Premier accuses Governor of half-truths over COI timelines
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has accused Governor John Rankin of sharing half-truths about Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommendation timelines the government has agreed to implement, suggesting that the BVI was pressured into deadlines they could not realistically meet.
The government has faced numerous challenges in implementing COI recommendations. These challenges have been attributed to limitations in capacity and the requirement for more time to conduct public consultations and make changes to legislation.
Governor John Rankin recently called for more powers from the United Kingdom which he said are necessary because there has not been sufficient drive and determination across the various ministries and departments to deliver on the agreed-upon COI deadlines.
But Premier Wheatley, while refuting the governor’s narrative, suggested that the public has been fed a dose of misinformation over the delays in implementing COI recommendations.
“If we had the opportunity to sit down with the Attorney General, sit down with the people of the Virgin Islands, sit down with all the public servants and put forward more realistic timelines, we would not have been, I would say, forced to come up with timelines which were unrealistic timelines,” Premier Wheatley told the press recently.
The Premier argued that it was inaccurately suggested by the governor recently that it was the former unity government that proposed those timelines when the agreement was made.
“Those are half-truths. Those are not, you know, completely true. Those are timelines agreed between UK officials and BVI officials,” the Premier said.”
UK pressured BVI into unrealistic times?
While describing the exchanges at the time, Premier Wheatley argued that there was much back-and-forth and explained that some timelines were initially rejected for a lack of ambition.
He said UK officials suggested at the time that the government would not be able to persuade the UK Overseas Territories Minister that the BVI was serious about reform.
“The UK took a coercive approach and now it’s being presented as though these timelines were agreed in a vacuum, that the elected government just came up with these timelines,” the premier said.
He added: “But obviously we put forward the timelines and despite how tight they were, we tried our best. It’s an ongoing process. We tried our best to meet them. We’ve worked hard.”
The premier said he sometimes feels bad for public officers who shoulder the burden of implementing these timelines and shared they are such long hours that they are sometimes unable to see their children at home.
“Some of them, if they don’t take a vacation, they may end up in the hospital. This is the type of pressure we’ve been under,” Premier Wheatley said.
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Premier is a mess meshon
It’s been so hard. Get the waaambulance on the scene stat.
Who needs TV when you can get a reality show right in your own backyard! I have never in my life heard such childish, and pathetic excuses from leaders Of a Country as to why they cannot do things, rather than focusing on why they will deliver on time and on point and get this Country back on course and in the right direction.
It is always another’s fault, or we were tricked, or some pathetic excuse! So you got yourself behind the proverbial ‘eight ball’, so what! Tell us how you are getting us back on course! Don’t cry about victimization, and ineptitude! That does nothing for this Country or it’s dying economy!
Solutions, and forward progress, that is what we the people want to hear and see. And we in the private sector are getting increasingly desperate to see something from this group of fools that seem to have forgotten why they were elected by the people in the first place.
You represent us, you represent our Country! Get our domestic matters in order, stop your pointless traveling, and excessive spending and do your F-ING JOBS!
Please ease up off of sl**andie or else we will force home to make a next trip to Dubai or Monaco, and that will cost us, we will suffer when he is frustrated.
who will relieve the Virgin Islands (british) from this fool
Natalio Wheatley the bottom line is you and your government haven’t shown much interest in completing the COI recommendation you are more interested in show boating all around the world while there is lots of work to be done, you are a show off and a cry baby it’s a disgrace for the BVI that we have someone you running the BVI this is why the UK should step in the sooner the better.
We the people are saying the we are not saying it’s you all fault but we are going to blame you anyway. All elected and undemocratically selected to manage the affairs of the small rich country.
But why did we have to hear this from the Governor. Why not front up, be proactive and let everyone know the position on a regular basis.
This should have been no surprise to the Premier!
Who suggested and agreed to the timelines. Two separate answers needed – suggested/recommended and agreed.
“premier said he sometimes feels bad for public officers who shoulder the burden of implementing these timelines and shared they are such long hours that they are sometimes unable to see their children at home.”
If that the case you should of roll up your sleeves and go help from racking up frequent flyer miles.
If only he had spent a few of the wasted dollars hiring people to complete and manage the project.
This is what happens when you send a BOY to do a MAN’s job. Reality is finally setting in.
This man a poppy show
Per Calvin Malone, NDP was informed of the UK’s concerns on the points raised by the COI since 2012. Both NDP, VIP and PNP are at fault and cannot be trusted to deal with devils on behalf of the people.
The whole concept of the COI recommending the UK take control for a period of time, was, to implement the COI recommendations, stabilize the territory, and, hand it back once completed. In recommending this the Commissioner was basically stating the local government were either incapable, unwilling, or, both in completing the task at hand. All the honorable Premier has done now is confirm that the Commissioner was correct in his assumption, which, in turn, suggests the UK were wrong not to take the Commissioner’s advice.
Yes; Cayman Islands got theirs back
Don’t pressure natalio or else he might just take a trip to some part of the world, he love flying not stress of running a country.
This little Boy’s Rodeo will soon come to an end. I can tell you the Date. Read the 5th Paragraph. If WE had the opportunity….. But you had the opportunity and took it upon yourself to call the Shots. Now your Gun is jammed you calling for help. Too late shall be the Cry. The Problem here is not so much how many recommendations are completed But it’s which recommendations are not completed. All Members of Government know exactly what am talking about. Being afraid to make tough Decisions is an incompetence Trait of a Leader. Step aside and allow a Government who is Experienced, Capable and Non-Corrupt to be elected so the BVI can Rise again.
In my opinion (The Rock’s Voice):
Do YOU Smell What The Rock Is Cooking!!!
The man-child did say: “watch me work baby”
Famous last words..?
The lack of will intention and will to make the changes the Territory needs by the elite leaders of the VI is very clear. The only way to help the people was to have followed all the COI recommendations. UK running the place for a while is now clearly the only way to get the VI to a better place. Higginbottom was no fool, but when you look at the COI videos our leaders made it very clear that they were. Itbis getting even more embarrassing now.
You have been off Island for much of 2023. Work hard Ha!