Pickering never went to gov’t, party to verify reports about Speaker
By Davion Smith, BVI News Staff
Why does a prominent and senior NDP member like Dr Kedrick Pickering not know whether the reports of Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe’s political candidacy for his party are true?
He just never cared to ask, party leader Myron Walwyn told BVI News when invited to comment recently.
“To the best of my knowledge – and I did do my checks with the Premier (Dr D Orlando Smith) – the Deputy Premier (Dr Pickering) never raised the matter with him. He has never raised the matter in the government’s caucus, nor has he ever raised the matter with me as the Chairman of the party,” Walwyn said.
Dr Pickering was the first to publicly call out Moses-Scatliffe – the Speaker of the House of Assembly – to confirm or deny her reported candidacy with his party. Speaking in the House recently, Dr Pickering said the notion of a sitting Speaker becoming a political candidate is unethical and an ‘abuse of privilege’.
But Walwyn said he finds it “interesting” that Dr Pickering chose to handle his concerns ‘in that manner’ — “without the proper checks being done [within government or within the party]”.
“To my knowledge, he’s still a member of the National Democratic Party government. To me, if you really want to find out the veracity of the matter or really want to know what was going on, or if there was concern about the integrity of the House, to me, that is where it should have started — at least to find out whether the information is correct or not.”
Dr Pickering was the only NDP legislator to publicly question the Speaker. He received support from the two members of the parliamentary Opposition when he did.
Moses-Scatliffe declined to confirm or deny the reports, which she described as ‘rumours’. Instead, she asked Attorney General Baba Aziz to give his opinion on whether it is unethical or unlawful for a sitting Speaker of the House to be a political candidate.
Aziz is expected to render his opinion during the next sitting of the House on Tuesday, October 2.
The NDP has made no official announcements of any candidate who it wants to contest the upcoming general elections. The VIP, on the other hand, has announced eight of its 13 candidates so far.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
I and many others are fed up with all the internal petty bickering within the No Direction Party – just sort all the list of Island problems out instead of all this political posturing… what are the tax payers getting for their money? spin,excuses and lame efforts to blame others for the state of the country….
I am tired or reading your biased comments but we live in a democracy, so I just have to put up with it I guess.
Are you running for political office? Do you intend to? If not, why not?
I ask because you are always critical of the NDP and it’s members. I get the impression from your posts that you know best how to run the country, and or your comments are perhaps personal.
As such, since you believe the NDP stands for the “No Direction Party”, why not run for political office, win an election, hopefully the Premiership, and then lead the country in the direction you believe it needs to go?
Surely you should know standing on the sidelines yelling, pointing fingers, and blogging is of limited value.
At this point, you are sounding like a broken record, and your posts are predictably biased and non-objective. Everyone knows you do not like the NDP. We hear you; we can’t help not to because you yell it all the time.
Why repeat the same thing each day? That does not achieve anything of value other than perhaps giving you some personal satisfaction. Or maybe you believe if you repeat the same thing day in day out, people would somehow believe you.
Here is a suggestion: You should put your money where your mouth is, and walk the talk. Put the direction you would like to see the country go in on the table, jump into the political fray, and let the electorate render their verdict on your ideas.
You may or may not succeed, but at least you you can take comfort in knowing that you tried, and did more than talk.
Just a thought.
Thanks much for stating the obvious.
Come forth, offer your services to the people and country and let’s see how you stack up.
Share your progressive narratives the nation.
But the constant nonprogressive dogma is useless and pitiful.
Thanks agin for shouting out at Sam the man.
Leave “Sam” alone. Criticism is part and parcel of leadership, and it does not mean the critic has to be in the political fray for a position.
Try and see if anything can be taken away from the criticism, even if it is repetitive criticism. This vibrant debate makes the BVI interesting. Embrace it and don’t shut people up just because they believe in different things to you.
Just a thought.
Criticism is fine but simply sitting back waiting for something to happen and pouncing on it is simple retarded. People like sam the man and the picko crazy on FB are making it seem like nothing good is happening in the BVI and that is just downright nasty and wrong. If they really cared about the Territory they will call out wrong doing no matter who does it and they would highlight the positive things when they happen. To make it seem as if nothing good is happening under this Government is not a fair assessment at all and that’s why people are pushing back against the foolishness. Just like we love to highlight negativity we should also embrace and highlight the positive happenings.
