Premier called ‘unethical’ for disclosing pensioner’s info at rally
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley’s integrity and fitness to be Finance Minister has been called into question after he used a political rally to disclose information related to a pensioner.
Former legislator Myron Walwyn was the person to call Dr Wheatley’s integrity into question since he (Walwyn) was the pensioner whose details the Premier disclosed. While speaking at the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) rally Thursday evening, Dr Wheatley said Walwyn, as a former two-term legislator, received a $276,274.50 lump-sum gratuitous payment in addition to a monthly pension of $5,525.50.
The Premier, at the time, was accusing Walwyn of being a hypocrite for wanting to repeal the VIP government’s Retiring Allowances (Legislative Services) Amendment Act, 2021 that caused him (Walwyn) to be paid so handsomely in the first place.
But while responding to the Premier’s utterances, Walwyn condemned Dr Wheatley’s conduct as Minster of Finance.
“It’s a disgrace, in my view, that a Minister of Finance, at political rally, would get up and call out what monies pensioners are getting. It’s a known fact even in the corporate world and even on boards that when information comes to you by virtue of your position, it is unethical for you to get up whether on a political stage or otherwise and divulge that information,” Walwyn stated while speaking on ZBVI radio on Friday.
‘Disingenuous like former boss’
He further accused Premier Wheatley of being disingenuous in how he publicised Walwyn’s pension package.
He said: “That figure that the Premier called out that I received; every legislator as far back as Honourable Lavity Stoutt receives a gratuity and a monthly pension,” Walwyn said while explaining that as the ‘first half’ of the aforesaid legislation, which he does not have a problem with.
“What the first part of the bill does; is it allows members to be able to have their pension and their gratuity calculated based on their full package [they were earning when they were in office]. What was being done before — which was the prior former legislators — was that they were only getting their gratuity and their pensions based on the salary amount when, in fact, half of their monthly package was made of allowances and salary,” added Walwyn who is the National Democratic Party’s candidate for the Sixth District.
“So, what I received is what I’m entitled to,” he continued. “The pension that I received which the Premier called out; every single former member and every single present member who was a minister would receive that exact amount. That is not the issue. The Premier is being disingenuous. It seems to me that he has learnt a lot from his former boss in the fact that they have difficulties telling the truth.”
The second half of the legislation
Walwyn said his contention is with the second part of the legislation. This second part effectively provides for former legislators to receive their full monthly salary as if they were still active members of the House of Assembly. They will receive this salary for two years in addition to their pensions and gratuity earnings.
“For instance, the Premier called out a number that he said that I received. For a minister now going forward, including him if he is re-elected, you would have to double that figure. So somebody who would have been a minister like myself — serving for two terms — will now get in excess of $500,000 in addition to their pension amount,” Walwyn said, adding that legislators who served for three terms would get up to $600,000.
Walwyn described that part of the legislation as political wickedness and promised to repeal it if he is re-elected. He charged Dr Wheatley to do the same if he should return as Premier.
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All of them are like wild hogs in a pen, so dirt will be thrown. They’re fighting cause all of them want that US dollar in their pockets and will sweet talk you for that vote,and when they get in office they’re selective of who they help.
Maybe it was he who leaked the documents?
Wheatley thinks people in the BVI needs a PHD to figure out who is the misleading Minister
Wheatley you should be ashamed of yourself.Andrew and the rest of the green team added the second part of the “ Greedy Bill” How dare you take BVIslanders for fools
Shame on you . You accidentally Premier !!
That is why we have to vote out the green team
Be honest and stop
Lying
I think the entire green team should go sit down! Not one of them have integrity! They all sat back and enjoyed the perks of their former dictator drug runnings and money laundering . Not to mention the set of Obeah they part take in and claiming to Christians! Not one of them stood up for us, the people they were employed to work on behalf of! They sat back and rape the country to our detriment! If ayo put them back in there, you all are really a set of loss ppl. That will be the end of our freedom!
Noting unethical here. You just got exposed! Imagine if he did not bring it to light. Myron what you did was bad. Return the money! How can one collect all that money then act like you gain noting and you were against it??!!! Come on! Stop with your dirty politics!! So it’s ok for you to air others troubles but yours must remain undercover?? Give back the money!!! This reminds me why I didn’t vote for you last election. You are just too wild and arrogant.
..you forgot to address why you kept calling asking if it went through as yet? I guess he lied there too?? At some point you have to take credibility Myron. It is out. Just pay it back haha.
Stop using Fahie against this man. It is getting old now. Come up with something new. Wheatley is just playing the same politics you are playing. The only thing is he is beating you at it. ???
Walwyn is correct. The problem with VIP is they don’t read, they don’t understand and they can’t comprehend. Notwithstanding the whole Greedy Bill/Pension package for Legislators need repealing. They don’t deserve it. They’ve continuously squandered tax payers money to our detriment and they should repay not get paid. All of dem just plain wicked if you ask me.
