Premier pushes for more junior ministers in Cabinet
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has called for an increase in the number of junior ministers in the Virgin Islands’ Cabinet, saying the change is necessary for more effective governance.
Speaking during the wrap-up of the debate on the Constitutional Review Commission’s report, Dr Wheatley argued that the current limit of two junior ministers is inadequate for the workload carried by his administration.
He explained that the responsibilities of government are too broad for one premier and a small number of ministers to manage effectively.
“I can count to you all of the different portfolios that I have. Agriculture, fisheries, immigration, customs, culture, tourism, financial services, shipping registry, labour. If we want to be efficient and effective, the premier shouldn’t have one portfolio. The leader of the country should be managing his ministers and let the ministers go out there and do the work,” he said.
The premier pointed to examples in the United Kingdom, where ministers operate under secretaries of state and manage their own sections. “Every minister under the foreign secretary is a junior minister. We don’t call him that. The foreign secretary has a number of ministers reporting to the foreign secretary. All of them run their section,” Dr Wheatley explained.
Currently, the BVI Constitution allows for only two junior ministers. In recent years, public debate has emerged over whether the role should be expanded, reduced, or even removed, with some critics saying the positions have not been used effectively. But Premier Wheatley insisted the posts can ease the burden on senior ministers if used properly.
“I wish I had another junior ministry,” he admitted. “Agriculture and fisheries needs its own junior ministry, and if I have a junior minister, I don’t need to be involved. That’s how it’s supposed to work.”
He added that the title itself creates confusion and should be reviewed. “The only thing that I would say needs to be changed here is that we need more. We need to change the name. The reason why we need to change the name is because it contributes to the misunderstanding of the position,” he said.
Dr Wheatley concluded that additional junior ministers would allow the government to delegate more work, empower talented backbenchers, and deliver more efficient governance.
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Every decision that Natalio has made on the constitutional review has been based on him personally benefitting. He has the misguided view that he will always be the Premier and always be an elected official. He is worse than Andrew Fahie.
Mr Minister, your ego is about to explode, Remember you are just a village boy with little over 400 v0tes making you the local boss man but you looking junior ministers to polish your shoes.
“[I]f I have a junior minister, I don’t need to be involved. That’s how it’s supposed to work.”
You’re already doing a great job of being uninvolved. Try curtailing your numerous travel junkets, replete with an entourage of hangers-on.
He’s just advocating for more cronies that will get installed into yet another government sinecure, and at an outsized salary. Spare me….
Well tis you give yourself all those portfolios. Nobody forced them on you. Now you bawling? You can’t do your job? heavy is the head that wears the crown.
The more he hires, the more incompetent he looks.
His portfolios are not the problem. He is.
More stooges to anchor him in power in case Fraser switch
All who vote VIP and corner lady I glad for all ayo.
I hope ayo ain’t getting not one kickback. Let ayo see red hot, lava fire n ayo eyes. Premier eating steak while ayo eating crow. Let it burn ayo conscious.
Premier……”let them watch you wuk baby”
“Voting has consequences”
We need to see a Government of positive RESULTS. Look at education, health, economy. Virgin Islanders wake up, stand up, speak up, because we are the ones being shafted. We are the ones being robbed.
They want ministers for this little island, they already have two much ministers. You need cut those 13 seats down to about 6/7 they are mad.
Is it me only or hasn’t anyone noticed the Premier is gaining weight especially in the belly and hips area
Lol! Looks like he is about to give biryh next month. While most out here sufferring and can hardly pay their rent, utilities, car loan and purchase htoceries, the Premier is living on the hog, literally living on the hog. He neefs to go on a diet. He is one belt hole away from bursting out his tight pants.
We will need more Virgin Islanders soon to fill all these positions unless we going to give Ministers work permits.
No one left to do real jobs in this little village when 6000 VI people working in Government or in the HOA.
Going to need to take out more loans and cancel school budgets (charity paying for school stuff already???) to pay for all this.
Maybe Ministers on Work Permits can be under different rules and forced to take minimum wage.
Premier want this, Premier doing that. He forget this Country belong to the people. What happen to what the people wanr? Is he going to pay them from his pocket. Those What we have are weak and ineffective..Check yourself Mr. Premier.
It ain’t that, he itching for another CoI. Like a baby tasting candy. The most less Premier in our territory. See why the Drew chose him? We in trouble.
This man is not a worker. He wants to pass off his work to everybody and he just does nothing but travel and party.
From the college he like so. Hon. Premier we are still waiting on our grades. Mouth champion so stick to poetry.