People tuned out from self-determination, COI — Walwyn
Residents have become disenchanted with talks from elected officials about the territory’s efforts at self-governance and about issues related to the Commission of Inquiry (COI) and its subsequent report.
That was the sentiment expressed by Sixth District Representative, Myron Walwyn, who told fellow lawmakers during the recent opening of the Fifth House of Assembly (HOA) that residents have instead been focused on core issues that are affecting their survival.
Walwyn, who previously served two terms as Education Minister within a previous National Democratic Party (NDP) government, commented that it is important that elected leaders begin to “read the tea leaves of the territory”.
Walwyn explained that this meant picking up on clues combined with intuition and experience to understand what is really on the minds of the territory’s people.
He called for the return of ‘bread and butter issues’ as a central focus of the government and expressed that residents are hurting financially and are falling into poverty due to a lack of opportunities and programs to lift them up.
“From reading the tea leaves, we should recognise that the national topics of self-determination and even the COI report might be a major issue on the minds of government leaders,” Walwyn said. “But the people are tuning out because they do not have the mental bandwidth to engage on topics when they have to spend every single day working hard just to make ends meet.”
Walwyn urged the government to wake up and pay attention to this fact.
“We will make no progress as a territory to move towards self-determination without the people and the people will go nowhere with leaders who do nothing to improve their life and living,” he added.
Meanwhile, Walwyn said he has already began to advocate on behalf of residents of the Sixth District where he was elected.
He pointed to areas such as road infrastructure, water and sewerage, better waste disposal, and a number of important issues which he said have been raised and shared that a district office is expected to be opened sometime this week in the community.
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We dont trust the politicians
This man should not be in office. Charge with breach of trust for the same office he is re-elected for and about to go on trial.
This is not the politics we here in the BVI should tolerate.
What happen to those officers who were charged along side him? Are they still at their post???? What is good for the goose should be good for the gander.
GOVERNOR DO YOUR JOB!
I agree with you this early Monday morning. We have a lot to fix and this is setting a precedent on the most important of all which is holding the elected members accountable to their office.
He should not have been allowed to hold no seat until his trial is over. This is a terrible look after a COI which opened the eyes of many.
You are right on target because those who were charged with breach of trust are currently not on the job they once held.
I second the motion, “His Excellency, do your job!”
Walwyn yuh sound good but I don’t believe our politicians have the vision nor the backbone or even the will to do what needs to be done. Once their money good they good.
I disagree with you both. Charging someone with a crime and convicting them of that crime are two entirely different things. Everyone has a right to due process.
Mr. Walwyn is entitled to his day in court and a jury of his peers. No one should be booted out of political office simply based on a charge. Let the prosecutors prove their case.
If convicted, and the constitution prescribes expulsion from office post conviction then so be it.
As for those who were charged as civil servants, they too deserve their day in court and a jury of their peers as well. Its not unusual such persons are sent home pending outcome of trial.
The bottom line is this: Charges without conviction are not or should not be sufficient to remove someone from political office.
Anyone could be accused and charged with a crime. If any of us was to be sanctioned in any manner prior to a conviction that would be simply a violation if their due process right.
Not all accusations and charges results in a conviction. Giving the DPP awful track record in securing convictions in high profile cases, it would not surprise me if they loose this case as they have with countless others.
Due process is owed to all accused and charged. You or your family will need that due process and the presumption of innocence if we were ever accused and charged with a crime. Surely, if the shoes was in your feet, you would expect similar treatment.
He needs to go read the tea leaves and see where he is going to end up. These jokers still visiting the obeah man/woman.
They are on paid vacation.
I wish the commenters can stick to the issues instead of getting personal whenever the elected representative for the 6th district speaks.
however, I do not agree that the people are tuned out from the COI recommendations and reform issues, they are still concerned because they have a right and a responsibility to be. That does not take away from the fact that the “bread and butter” issues are also important, they are naturally a concern as well, because everything pertaining to the future of this territory is connected to the present state of affairs. We need cohesive planning and execution of the “fixes”, not downplaying anything because of political inconvenience or convenience, whichever it may be.
You don’t sound too sensible to me.
Alvera stop it! The man beat you by a landslide even with the charge on his back. Suppose he didn’t have the charge he would have beat by a several miles. Stop the blogging and go cook the pelau. It’s almost lunch time and we hungry already.
Ayo crucify Andrew Fahie and his case is still waiting also this man getting free pass??? No sah nothing tal go so!
He must be held on the same chopping block like the others yes!
Governor need to step in and do he job. Too much favoritism in this damn place!
So how come he could go back to office and those others who got charge without a job?
That’s not fair!
He needs to be on paid vacation too! He was already getting paid. It reach cabinet yet?
He is absolutely right and anyone who doesn’t know/see that, has their hands in the kitty and don’t care about the country’s survival and standard of living.
Believe me we’re not “tuned out”. Just patiently waiting for the UK to chuck all of you out of office to start over.
@@watcher Thats because you are not too sensible.
No they are not at there job they home sitting as directed by Governor
Let your work speak for you. Silence is golden!
Why is the cr**k even in office after he was charged for corruption? Bvi is not a real place
You are right the BVI is not a real place. In civilized countries, people understand between a charge and a conviction. But that concept, which even toddlers in the USA understand, is incomprehensible to most people in the BVI. Must be something in the drinking water.
Myron blogging machine has the answer although vague and disagreeable ones.
I think you really need to step away from this Myron. It is not fair game with you back in the office that you breached and if we are to be critical on those who are currently home awaiting trial whether on paid leave or not it really does not send the correct message to the general public nor the right example to our children.
The judicial system is put in place to do such and although you may be deem innocent until proven guilty, the fact of the matter remains that you have been through the process of being arrested and charged and should therefore remain out of office until your name is clear.
The governor messed up here but it could still be fixed. Time will tell but definitely NOT the right message especially after a Commission of Inquiry on the Territory.
The Governor has not messed up. He is right to do nothing at this stage. He understands due process. Pre-emptively removing someone from office just based on a charge/arrest is not the way the process should work. In a democracy, due process is due to all individuals accused of crimes.
While it may not look good to some of you in the public, it’s how the process work and should work. Again…due process. Look it up. Forget your emotion or how things may look. You Wendy has that right should you be charged/arrested for a crime, and so does Mr. Walwyn.
If that right is taken away from Mr. Walwyn, that right will be taking away from you and every other person. So think twice before you advocate for the governors actions prematurely.