This man was arrested and charged and is before the courts now here talking about integrity? This must be a joke
It’s called TRANSPARENCY! Since you MW opened the can of worms trying to blame the VIP, trying to undermine Voters who doesn’t think for themselves by checking facts. In Fact all Political Candidates should be made to disclose all MONIES that they are receiving whether in Salary, Pension, Aid or Contracts from Government. You see, in terms of trying to discredit another, you ended up discrediting yourself. As the say goes,”when digging a hole for One, go ahead and dig Two”
This Premier should be praised and supported for giving us this information. imaging how long these people being raping the treasury secretly enriching themselves, while deliberately deceiving us acting like they care. The who bill need repealing with a better and standardized formula. I dont believe any X HOA members who are gainfully employed should collect a monthly payment. Britain knowing all this should have stepped in..
So he already benifitted from the bill, now he wants to shut it down so no one else will. He could never get my vote
That is not what he is saying. This rule has been in existence for almost 25 years n more what these have sorted to do is raised it up hire n made it so they get it whether they make 2 terms or not
is saying )> HEY big YOUTH , am hollering back at you on your sided story , so the people can understand the facts which you and the rest PUPPETS needs to get acquainted with
None of this nonsense is true nature of these men.
Unless you get up and tell me you are working for free, this is all nonsense. All these jokers are going to get the salary and pension if they are elected.
All they do is blame the other guy. The truth is they all in it together!
There is nothing unethical about this. You are a public figure and your remuneration is public
I am so surprised that our political leaders are earning this when we are not meeting our financial obligations and on a minimum wage of $6/hour. Social Security should be the one to determine their pension
Walwyn could now buy a headstone for he naval string buried under the tree.
Oh my, Oh My!!! Look who is calling who Unethical. Does Myron even know the meaning of that word??? As a lawyer or liar I think he better stop and bow his head in shame. He now trying to defen himself has proven a very high level on being unethical. Premier did not disclose what others are making but he Myron is who disclose it. Now we know who is making what because Myron disclosed it, not the Premier.
I agree 1000% with the Premier to call out Myron on his sleek and sweet and smooth talk. He now insulting BVI, The whole nation that we do not read and understand. Shame on you Myron, you think only you can read, well we prove you otherwise now.
What you should do with your ethics is return the money or refuse any more monthly salary as of April 1st. Send a letter to treasury stating you will no longer accept the $5,500, because it is beyond yur ethics to get paid for what you do not deserve. Do it on as early as Tuesday, March 27, so that this March is your last check. Prove how ethical you are now!! Go ahead, othrwish it is going to be VIP ALL THE WAY. BAM, BAM,BAM. Boy! this is good. What a thing to tell the KING.
And now we can see why a few of them started building their dream house, depending on that retirement package.!
Politicians should wear a shock collar everytime they lie to us!
At some point the people have to wake up to why the COI Commissioner recommended the UK suspend the Constitution, it’s the only way one can guarantee future honesty within local government.
See you guys at the polls…………VIP, NDP, PVIM and any AT LARGE candidates.
This going down in history a mix collision between the parties.
We need to stop this bad mouthing each other and find solutions to fix the unfixing.
If you didn’t fix your portfolio in the 4yrs. When you was in office and you wasted the monies….by giving friends, families to live luxury, well you have a problem.
So persons are just greedy and they are no help to the candidates. They trying to see what they can get and not help the crying village or committee.
Well to each its owe and going to the polls, alot of you all going to bald…its going to be a disaster.
Every body serves a purpose. Sl** Wande drop a stink bomb in the midst of this thing and the fragments hitting all kind of ppl. I looking seriously at independents. PVIM, VIP and NDP candidates stink with the smell of greed (even those new faces by association) and can’t wash it off now
How he going to reurn something that has been paased by law for more years for a person that has served two terms.
That is the problem you need to read the legislation before making statements.
Get educated on facts not mella
Myron Can also afford to Contribute an imported Granite made commemorative stone to be laid next to the School wall.
Doctor which doctor he went to the university but the university did NOT go through this gentleman
Thank God Premier Wheatley expose you Myron. All that money you get while everyday people suffering in 6 district. You do not have my vote or my family vote. Pure tricks and lies. Dishonest politician.
Myron is the first person to receive it at the higher calculation of 100,000! The others were calculated from 40,000. Myron cannot say it is the same thing!!!! He benefited from the amendment!
The one on the VIP ticket that was arrested, charged, prosecuted, found guilty, locked up, sat in a cell at balsam ghut. Which part of that makes you feel assured that the VIP can even SPELL integrity, much less define it. A set of people under a spell because no where in the world can this folly ever take place.
If the political parties came together to defend the suspension of the Virgin Islands Constitution; Government of National Unity; then I don’t see why a coalition government can’t work. Put aside your egos and put your country FIRST.
Is this man serious?!? He got what was owed to him? From start to finish that legislation is GREEDY. The do not deserve a huge payout. They do not deserve full payment for the rest of their lives….. NONE OF IT! I would agree to a sum of maybe 6 months salary as they re-integrate if they are not re-elected…. And pension when they reach pension age …. But not the extravagant excessive wickedness that we see here. No wonder the teachers can’t get a decent wage, no wonder the civil servants can’t get their increments. It is a national disgrace!
