Politicians’ pay may be withheld if they don’t declare interest
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has reiterated that the updated Register Of Interest Act has provisions that allow the withholding of pay from elected leaders who fail to declare their interest under the Register Of Interest Act.
The Register of Interests is a record of the financial interests of legislators. It allows them to publicly declare any private interests that conflict with or may appear to conflict with their public duties.
The Premier said the Act has allows suspension as another penalty for legislators who fail to declare their interest on time. But the leader said the House of Assembly is still working out how exactly these penalties will be administered.
“The Speaker is proposing that we put together an independent commission that would be able to manage the process. Previously when persons didn’t register their interest, it would have been reported to a committee but we found that didn’t work well in the past,” Premier Wheatley explained in an interview where he addressed the territory’s progress with the implementation of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommendations.
He continued: “So now, the proposal the Speaker has put forward — the Registrar would have to report that violation to the independent commission that would have the power to ensure that the suspension and withholding of salaries would be actioned.”
The COI revealed that numerous lawmakers were extremely late in declaring their interests and that some never declared their interests at all.
A previous attempt at overhauling the legislation was met with strong resistance from lawmakers, who decided to pass a watered-down and severely restrictive version of the COI’s recommendations to the Act instead.
In the meantime, the government is also working on implementing a Register of Interest for senior civil servants, a move which many are fearful of, as they say, it may put public servants and their families at risk when people can easily declare their interests and assets they have.
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what is the bvi legislative council chambers about? are elected politician, civil servants/public servants? are you serving your country? are you performing public duties to the general public? why are you an elected official?
It’s really not so complicated. Either you submit it or not and if you miss the deadline you don’t get paid and your position is suspended. No need for commissions or committees just enforce the f**king law.
That word ‘may’ I don’t like it, should be ‘will’
A first…elected .politicians being held accountable in the BVIs…
Playing Russian roulette with the taxpayers, governor and UK , HOA still sulking not wanting to be forced into simply be Honest!
Tony Edwards
This is the best flipping news this week. Politicians and high ranking civil servants must be held accountable. Please make this happen!
we need to suspend their pay now
Best news since Andrew got locked up!
Yes hold them up!
Tbh they probably got plenty tax money out away in their pockets but I’m still for it!
Suspend pay and fire them!!
We are all sick of the inclusive club that has brought our county to the poor state it is in today.
Why would an elected member would not want to faithfully comply with the requirements of the Register of Interest? Does he/she has something to hide? Is it not in the public interest that they do? When he/she decide to run for elected office, win, and take the oath of office that they wouid have to give some privacy in regards to business interest. Should politicians be voting on issues that they have an interest and would immensely benefit them? Should they not get out of the kitchen if they cannot stand the heath? Should not the Governor too lead by example and reveal his interest s? Should any politician who don’t want to comply with the register of interest resign from the HoA? Should a Governor who don’t want to reveal his interest not be appointed as Governor?? Should not what is good for local public officials also good for UK-appointed governors? Should not what is good for the goose good for the gander?? Does the UK -appointed Governor have special privileges with complete immunity from anything they do in office?
I agree with this. They must always be some kind of punishment for those who refuse to comply with legal authority and think they can do as they wish and no one can touch them..