Premier defends changes to ‘problematic’ ROI bill for public servants
A debate has grown over planned amendments to the Register of Interests (ROI) Act and how it is expected to affect senior public officials in the territory once they are also included in the new legislation.
Effectively, the Register of Interests is a record kept of the financial interests of legislators. Its purpose is to give them the mechanism to publicly declare any private interests which may conflict or may be perceived to conflict with their public duties.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley urged Opposition members not to play politics with the issue and called for their support in advancing legislative changes needed in the House of Assembly (HOA).
These include amendments tied to the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommendations and the quickly approaching May deadline for implementation of those recommendations.
Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn insisted that the public servants were being ‘dragged along’ concerning amendments to the ROI bill and argued that the changes were “totally inconsistent with the primary legislation”.
“It mentions the Commission, what a public officer is, and it’s specific as to where, within the legislation, you should substitute member for public officer, and that’s all it does,” Walwyn argued.
Walwyn further argued that the current ROI law was primarily for HOA members and has a different structure to the one being put forward for amendment.
Premier Wheatley urged House members not to create confusion and to promote things that they have not confirmed, such as insisting there was no consultation on the bill with public servants.
“Those things sound good and they’re good politics, but all we’re doing is damaging our territory,” the Premier said.
“We are saying that individuals are liars when we do those things,” the Premier added. “As I said before, this is under the conduct of the Deputy Governor’s Office and he assured me that consultation was done.”
Premier Wheatley said he strongly encouraged feedback on the Register of Interest at a meeting with department heads, including government ministers. He even described it as “begging” for their input.
Dr Wheatley further explained that he did not stop there and also contacted the Civil Service Association to continue the conversation.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
No wonder the bar back of village cay close
If you can’t stand the heat, get outta da kitchen…BVI voters are entitled to know the business interests of elected politicians…how else can they be kept honest…there should be no problem declaring their interests if they want to be honest.
The register needs to be fully open ie a person can make copies of documents. Also peps need to extend to cousins nieces and nephews.
Fines for Joe public avoiding answering census questions a different tune when the HOA are asked to be honest!
I really don’t understand why legislators are hiding behind the skirts and pant legs of civil servants.
Legislators you should be the ones to declare your interests! Prove to the general public that you can be trustworthy, ethical, honest, and worthy of the position that we, the people have given you.
Civil servants are governed by their own code of conduct.
A native Virgin Islander to the Nth generation.