Premier blasts lawmakers’ behaviour on Belonger vote
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley expressed disappointment that some of his colleagues in the House of Assembly (HOA) seized the opportunity to drag family members of their fellow lawmakers into the debate during a recent House sitting simply because it was election time.
Dr Wheatley described it as unfortunate that some HOA members tried to make some type of closing argument to the people of the Virgin Islands ahead of the general elections.
“I was even shocked and appalled that they, even in the House of Assembly would bring up some of our family members… because they were salivating at the opportunity — [saying], ‘This is the end of the VIP’. ‘Let me try to put a nail in their coffin’ — and really, in my opinion, made a spectacle of the whole thing,” Premier Wheatley said on the VIP Let’s Talk show recently.
Earlier this week, lawmakers validated the status of 688 persons who were granted Belonger status in the territory by the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) under its fast track initiative. However, those persons were not outside of immigration controls at the time, as required by the law.
Dr Wheatley assured that the persons affected by the error are not mistakes, arguing that they have come to join the Virgin Islands to help build the territory as partners.
“I think it’s quite unfortunate that these individuals, these hardworking individuals, all of these 688 persons, in this unfortunate circumstance, that they got dragged into this political argument, just because we are around election time,” the premier said. “I want to say to those 688 individuals, you are not mistakes as some persons have called you, we have in the party; we embrace you.”
He added: “Nobody can say they haven’t assisted and they haven’t helped. They’ve come and they’ve done their part and these persons shouldn’t be made to feel embarrassed or to suffer.”
Premier Wheatley said he agreed with Attorney General (AG) Dawn Smith on the need to strengthen the Attorney General’s Chambers to ensure that mistakes like this do not happen again.
According to the Premier, since coming into office, his government has approved several positions for the AG’s Chambers to enable them to do their job effectively. The premier stated that it was crucial to examine why the mistake was made and to put measures in place to prevent it from happening again.
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WE PUSHING WE PUSHING P…PERLINE ALL THE WAY
It’s so strange and unprofessional don’t even talk about educational and to rub it in more PARTY OVER COUNTRY!! WE THE PEOPLE OF THE BVI TOOK YOUR PARTY’S WORD THAT YOU WAS GOING TO LEAD US OUT OF BONDAGE. BUT YOU HAVE MANAGED TO TAKE US TO HELL WHILE YOU HAVE SECURED YOURSELVES!
HEAR WHAT, WE THE PEOPLE ARE NOT PLEASED WITH YOUR SERVICE, PLEASE DO THE GRACE FULL THING AND LEAVE WITH OUR MONEY THAT IS NOT DUE TO YOU!
Premier,
What respect I had for you has gone out the window these last few weeks. Kye Rymer started the spectacle by insulting the intelligence of grown people with the propaganda he read in the House.
Funny you mention strengthening AGs office but don’t the HARSH words she had for you and colleagues. Grown men (and women) own their RESPONSIBILITIES. something you seem incapable or unwilling to do.
You ALWAYS against the advice of capable leaders with integrity. And see nothing wrong with this. Show us that you are not the same as your predecessor.
We are NOT embarrassed by the new Belongers. We CONTINUE to be embarrassed by the FAILINGS of you and your colleagues. ESPECIALLY when people try to help but you all make a muck with the UNCONVENTIONAL (which must be an another word for IGNORANT) and dangerous politics you all intend to subject us to OVER and OVER.
MISTAKES (YOUR WORD!) were made because the intent was not pure.
A man’s honor is his word. And you sir appear to have very little.
This man just needs to be gone. He has the same manipulative and dishonest spirit as Andrew Fahie. BVi get the rid of these terrible people or else this country will not prosper. Vote for Pearline Scatliffe.
Poor Baba Azziz. I doubt he made this mistake but was ordered to do what he did despite his advice, but today, in his absence, it was a mistake.
We were not there and do not have the information, but we call on the All Knowing, All Seeing Most Powerful God take control of these elections come early Monday morning and get rid of the liars, the corrupt and the wrongdoers. We Pray all these things through Jesus Christ your only son.
We want our country to thrive again. We need honesty and kindness and God fearing behaviour in persons in our community again. The Word says ask and it will be done.
They probably feel like Rymer is the strongest so they put him up front on this one. I hope it does not backfire on him.
NO MORE MISTAKES…WE ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR A NEW COALITON GOVERNMENT
Natalio couldn’t debate because of conflict of interest
LOL! He is just as married as me who never went to the altar, so he could debate, but who know know and who don’t know will only wonder.
I am NOT voting for no VIP and NDP because they all trying to FOOL the people AGAIN. They will only listen when a fire ball hit one of those fuel tanks in BVIEC yard. But it will be too late then. This is only a topic of discussion now because it is taking season and they have their motives. Last time I voted ALL VIP because I actually thought the past Premier would have fixed the damn thing simply because he resided in the District and was affected by it himself, but no, he had a different agenda. NDP did nothing and VIP came and did nothing, now we are here days before another election talking piss again. I was sneezing for days after and now my throat is hurts. They ALL have it for a big joke. This deserves a class action lawsuit.
As for those 3 stooges who went to March against open air burning earlier thsi week, where were you all for the past 4 years??? When election is over, one of you will be in office unfortunately and will forget about the plight of the people and the other two will crawl back under the rock from which you came. NONE of you 3 will get my vote either. Forget my first district vote. I am sooooo FED UP with these people who just want to get in to feed off the greedy bill and fill up their own pockets and those of their friends.
Scatter alyou raaam. I would recommend everyone to push Pearline and the other new candidates.
Ndp all the way
Don’t worry after the election, we need to challenge this matter before the high court. It was not done the legal way according to the constitution. United Kingdom government, the Governor of the territory please take note.