will return to the UK to update UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on the feedback about meetings and discuss the way forward for the BVI.
She added that she will also have more dialogue with Governor John Rankin and Acting Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley on how to tackle the issues holding back the development of the Virgin Islands.
“This must happen quickly. The people of the BVI deserve no less. You deserve a government which works in everyone’s interests, not just those of a few. A system which promotes and protects, not divides, and instils fear. A future which is bright, not overcast by the dark shadows of crime and corruption. I am committed to delivering this in the interests of the people of the BVI,” Milling said.
She noted the recent events in the territory, with the arrests of Premier Andrew Fahie, have been shocking and concerning for everybody. She also highlighted that the Commission of Inquiry Report raised very serious concerns about the failures of governance and dishonesty by local elected officials.
“I have spent the last few days listening to how you feel about the events. We discussed the recommendations from the Report. And I heard what you think is needed — which is putting the best interests of the people of the BVI at the heart of any future decisions,” she said in an address to the BVI public
“Let’s be clear – the Report highlighted significant concerns around corruption, transparency, and accountability. There is no getting away from this. Like many people have told me, this isn’t a question of whether something should be done. It is a question of what is done. Action is needed now to: strengthen the foundations of the territory; deliver a better public service; maintain a strong and resilient economy; and create better opportunities for the people of the BVI. This is what I heard you want during my visit,” Milling continued.
The Overseas Territories Minister said that in the last few days, she met with a range of people across the territory including Dr Wheatley, the party leaders and members of the House of Assembly, business, and tourism leaders; some of the most experienced political and public service figures; representatives from the financial sector, church leaders and representatives of community groups.
“My meetings have helped me gain greater insight and understanding of the significant challenges facing BVI. Discussions with elected officials have been cordial but frank. They acknowledged the scale of the issue, and that the road ahead will be challenging. But we all agreed that it is a necessary journey,” Milling said.
“During my discussions with community and religious leaders, I heard about the impact corruption has had on the community here. I sought their views on what would be best for the people of the BVI. Everyone I have met has agreed that there need to be significant changes in the BVI to improve governance,” she added.
The OT Minister said it is urgent that systems, processes, laws, and norms are fixed to ensure that money spent by the government – the people’s money – is better spent on roads, education, hospitals, and better public services and not misused as the COI found out.
“We now have the opportunity to do this. To build a government that delivers for its people in a fair, transparent, and accountable way,” Milling said.
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In this proposed house of Assembly, the joining of all parties to form the government does not sit well with the people. All the parties that they represent, some of their members that is being under investigation. You cant have these people watching or guarding the cheese.
The virgin islanders who took a stance and helped the coi wanted a good change. You cant have a man who backed the premier in every nonsense he did to now lead the country or a man who took every security contract to now be speaker.
Those two from the opposition are not clean. They have question marks above their heads too and some of the people within their respective parties have been under investigation.
I mean who do they think they are to want to run the country when they are a big part of how it got to this state for the past 7 yrs. The UK needs to take a strong stance.
Miss Milling the only way forward is a UK take over,please don’t leave this government in power I say this for the biggest part of the population we need change and its not going to come if you leave these cr003s if power get rid of them then in 2 years call an election but band people from both parts from running, we have suffered for to long.
It is very disappointing that Milling did not talk to ordinary people in the BVI. She talked with “ politicians and church leaders “ – the very rats that have brought us to where we are.
Let’s hope she has the nous to see through that bunch of charlatans and that she takes note of the obvious and clear wish of the majority of the people to sweep this corrupt and useless government out of power.
At least in truth, she could have met with the Business people who are suffering at the hands of the Banks and Insurance companies while our Government did nothing just a lot of talk while getting a personal line of credit.
Let the voters SPEAK via a referendum NOT the blogs!
ALL to the poles to vote Direct Rule or NO Direct Rule. You afraid referendum? I do not!
As soon as your plane wheels are up the rats will be back in the cheese. Please act swiftly and decisively.
She look like the REAL ANGLO SAXON
Whatever role the 12 surviving elected HOA members are cast in the next 2 years please do the following:
1)Stop all salary payments, all phone & vehicle perks, any allowances, security guards, etc. In short no more government money for these suspicious characters forever.
2)Refund to the BVI Treasury all the salary payments, any allowances, etc. since February 2019 for the first timers and back in time for the others to the date they were first elected to the HOA.
Payback time!
No recolonization.
Please, all this crying about recolonization… At this point what is there to be fearful of? That I might be a UK citizen? That someone might actually run this country well?
A referendum on this please!