Exactly. If his posts were balanced, whereby he would be equally critical of both sides when needed, and crediting either side appropriately when clearly warranted, one could at least say he is credible and balanced, and thus be taken seriously.
But no..it’s the same one-sided negativity day in day out, post after posts. Not a positive word comes out of his fingers…never. He just comes off as one-sided trolling political hack.
Reading him, one would think nothing good is ever happening in the country, and it’s going to hell.
He really should run for office imo and let us see if he can do better by taking us in the right direction should he win. Action speaks louder than words.
Listen up Sam the Man: Not all of your point are invalid. You do make some good points sometimes, but you are just too one-sided and partisan for my taste to be taken seriously. Be fair and balanced.
Whether he came or not Dr. Pickering did the right thing. The public feels the same. Don’t turn this around on anyone else but the Speaker. Fix it. If she is running let her do the honorable thing and step down. Period.
Everyone can see exactly what Dr.Pickering is up to. The minister of Natural resources and Labour after achieving the award for least performing minister is having a dificult time accepting that his political career is nearing end. His new quest is to destroy whatever’s left of the NDP. NEWSFLASH Pico, you will pay at the polls for killing agriculture and doing nothing to help find jobs for our youths.
Your comments do not dismiss the concern that if she is running she should step down.
It is a shame that these guys are airing their dirty laundry in public.
I fully agree but expect even more public confusion once the confusion man who divides any and everyone continues to lead.
Your posts are repetitious and predictable. The monotony of it is frankly boring. Do you cut and paste your replies to all NDP related articles? We don’t like the chorus to this song!
@ The Hooded Claw – in yah feelings early today huh! Pickering outside of Orlando is more senior to the party chairman – a johnny come lately. What is MVW trying to achieve now by saying he did his due-diligence? Pressure burst pipes and yah homey pipes are fractured and spilling out into the public domain as the party implodes. The spin-master thinks he can white-wash his mis-steps and brainwash the electorate – wheel and come again…crony…lol!
@ Maytag/whirlpool: your ideology of rewarding mediocracy because of seniority is exactly why we have ministers like Hon Pickering in power for soo long. Hon Pickering prefers to save the sharks rather than securing work for the heavy unemployment at the hotels prior to the hurricanes. This is what you want from your country? The harsh reality is the “Johnny come latelys” has clearly done more in 8 years than many who are in office for 20 years. So Maytag/whirlpool not because you enjoys a dirty load of soiled clothing doesn’t mean the rest of us do!
Last I check the Johnny just come lately been the leading party vote getter and won his internal election fair and square against these senior members!
Fair and square? Same undermining that happened in the VIP internal elections also happened in NDP internal elections. To me both parties are moving on shaky foundation with a sole quest for power and control by each party leader.
spot on Sam ! can’t believe the negative responses to your post…I guess the NDP and their blind sheep can’t handle the truth about how inept they are?
TROUBLE
Myron “THE DIVIDER” is at it again.
To me the NDP is just a ball of confusion.
So was the VIP.
Frazier and Andrew.
Confusion? What confusion? Hon Walwyn should sit back and let these lames try their shady polics and keep quiet? You guys have your hands full with Walwyn! Good luck!
The NDP should have known that once you put this confusion man to lead the party then all this would happen.
Myron is always in some fight with some other elected official. The man is just not for peace. He has divided the NDP forever.
Picko & Myron can’t mix. They are oil and water. Myron feels he’s always right…
Myron is not a wise man at ALL! HE doesn’t know when to leave things alone. He is always in a war mode thinking that he can intimidate everyone who does anything he doesn’t like or who doesn’t agree with his position. This is a CLEAR sign of a DICTATOR!
Myron said he checked with the Premier to see if Kedrick asked him about the Speaker running with the NDP and he said the Premier said no he didn’t. WOW! Since when is the Premier’s word with merit? Myron is a true DIVIDER!!!!!!
I am so ashamed of my NDP. I had enough right about now. I think that I will be moving on.
Go right ahead!
The St. Lucian consultancy firm is now guiding bald head how to destroy his own members who he feels is not with him.