I remember not too long back it had a list of names of people who got grants form the government going around and the Premier himself said that this is these people private information and denounced the spreading of it… Now here he is on stage sharing the details of someone’s pension package. At the same time Myron get catch… he out here saying what he need to say to get yall to vote for him and on the back end ringing down the man phone asking if it gone cabinet yet. Bottom line is all of our options are trash right now.
Please help our poor teachers who after putting in 40 plus years, only leave with pocket change. May God have mercy.
THE VIP WANTED TO HIDE IT FROM US….buh he shoudda kept quiet?…ah glad he expose um!
Why are you all blaming Myron? It was Alvera and the VIP who brought the bill and passed it so dont think that we the voters are going to punish him alone and let the VIP off the hook?
Green, Red, Blue and Frazer – They are all guilty of having failed this country for the past 30 years and none of them deserves a vote.
The payments that Wheatley and Walwyn are arguing about are obscene in relation to the pay that ordinary voters get. No wonder they want to hang on to their positions but, once there, are found to be asleep on the job.
A plague on all their houses
THE VIP IS A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION
Arh you too effing lie, not Myron. Arh you mean the da** Sl** man.
All should be in Jail right about now. Grow to ef up.
Applaud who, as an educated man he is speaking nonsense. I want wo hear what can be done better for the Country, Youths and infrastructure. Bad roads, bad water supply, crime rise, bad sewage system, poor education system. I can go on… Not one of these idiots address important issues plaguing the country. Stop saying what he did. Tell me what are you going to do… Am not voting for none until i hear something of interest.
Walwyn – will you hand your money back?
No one from VIP or PVIM getting any of my X’s.
What is unethical is all these old and recent politicians running for office again despite the COI recommendations. You sir should sit this one out along with a few others.
Sowande is the best person to lead a new coalition govt.. Why these Old people who already gotten their package and getting their monthly salary running again. Once you already collected your package you shouldn’t be allowed to run again. That need to be put in the new Constitution. They are so selfish and greedy. Never even give nothing substantial to any of these non profit organization trying to do well for the country. .
Meson thosa disgrace. No opportunities for the youth why have to go sell drugs. These people goi g with all the monies. This system seriouly needs to renumerated. The civil servants cant get properly paid must less their increments they wont pay. Who can help this country. The bvi is goi g downhill if it continues this trend. It need to be fix Asap.
Are you giving back your pension after working because you would be a fool to leave the pension that you’ve earned for time spent. Catch up quick, you’re moving too slowande
He was getting his pension regardless after serving 2 terms. It was base off of salary now it base off of allowances, ministrial posts, serving 1 term (for doing nothing), etc.
Don’t leave the money that is owed to you
we are PROUD of our minister keep him out of this thanks
You don’t deserve a seat in HOA
You’re not fair/transparent!
Listen to accidental’s new voice carefully,the tone and octave is getting rather deep and aggressive. We all know he is l**ng
However the VIP is trying to buy the election telling everyone who received grants to vote VIP only, we must not be gullible this cycle. Vote them out
I foolish people like you why Andrew can lead you all like lamb to the slaughter .
Read for yourself or if you don’t understand ask someone to explain the contents and stop spewing venom
The BVI became the international laughing stock on the world when the Premier was shackled .
If that cannot open your eyes
The greedy bill cannot open your eyes
The financial state of the country cannot open your eyes
We are doomed
Not once had the accidental premiet apologixe to the country for the premiet for dragging us through the COI ..Can my people be so daft ?
We understand they needed insurance to cover those huge homes and new appartments they are building, but if you think the people is buying thoses made up stories and lies the primer is telling, you will understand the punishment they will get at the poles. NDP did not understand in the last election and they too were punished. Keep telling lies and playing mind games.
well then he shouldnt be calling about it, talking about it, or politrickng about it
all he is doing is answering to the lie that was throne at him first. if you live in a glass house dont throw freaking stones
Mirun got 200,000 plus for two terms, plus over 5,000 a month for the rest of his life, but Sl**ande will get 600,000 pls for being a default Premier for 10 months and will get 10,000 for the rest of his life.
And kye right behind him.
That is why they did not want to make Marrlun Deputy Premier
Well, I don’t see why! Oh why! I cannot wake up one morning and hear water is now accessible to everyone, everywhere,in these Virgin Islands. That the scrubber for the incenerator now landed and ready to install. That Labour now have the people in place to operate smoothly. That employment has been in the highest percentage possible. And entrepreneurship for the empowerment of Youth and women has now giving top priority. Immigration foremost priority towards expatriates workers are giving the green light of not separating families. Ensuring Agricultural equipment and life stocks medicines are custom duty free. Access to water for the farmers, and supports for training for young farmers. At least pick a few and work on it.
Wait, sorry I can only hear the bitterness of who get credit for what, who will get what, and what personal information the rest of the residents need to know. Keep at it, and see what the voters will do on polling day!
outrageous sums.
investigated over corruption and rewarded like you won the lottery. and then complain.