Our people love to run to the Governor – Vincent Wheatley
Health Minister Vincent Wheatley has taken aim at residents who bypass elected leaders and instead turn to the governor with grievances, saying the pattern shows a lack of trust in local leadership.
Wheatley made the comments in the House of Assembly during a debate on part two of the controversial Review of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Bodies in the British Virgin Islands, which forms part of ongoing reforms tied to the 2022 Commission of Inquiry.
“A lot of our people have more confidence and trust and feel they will be treated more fairly by a UK-appointed governor than by their own people,” Wheatley argued. “Our people don’t often trust us. They don’t think much of us. So whenever they can’t get their own way… they like to run down by the governor.”
“You would think that governors are infallible. I know better,” Wheatley added. “They will paint us with the ugly brush, but they’re not touching their own.”
Wheatley suggested that the growing perception of fairness from the Governor’s Office over locally elected officials has fed a troubling dynamic. “Somehow you feel that we don’t like you, we hate you, this or that… we’re not treating you fairly, so you run down there,” he argued.
The minister criticised past UK-appointed governors, highlighting incidents that he said showed misuse of authority and bias. He recalled Governor Martin Stavely’s involvement in the 1967 decision to lease vast areas of Anegada and Wickhams Cay to a private individual on a 199-year lease, a move he said only reversed after public uproar.
He also cited an earlier case involving Commissioner Cruikshank, who he claimed misused government funds to improve the official residence and allegedly denied land titles to residents in Baughers Bay.
Wheatley made clear his opposition to any expansion of the Governor’s powers as proposed in the latest report. “I do not in any way, shape or form support the UK-appointed governor taking on any more responsibility.”
The report recommends strengthening oversight of law enforcement institutions and proposing shifting more responsibilities under the Governor’s control—recommendations that have stirred intense political debate and public concern across the territory.
According to the Health Minister, these recommendations risk rolling back decades of progress. “This report here, if we ever make the mistake and accept it, takes us back 75 years,” he warned.
Wheatley said he believes the Virgin Islands must continue striving for self-governance, rooted in the identity and aspirations of its people.
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Mr. Wheatly, you would hope, surely understands that public trust is not something you buy at Clarence Thomas or Riteway. It has to be earned and maintained. The fact that people would rather approach a UK appointed official rather than an elected politician is an indictment of years of cronyism, and corruption and wasted public monies, nearly all by Belongers, in the Territory. Instead of complaining or talking about limiting the Governor’s powers, BVI politicians need to have a serious think about how to regain the trust of voters and residents alike. But they won’t because somehow the absence of accountability hereabouts means they will never admit mistakes.
Honourable Minister, I commend the strides you’ve made in advancing The Territory’s interests. However, I urge you to exercise prudence in your public statements. We must recognize that certain media outlets may not always present your words in the intended context. It’s noteworthy that while your achievements often go unacknowledged, any controversies are prominently associated with your name. While others legislators may have shared similar viewpoints on this matter, it is telling that your words have been singled out and spotlighted. Also be sure that you are not the sole aggressive advocate for the position and then left to stand alone when the proverbial crap hits the fan. History has shown that certain individuals have exhibited disloyalty, resulting in you and another esteemed former member bearing undue responsibility and almost irreversible damage to both your reputations . Approach the critique of the bill with a measured tone . There is no necessity to engage in confrontations with the Governor or the United Kingdom.
Hon. Wheatley please review what Hon. Smith said when addressing this issue and the coverage and style that the article was framed vs how yours was presented. You must become aware that they are those out there deliberately trying to make you look bad. Be smart . You go out there adocating strongly and when you look around for the rest of your party there is no one there and you taking the hit by yourself. not of these publications are on your side . They in particular envy Virgin Gorda because they see the potential and are desperate to get their hands on it. Please have some self awareness.
People run to the governor because the elected officials are tyrants and corrupt. They abuse their own. Cousin Vinny wants you to suffer in silence, he need to go sit down
https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2024/08/06/former-bvi-premier-sentenced-prison-conspiring-import-cocaine-us
The house. negro slave mentalityis still a real psychological force within.
Been there , done that ,all of you like to crucify people just because…
One name you all respect,, THE GOVERNOR ..
is he still not under investigation?
I want to be added to the statistics. I running to the Governor today!
Guv’s office is much more efficient resolving red tape problems than the BVI civil servants.
“A lot of our people have more confidence and trust and feel they will be treated more fairly by a UK-appointed governor than by their own people,” Wheatley argued. “Our people don’t often trust us. They don’t think much of us. So whenever they can’t get their own way… they like to run down by the governor.” That’s because you all can’t be trusted.
Mr. Wheatley, while I understand your Statements I wish to make something clear. The reasons why people find themselves conversing with the Governor instead of Elected Politicians:
1. The Governor could care less who is related to who when it comes to referencing issues or Complaints.
2. The Governor is representing ALL not SOME.
3. The Governor could be blame yes for some of the
Corruption some Politicians practice and does nothing about it even when the Citizens are crying out.
4. The Governor is trusted to keep certain information confidential while the Politicians will use someone’s criticism against them or one of their Family members.
5. While the Governor will listen keenly to what someone is saying, Politicians will try to justify why they behave towards some people.
6. All in All, the majority of some Politicians mean NO Good to this territory nor its people and should have NEVER been elected to stand nor sit in the Hollywood House of Assembly.