You this means more high level jobs for them & their people thanks to the new co-leader of ndp.
You sound silly. So you have Hon Pickering talking about morals in the HOA when the hypocrit could have posed the same question to the speaker in private if he genuinely wanted to know if she’s running. So tell me who is really trying to destroy his own members? Watch which party Hon Pickering will be running with next election then you will understand the reason for this new found morals.
Why privately? Would he have already received an honest answer? He is already in the dark among you hypocrites. He is already like a black sheep. Him Ronnie and Mitch toss on the side long time.
I also asked the same question myself. Dr. Pickering is a member of the government and the NDP, if he had concerns he should have asked his own government a question first. I see a serious plot here. What is even more concerning to me is the fact that three civil servants declared their candidacy with the VIP while in their jobs and Dr. Pickering who says he cares soo much about the integrity of the institutions of government said absolutely nothing on the matter. It raises the question as to what is really going on here. I understand that he is running as an independent candidate or with Ronnie party because he doesn’t want to serve under the new leader or his younger Deputy. I notice the behave of Mitch Turnbull who is rumored to be running with Ronnie. I notice the behavior of Hon. Christian who is best friend to Ronnie. I notice the conduct of Claude Cline who is Ronnie’s nephew and first cousin to Mitch Turnbull. I notice the behavior of John Cline who is also best friend to Ronnie and uncle to Mitch Turnbull. Dr. Pickering is very close friends to Pastor Tirnbull who is Mitch Turnbull’s Father. What my common sense tells me is that these guys are trying to fully destroy and weaken the NDP before elections so it makes it easier for their new party to win. This is what I see.
That is their plan.
It won’t work!
@What I See,
While your concern is also about some VIP candidates still holding their jobs, the Speaker position presents a whole different situation where sImpartiality can be an issue; for example where members from the government side refuses to answer questions, and getting away with things an impartial speaker wouldn’t allow. I recall some yeas ago; perhaps during VIPs win of 11 to 2. Mrs Inez Archibald had been speaker under NDP and she wanted to continue under the VIP and R T O’Neal made a big issue and wouldn’t allow her.
The are not a member of the h.o a
All because dem man don’t like Walwyn.
Sad. When will Black People learn to work together?
The main issue here is that the Speaker needs to say whether she is running or not because if she is then it is unethical for her to remain as Speaker. It is as simple as that!
So we know about ethics now?
Ring the bell…NDP 1 verses NDP 2. Who will win? I know who is losing, WE THE PEOPLE!
Regardless of how you feel politically, if Dr. Pickering didn’t even seek to find out the information from his own government and own party first, that is wrong and raises questions. I saw some of the previous blogs which I consider most to be playing politics and that’s the problem with our society. Things must be seen differently and not solely through politics. The prudent thing to do was to ask first within your own group. If the response was not satisfactory or you did not agree with it then you can take it further if you wish.
Regardless of who it is we must call a spade a spade and Dr. Pickering is not a stupid person at all so it leads me to believe that this was a deliberate act with a particular motive in mind. He is the deputy Premier for God’s sake.
I’m not a big fan of Hon. Walwyn but I agree with him 100%! Why would a senior founding member of NDP wait until they get into the HOA to make such statements regarding whether or not someone is officially a candidate or not. It is downright shameful and was meant to embarrass the new leader because this founder no longer wants to be a part of it. To see these grown men behave this way explains why they have been in power so long and we hardly see results. It appears they love the power and that’s it, they don’t care about serving the people. I was never a fan of NDP or Walwyn but looking at the choices so far I’m hoping he can bring a good team so that me and my family can support and move this country forward. This is not a joke, we are in recovery mode and need people who are known for getting things done. Hon. Walwyn needs to do the right thing and rid the party of Pickering, Turnbull and those others who are h**l bent on causing confusion rather than uniting for betterment of the Territory.
One minute Myron publicly fighting Mitch then Fahie then Fraser now Picko. Who’s next? This man feels he’s always right and no one must challenge him. I pray that he never becomes the Premier of our V.I.
Nobody has to fight Mitch, he is doing a good job at fighting himself and will be looking for a job after elections if he keeps listening to the wrong people.
