Pickering wants dialogue with UK on day one
Former Deputy Premier within the National Democratic Party (NDP) government, Dr Kedrick Pickering has called for high level discussions with the United Kingdom government immediately after the next general elections.
Elections are constitutionally due by mid-May of this year, but a date has so far not been announced by Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley.
“Day-one, after the election, the government needs to sit down with United Kingdom government. Whether we invite them here or we travel to London, day-one that the government is constituted we need to sit and have a discussion with United Kingdom government,” Dr Pickering said.
He added: “We need to be able to establish a dialogue that says we’re ready to advance our relationship and not see it continue to to be what it is at this point in time.”
Dr Pickering argued that those discussions should embody the major issues that are affecting the territory, such as infrastructure, sewerage, water and the airport and suggested the BVI should ask the UK how it could help the territory.
He added that it should not be a confrontational or antagonistic discussion. “It must be a conversation where it is a meeting of the minds. The United Kingdom have said over and over again, they want to have a mature relationship with us and we must take up that mantle and have a mature relationship with them,” Dr Pickering said.
The BVI’s future, Dr Pickering argued, is still intertwined with United Kingdom government in the foreseeable future and in the long term. He also noted that the UK needs to be a part of any conversation where the BVI seeks to go down the path of self-governance.
“It can’t happen without them. If we go to a point where we become self-governing, we need relationships. We need relationships far and wide, and our relationship with United Kingdom is going to be one of those most important ones that they could help provide us with the resources that we need in both manpower and technical expertise, and where necessary, financial assistance.
“We need to treat ourselves better. You know, it’s not only about building a tourism infrastructure, it’s about us treating ourselves better, we deserve better,” he said while noting that the BVI is not a poor country by any means.
“We can’t fix roads without fixing sewerage. We can’t fix sewerage without fixing water, and no matter what we do, whether we delay it one year, two years, five years as we’ve delayed it, the airport expansion has to happen. Otherwise, our economy cannot grow,” Dr Pickering expressed.
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On one hand, BVI despises the UK and all of it’s citizens. On the other hand, BVI wants to know how the UK can solve many of the BVI’s problems that have been caused by lack of money due to corruption! Really?
Before you spend one penny on travel or further degrade our relationship with the UK finish the contract the current government made with the UK re implementing the recommendations of the COI. The UK is not going to lift the “performance penalty” clause, AKA Order in Council, until that commitment is fulfilled.
Get it into your thick head that the UK has zero incentive to cave and that you have zero cogent reasons for them to do so. Get the job completed and the penalty is gone!!
He can’t wait to continue his air miles collection
Leadership is missing right now so I welcome the initiative. The doctor is right. It is about moving forward with understanding and having a mature relationship with the UK. These guys have the experience, the maturity, the intellectual ability, they can lead this task with great care and great chances of success. This is one of the major issues that need to be resolved head on, asap!
@ Realty Check – fully agree. First Picko should explain to us how he will get the COI recommendation implementation on track on time (really make up time since this last admin has this thing all over the place) and within budget. Then once this is articulated and it’s feasibility, acceptability and sustainability checked, then go to UK and try to see what can be done or at least restart negotiations. This is a general outline obviously for a candidate to show he understands and can carry this out, he/ she will need to provide details details and more details. Otherwise, don’t trust them.
We do NOT want Pickering in Government. He needs to go down to his practice and do what he was trained to do. He is just power hungry and misses the perks that come with having ‘HON.’ before his name. F**k him!!
As if that will change anything? Boss what is written in black and white can be amended but it’s not changing so take several seats.
Man I’m not voting for you again. You are to pompous with your approach.
Now you discrediting the entire effort that the previous government did and I’m not for that.
I will rather vote VIP back in because you all coming your cause more confusion.
Natalio continue to hold the fort. You are young, strong, and brave. Just don’t be afraid but stick to your purpose.
What we need from day one is elected leaders who will govern this country with integrity and honesty on behalf of the Virgin Islands and its people!