7. Corruption is rampant in this territory and some Politicians are a part of it.
8. Instead of the Members of the HOA fussing about the Report, You all need to accept where and when you all went wrong or did wrong and seek to correct what can be corrected for a Better Virgin Islands.
9. While we Harp on being a Christian Society, This is a come to Jesus time for Everybody who calls this territory “Home”.
10. While Ranting in the HOA and not admitting to your Failures, this is only the Tip of the Iceberg.
Usurp your perceived powers to use them to violate people’s Human Rights, then pray tell what is their recourse? You guys and gals in government (particularly this sitting government) like to violate the laws when it becomes necessary for your party supporters. The malfeasances over the decades, the corrupt practices, these have eroded public trust in you all for the vast majority of the population.
Even new migrants have heard of the discriminatory practices that Labor and Immigration wield like a sword over persons lives. The perception is real VINNY – ayo can’t be trusted!
they run to the governor because you all are not victimizing them or not addressing their concerns. you are very guilty of that
“A lot of our people have more confidence and trust and feel they will be treated more fairly by a UK-appointed governor than by their own people,” Wheatley argued. “Our people don’t often trust us. They don’t think much of us.”
Can’t imagine why. UK now
YOUR PEOPLE IS DRY SNITCHES WORKING AGAINST EACH OTHER.
I would strongly encourage anyone to take their concerns directly to the Governor, because waiting for transparency or accountability within the Civil Service is, quite frankly, a waste of time. Imagine working in Public Works, where we supposedly have a HR — yet instead of uniting staff, she chooses to divide and conquer. This department is in desperate need of a cleanup, because leadership at the top has failed, and those above them have done no better. It’s time for real action and real change.
You lost my confidence when you were minister of labour. Totally incompetent…
You also Vincent Wheatley
And we will continue to bypass the elected leaders and go to the Governor. You politicians CAN NOT be trusted!!!!
All you care about is the next election. Not the people. The next election. Not the roads. The next election. Not the corruption. The next election. Not the roads. The next election. Not Health Services. The next election. Not the water going all day and night. The next election. Not the fact that power outages mashing up our appliances.
So we don’t care about you and your feelings.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it!!!
AWWWW….
The governor doesn’t want his citizens talking to him. Go away and sit down he says. Don’t talk to me.
Welcome to politics you asshat
run to the Governor because you, through psychological conditioning, thinks that only a white man can solve your problems. It is called being brain washed.
ATTENTION GOVERNOR
Honorable Wheatley wants to know who we trust you more than him and his merry bandits in government.
How would he feel if he was being victimized by government or any concerns raised to government fall on deaf ears or when government interference with operations in other government departments and statutory bodies. Here is a solution that would reduce the number of inquiries you receive from citizens who need recourse from the government.
I believe the governor is responsible for the civil service and therefore the complaints Commission would fall under your pervue . That being the case that body needs to have 2 or 3 members appointed from the United Kingdom that have no direct ties to the BVI which can independently receive and review cases of complaints. Provide details of each case directly to the Governor, investigate and report their finding to the Governor. The individuals should be retired lawyers or judges familiar with labor laws. Using such a structure at the complaints commission would greatly reduce the number of cases you will see and force government to do the right thing.
Judging from the comments, it clear that it is not VIslanedrs posting such against their own interest. If so, we are still existing in a terrible psychological state of mind.
run to the Governor because, if Black, they are house negroes/Ni+++RS.
So wait if you keep complaining to someone in power about something and nothing is being done isn’t the next step to move up the ladder?
Y’all some real jokers
Corrupted people Yuh hear
Independence them say.
Your constituents preference for dirt contact complaints to the UK is a reflection on the inadequacy and frustration by the people of the elected Gov.
A key sign that should initiate from you,concern and immediate action and efforts to effectively remedy the situation.
Your constituents are suffering victims of a local Gov shamelessly headed by you,the least af all Premier of these VI to date.
Gov body headed by you,Sowande
Do you know if and why they run to the Governor?
The elected leaders only care for those who vote them in office
Those who are family
Belongers who have children with family members
Those work permit holders who they can use like slaves. Work them and pay they how and when the feel like
Andrew set the pace of running to the Governor tek dat
You are a vulture You were scooping yhem island people to see what they did with their hard earned money that they worked HONESTLY for and joined with the DREW to come up with a dirty scheme to DOUBLE TAX them USING money gram ( that tells us You are an evil person) and the EMPLOYERS WERE LEFT UNTOUCHED AFTER TAKING OUT THEIR EMPLOYEES TAXES AND NOT PAYING IT IN PLUS MOT PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TASEX TO THE SAME GOVERNMENT THAT YOU ARE A PART OF / that tells us again that you don’t have any INTEGRITY , and is BAREFACED enough to talk about about ” our people love to run to the governor ” WHO YOU WANT THEM TO RUN TO ❓️ WE DONE SEE WHAT YOU DID TO THEN ” ISLAND PEOPLE ”
SO DO YOU EXPECT US TO TRUDT A CHICKEN HAWK // BOI GO DTINGK YO ” CUTTH SARK ) YOU ARE A WICKED AND EVIL PERSON , BUT LIKE HOW THE DUDE IN MIAMI END UP , YOUR TURN BEHIND , SO YOU CAN GO DOWN ON YOUR KNEES LIKE HE USED TO DO / MAY YOU CAN FOOL ( GOD ) TRY IT , LETS SEE HOW GREAT YOU ARE