WARwyn, shut the front door!!!
I understand that Hon. Pickering went to his committee and told them he is running independent or with the new party since Myron won the elections. The reception was not what he expected so I guess you break down the party since you are no longer dancing. Picko is in a pickle!! Lol
A pickle- you think? Who is the NDP candidate for the 7th? Anyone knows? You’ll see pickle.
Can you all imagine this man as Premier of the Virgin Islands? Almighty and most merciful Father have mercy on us all!!
So is she running or not?
Dr. Pickering has always been playing the two sides of the fence with politics and I think it has caught up with him. He is never asked any questions in the HOA by Fraser or Fahie and he is the worse performing minister. Have you ever questioned why? Now here he is as a member of the NDP and Deputy Premier in the government but doing things that the opposition should really be doing? Why didn’t he do the same thing when Hon. Fahie announced three civil servants as candidates with the VIP?
Isn’t it the government who selects the speaker? Isn’t it the government who could remove her if they are not pleased? Wouldn’t it have been best to have that discussion with your own government who nominated her first before you ran to HOA to create a firestorm? Something is not adding up for me.
I remember when the VIP elected Fahie as chairman the NDP puppets had all kind of negative things to say about him. Fahie is a way better leader that this piece of s*** that the NDP elect for their leader.
While I am on leadership I want to send a message to King White Head and the party he is forming with the NDP reject for leadership. It have a saying that the more you have the more you want. Then another saying “the rich, gets richer and the poor, poorer. Well this election we are taking the power away from all of you who have bled this country dry.
We are not going to sit back and elect a spin off NDP with the same people who sat back and gave away our 7.2 million dollars and all the other BS. NOT THIS TIME!!!
So are you telling me that Hon Bickering (D7) has finally recalibrated his m—- compass when the opposition leader has launched three candidates who work in ministries of the ruling govt. Did you hear him asking any questions about their integrity or ability to perform their duties without bias? Not a word from him.
maybe because they were asked to resign and L— was forced into retirement
Last election, Myron got the most and the worse blows in the blogs here, but guess what, he still got the most votes. That tells a big story
We need to question where was this same passion when the leader of the opposition announced three civil servants as running mates on his team. Bare in mind there were about two HOA sittings since that announcement was made. This is double standards to say the least.
Go sit down and stop trying the ruin the party. You did absolutely nothing, now all of a sudden you concern! You wanted power and the people didn’t want you. Leave gracefully.
VIP: Luce Hodge-Smith (retiring), Vincent Wheatley (resigned/retired) & K. Rhymer (DMV – awaiting PSC ruling). Now only NDP know when they plan on calling elections; so for any other non-NDP civil service candidates they are expected to resign now if they declare an interest and are chosen to run is fair and equitable to the ruling party?
My question is if MVW asked Pico this in private and why didn’t he if he wanted to clear the air so to speak? What is good for the goose is good for the gander; but apparently not so in the BVI! IS this a preview of what actually transpires between a divided ruling government? No wonder the country looks and feels the way it is – no unity and just power hungry fellows spewing their divisive rants.
The civil servants mentioned were confirmed in an official press release by the VIP. NDP has not announced any candidates yet so how can it be considered the same thing?
NDP can wait until the 11th hour as they hold all the cards in the deck. So they are unencumbered by that fact and can ‘float’ around names to gauge the electorates’ temperature (hot or cold) for ANY new prospective candidates. Tell me that is not playing with a loaded deck and gives ANY civil servant whom wants to run against any NDP candidate (confirmed or not) an unfair disadvantage as no one but the incumbents know when they plan on calling elections imo.
It is actually worse. You people must learn to tell the truth. All of the civil servants were out campaigning and doing fund raising activities. Two out of three of them had to resign faster than they expected to because they had no defense. Kye Rhymer has since stopped his campaign activities because of it. It’s actually worse because the speaker has not said she is running. She has not been campaigning as far as I see and the NDP has not said that she is a candidate. Additionally, the speaker is not a public officer so she is not bound to resign. Kedrick himself said that he cannot say what she may be doing is illegal. He is a hypocrite. Since Myron won the party chairmanship he has not shown up to any of the party meetings and has distanced himself from the party. He has said to many people that he will run if Myron was the leader. He tried everything to sabotage the process including carrying news to the last governor. All because he had his big dream to be Premier for his rich, white friends but the Lord had different plans. Pure bad mindedness and wickedness
TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What is the definition of HYPOCRISY? HYPOCRISY is having an elected representative who intends to run with another party question the integrity of a possible political aspirant.