Might as well the UK take over now because none of the parties running for office can be trusted. We really need a break from all of these people who say I will do this and that if I am elected and in the end nothing is done. When I was a young man they were burning garbage in Duffs Bottom that’s in the 60s we are now 2023 and we are still burning garbage in open fire, not one who is running for office is talking about that, the roads, the education, or anything that would make this place a better place to live. At least the UK won’t steal our money.
Please UK COME AND TAKE OVER THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS FOR TWO YEARS TO PUT THE COUNTRY BACK IN ORDER
Say what you want, this is the most educated and mature team i need right now. Too much children in Government causing trouble. Even if Olando Smith wants to return its better than the bunch of jokers i see wanting to be Leaders
This is what the ndp wanted a leader. Marlon is still silent, picko and Myron to the lead and to the rescue. Powerful combination. Tell us what are you plans. We need a leader who can communicate.
His chances of getting re-elected is slim very very slim
Really
The ONLY thing I want is a monologue,
a direct announcement from the UK informing that they will be taking over VI proper and for 2 consecutive years minimum. FOLKS… There is no trusted leadership currently nor potentially. Orlando and a few other NDP ers but they are not running…Maybe a temp group appointed by the UK for a few years?? Realistically the UK needs to run things ,get the mess cleaned up and clean out,teach us good Governance by example and then a new start. VI needs a clean sweep,a cleanup of long existing and repeated open issues and indoctrination of basic Governance and leadership.
Also
Imprisonment, heavy fines,seizures and other punitive measures against some current local Government members guilty of misdeeds, will go a long way in securing better local Governance in the future,in my opinion.
He is not getting in so his opinion here does not count.
rofl
It should be quite obvious that the first priority of any new government has to be the completion of the implementation of the COI recommendations. When this is done and we are over the financial obligations that come with it we should turn our attention to the constitution and meaningful changes. It is quite obvious that our recurrent expenditure needs to be down sized so that we can tackle pressing issues such as garbage disposal road maintenance and improvement water sewage health education and so forth. The airport expansion must also be given attention. As the cycle of inflation continues to spiral government cannot continue to operate on cronyism and family and friends any longer it must be strictly business on a level and fair playing field there must be value for money. Certain government departments need to be put on a time clock as there seem to be rampant abuse of the system. There are many more areas that need to be highlighted including attention to dangerous road conditions like the dead trees hanging over the road in Paraquita Bay and the road falling into the ghut opposite the EE\LL police Station. We are at a pivotal point in our existence it cannot be business as usual. Anyone who disagrees does not have the best interest of this country at heart. This should not be a popularity contest.
He (Pickering) should wait to see if he gets elected before he gets mouthy at the UK
You have to win first, I doubt that very much.
To the fake people saying yes to the UK, if the UK had taken over, there would be nothing to stop the passing of that inhumane police bill. This is their intentions for you. To enslave you and harass you in your own home. This is what you want? Ok, well yes to the UK then. Madness!
The UK not in order, they need to deal with their country first.
The UK left this country to becaome a bird sanctuary and never did anything for the country. Only now all of a sudden they interested. You dont wonder why?
BVI is in crisis and warrants emergency action. It is not unusual to set aside Human Rights in a country during crisis and emergency.
Currently the BVI is enslaved by a Corrupted elected Gkvernment and their cohorts of drug dealers, money laundering and human trafficking.
I am ready for a trial run with a different slave master. Things cannot be worse,
The UK has never gone into a country and made it better, Ask Turks and Caicos.
They RE NOT OUR Saviour
So the UK does not have corupt elected officials, drugs dealers, money laundering and human trafficking?
Perhaps you should do some research. One of the most corrupt countris in the world.
At least we are free to make our own choice. We do not have to get involve with the illegal stuff. However, colonism is worse because another man decides what is best for you. Uk is in a bigger mess than the BVI. Make yourself useful and solve UK problems first then you would not have to worry about the BVI. BVI is only getting the crumbs that falls from UK’s table.
Yep…Dying to become like Haiti or Jamaica or Trinidad or St Vincent and all the other pooh in the Caribbean chain of Independence waste while wallowing in self made misery of the unimaginable while praying for a chance for arrival and survival in the tiny UK territory of the BVI.
God save the Gracious King and his gracious Passport.
no way