Premier defends walkout before no-confidence vote
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley defended his government’s walkout from the House of Assembly (HOA) last Wednesday, just ahead of a planned no-confidence vote from the Opposition.
Addressing the issue on ZBVI Radio, Premier Wheatley dismissed questions on the walkout, explaining it was in consideration of tired HOA staff.
“It was highly impractical to do that vote of no confidence at that time of night,” he said, noting the session extended past 11 p.m., with court reporters, HOA staff, and the Speaker facing fatigue, and several members scheduled to travel the next day. “We had gotten through most of the order paper and the remaining item was the motion of no confidence. At that stage, it was after 11 pm and you had the court reporter who was tired and the staff of the House, the Speaker of the House and several members who were travelling the next day.”
Pressed on whether he informed the Speaker about the collective decision to walk out, Wheatley countered, “Was the Opposition asked all these questions when they walked out? They’ve walked out of the House on more than one occasion.”
Following the government’s exit, the Speaker counted only six members remaining—five from the Opposition (with Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn absent) and one government member, Kye Rymer—insufficient for a quorum. Consequently, the session was adjourned under Standing Order rules after five minutes.
Opposition member Ronnie Skelton criticised the government’s move as “unfortunate” and a “bad sign for democracy.”
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If those were really your concerns, you could have had a conversation with the Speaker and/or the Leader of the Opposition. That explanation doesn’t pass the acid test.
that was a brilliant idea and well executed , and WE ALL was wondering how you were gonna get it done ( AND THATS WHERE YOU EXPRESSED YOUR HIDDEN TALE T AND
APPLIED YOUR MOONWALKING SKILLZ ( BUT WE AIN BUYING IT ) LOOKS LIKE CSC WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES IN TEACHING THE MOONWALK/ EVEN THE THE 3RD PERFORMED IT SMOOTHLY HE- HEEEEEeeeee
Nonsense. Scared go death of the unknown.
Sle**y imb**ile is an embarrasment and a
disappointment.
You believe BVI society so gullible and stupid that they would believe
That is why leaders like you Sir cannot be trusted, you are dis genuine and , integrity of TRUTH and principles of honesty is foreign to you.
How can we believe and have faith in you . The Bible says “who
Is faithful in little is faithful in much”
If you so cared for democracy you would not have put the motion of no confidence so very very late on the agenda .
Stop l**ng and stop take us for fools . This was a deliberate , well orchestrated time and well placed on the back burner . L**r
The Trini consultant is grooming you real well to l** to the country . We see through all of yiu
He will let you bring this place to the ground
both sides are acting like children, we need adults back in charge, save us u.k
Why the Premier thinks anybody won’t be tired working until 11:00 at night. Never stopped him before, I’m sure from wanting to continue to midnight. How easy and useful it is to use people as scapegoat and a convenient excuse when the agenda warrants it.
The latest “genius” move by the inadequate one,and his confession of chupidity, simply underscores the known reality that there can be no confidence in this man’s ability as local head. He is totally lacking. Why continue to underhandedly prolong the inevitable and in the process further seal your fate!!!
Imagine you at work and you can just get up and walk out whenever something come up that you don’t feel like dealing with or dont get something you want and just come back next time like nothing happen cause there is no consequence. HOA is a joke what’s the point of an order paper if the premier can just avoid and push back whatever he want until whenever he want. How is this not blatant manipulation of the house of assembly!?
A divided house will fall