Shouldn’t the real question be can YOU honorble Pickering continue to be the Minister of Natural Resources and Labour without sabotaging the NDP?
Really? If he did that he will only be sabotaging himself-ping
Pickering just mad because walwn showing he up. He ain’t do Jack in all the years he in there. Myron just went in and look at all the new initiatives he put in place. Yes he may be a haughty fellow but at least he doing some thing wth Pickering do since he there?????
Now tell me something. Wasnt Picko a member of the Government when the Hon. Speaker was selected on the grounds that she has the ability to be impartial? Was it nomination day in the house when the question was posed to the Hon. Speaker?
Picko, help us to confirm this rumor….are you running independent or with Ashley and Ronnie party? Why not do the noble thing and resign from the NDP party? Lets put our personals aside and think about our beloved BVI. The NDP congress spoke loud and clear when they elected Hon. Walwyn to lead. Clearly they recognized that he is the best fit to lead this country through recovery and beyond. Im sticking with NDP because I know Walwyn will bring trusted and approachable leadership. Im excited to see the face of the NEW NDP. Still the best hope for ther BVI!!!!!
I’m with you on this one! Myron has a track record of leadership and getting things done, while still making time to be among the people all the time not just when election comes around.
This whole issue is simple and raising a storm in a tea cup. Ms. Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe, Speaker of HOA, could and should have settle this issue/question a week ago. The Speaker clearly knows if she is running or not running; if she is running, she needs to do professional, ethical and right thing and vacate the Speakership. Asking the Attorney General for an opinion on this issue is just throwing a “red herring” in the midst of this sordid affair. Even if policy allows a Speaker to serve as Speaker while competiting for political office, the right and decent thing to do is step aside.
The NDP is in a free falling, dysfunctional state with many members of government NDP in name only (NDPINO). Cannabilism and tribal politics are occurring within the ranks. The situation is irreconcilable; it is time to call it in. Consequently, for the public good, Dr. Hon Premier Daniel Orlando Smith (AL), MoF, needs to dissolve the HOA and set an election date without further delay.
The people of the BVI don’t need, shouldn’t have to tolerate and shouldn’t live with the awkward and dysfunctional state of government. The territory has a myriad of issues on its bucket list, ie, education, health, public safety, infrastructure, economy, housing, agriculture, emvironment, social issues, policy issues, rising cost living, recovery……..etc and needs a sound, effective and functioning government to get at it. Let’s get at it. The territory is not a fail state; however, the territory is in a dysfunctional state.
Dis is it, I am also sticking with NDP. For real, no joke, I want Myron to be the next premier. People may not see it, I believe Myron is going to take this Country in the right direction.
I am also hanging with NDP. I also believe Myron is going to take the County in the right direction.what I like about Myron is he is a realist and he has excellent leadership skills.
Why will Pickering come to you when you’ll refuse to answer questions., It is also obvious that Pickering is finished with you.
I think you meant to say, Pickering is FINISHED!
save yourself
2nd highest gdp percap in caribbean
you think you are stuck with what you have to represent you?
both parties have constantly voided public trust and wasted your resources.
the 80% who dont work for gov are screwed by the 20% who do.
you need to deny everyone who has been in vip and ndp
you need to cut the public staff by 50% and rehire based on merit and drive, not family name and manipulative skills.
otherwise you are trapped in this sad waste and fraud by the public sector and its elected officials.
no audited #’s of the $billion dollars ur gov spent in last 5 years and only progress is a pier that itself is tainted in bad mgmt.
u need a velvet revolution.
Every last one of these politics need to be lock away and the keys thrown in the deepest end of the ocean for abusement of this island, millions lost and no one knows nothing about it, airport, road work, hospital,pier park, queens park, million dollar bathrooms, tell me about it, gold toilet bowl automatic flushing toilet and more for that price. I would not be too surprised if england rule and have self election of choice to govern the island there self..