Premier defends gov’t against corruption claims
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has pushed back against suggestions of corruption in his administration, insisting that major steps have been taken to increase transparency and accountability in the Virgin Islands.
Responding to a caller during a live broadcast of Virgin Islands Voice, the Premier said the government had acted swiftly following the Commission of Inquiry (COI) to establish key oversight bodies.
“I find that in certain sectors of the government… we still have corruption, that’s still going on,” the caller said. “I would like to see a young fellow like you stamp out corruption in every way.”
In response, Dr Wheatley highlighted steps already taken to improve accountability. “As a part of the Commission of Inquiry process, we set up a number of institutions. One of those institutions was the Integrity Commission,” Dr Wheatley stated.
He explained that the Integrity Commission had already held its inaugural meeting, chaired by Dancia Penn OBE, KC. Other members include Reynell Frazer, Gene Creque, Rev Sandra Walters Malone, and Dr Robert Mactavious, all appointed to monitor standards in public life.
The Premier urged the public to highlight instances of corruption within the government and statutory boards.
“If persons know of any level of corruption taking place in government, among the executive branch, among the statutory boards, they can report that,” he said. “They have the legislative authority to be able to [report] those instances of perceived corruption to the Integrity Commission.”
He pointed out that the government continues to progress in other areas as part of its efforts towards transparency. “We are establishing the institutions of government which will allow us to mature and give our people the confidence that we can manage ourselves in a manner that instils confidence in them,” he said.
The exchange occurred as part of a broader discussion on the government’s efforts to enhance public trust. The Premier noted that reform was ongoing and urged residents to support the process.
Dr Wheatley’s administration has faced scrutiny in recent months as public expectations remain high for lasting change following the COI, which uncovered serious governance issues in 2022. His government has continued working under the guidance of a UK-implemented framework to ensure compliance with reform benchmarks.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
But it is corruption to give Vybz Kartel quarter million USD juxtaposition to the farmer water reservoir and now the dedicated oxygen room for the hospital, one costing the hospital $180k USD but Vybz Kartel eat that and the farmers reservoir costing $250k USD but Vybz Kartel eat that, and am not talking about non stop party yet.
Now you going appease Lorna with a trip to India about trade, a continent with over a billion people, BVI barely have 30000 people, we don’t have no agriculture or nothing to trade, we don’t even have trawler boat to fish to supply them, and if we could that population size will deplete our fish stock in 2 trade exchange, oh I forget, we want to permeate our crookedness of hiding ill gotten funds as we are doing now, and when the UK demand transparency we dupe the people into thinking sovereignty is under attack. When it’s the criminal pay some of you elected officials to fight to protect their ill gotten gains.
Hmmm, hard to do what S!0wW@nde say he trying to do when he has Head Coach picture hanging over his head on HoA. Somebody need to explain that to S!0wW@nde.
Ha ha. He never lies. A major step. Yes. BACKWARDS.
Where are our financial reports?
Where is the report on the concert money?
Where is the $20Million?
How much you going to spend going to India?
When do we get to see the reports KPMG that say why we should not build an airport?
Where is the $100,000 that is not being spent on our roads?
Where are the Northam workers?
Why did the road by the Governors pad not ever get finished?
Why does nothing get maintained?
Why after 8 years is the Admin complex not open?
Why do we keep paying high rents to buddies?
Why have we not fixed the high rates we paying the private health providers to the NHI in that buddies get rich quick scheme?
Why we even attempting to give poor people a living wage?
Why does it still take months to get work permits?
Whey are we still gloryfying @drew?
Why do you keep defending the indefensible instead of trying to make things better?
WE don’t want done the old corrupt way anymore. We don’t want Independence so you can advance corruption even further, and we want tint off car windows, scooters obeying the law and guns out of peoples hands.
We don’t want this nations children’s children paying for the $Billions of dollars of debt that you will share out amongst buddies whilst you pretend to build an airport we will never get and we do not need.
We just need a functioning infrastructure with a functioniing bureaucracy that encourages and enables investment and buisness and Government needs to get out of the way with it’s mountains of paperwork and months and years of delays.
P487 does not lie we are making a huge step. But, BACKWARDS. Major, major steps BACKWARDS.