BVI News

Premier says Walwyn should be more humble

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has said he believes Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn should show more humility following Walwyn’s call for his resignation over a multimillion-dollar budget error related to public sector salaries.

The budgeting issue arose when Premier Wheatley, who also serves as Minister of Finance, informed the House of Assembly that the actual cost of the public service salary increase was significantly higher than the budgeted amount. The government appropriated $11.7 million in the budget, but the actual figure was upwards of $25 million—a mistake Walwyn described as unforgivable.

But in an invited comment to BVI News, Premier Wheatley remarked, “If I were in Honourable Walwyn’s position, I would be more humble. Some may say he has done much more to warrant demands for resignation.”

Premier Wheatley expressed pride in his administration for delivering the largest salary increase in the history of the Virgin Islands and noted that the government has passed a Schedule of Additional Provisions (SAP) to address the budget shortfall.

Dr Wheatley further told BVI News that an investigation into the under-budgeting will determine where errors were made and who should be held accountable. “Let us allow this investigation to conclude before attributing blame,” he stated.

Stop dwelling on the past to justify present-day failures

Under the previous National Democratic Party (NDP) government, which included Myron Walwyn, there were multiple scandals involving millions of dollars, such as the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) perimeter wall issue, the $7 million loss with BVI Airways, and the Pier Park Project cost overrun.

However, in response to questions from BVI News, Walwyn argued that it is unhelpful to the territory’s advancement to continuously look in the rearview mirror to justify present-day failures, adding that his party was voted out of government in 2019.

“That is how democracy works. We now have a new government that must also be held accountable for their actions or inactions,” he stated.

Walwyn insisted that every government should be judged by its performance and held accountable for its stewardship.

“It would serve them well to listen to the voices of the people rather than seek to distort the issues by referring to the same tired, old political stories. Failure has become a habit of this government and that cannot be ignored by the citizenry,” the District 6 Representative declared.

Let Lorna Smith or someone else head up Finance

In calling for the Premier’s resignation, Walwyn suggested that another government member, such as Deputy Premier Lorna Smith, might be better suited to the role of Minister of Finance. “Do the honourable thing… let Honourable Smith or someone else more capable take on the role of Minister of Finance,” he urged.

He emphasised the seriousness of such budgeting errors, noting that in international contexts, similar mistakes would lead to resignations.

Share the news

Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

42 Comments

Disclaimer: BVI News and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the comments below or other interaction among the users.

  1. Chupes says:

    Walwyn is very right. You need Premier need to pay attention to your job and stop partying and traveling.

    Like 46
    Dislike 8
  2. who don't like it lump it says:

    THIS CURRENT SPREEMIER IS A WASTE OF TIME

    Like 40
    Dislike 8
  3. Blows like old clothes says:

    Hold him Walwyn. When he was carrying on with his horrible conduct with his father Andrew Fahie he didn’t know about being humble. Anyone remember his behaviour in the House with Fahie? Being Fahie’s lap dog and attack dog? Cursing out the governor and the UK and everybody who opposed them. He didn’t know about being humble but now they getting blows now he talking about humble. Give him blows like old clothes Walwyn.

    Like 45
    Dislike 5
  4. Set ah moo moo says:

    Premier sound stupid every minute talking about wall wall wall. His failed music fest alone cost more than the wall around the school to protect our children. The money for the music fest gone and but the wall is still there protecting the school. Don’t mention the Covid grants and all other stupidness the VIP did with money.

    Like 44
    Dislike 2
  5. Oh snap says:

    He should be more humble for speaking the truth? You need to get over yourself. If you were anywhere outside of this Territory, you would have had to step down for the 20 million dollar blunder. No head of State should be in control or in charge of a Financial Portfolio. Any head of State that is in charge of a Financial Portfolio is playing Russian Roulette. Get over yourself and do what is right and stop trying to control and dominate everything. The problem in this place is when a person speaks the truth, the person becomes public enemy number 1. I as a citizen born and raised on the Island have always said you should not be in charge of the Financial Portfolio. You have a good day Mr. Premier

    Like 33
    Dislike 0
  6. Got ya says:

    He should be more humble and not tell the people of the country what is going on. Ok. I got you.

    Like 19
  7. Tola says:

    Myron is right focus on the country big waste

    Like 22
  8. My goodness says:

    Premier, you should be the one that should be humble and stop using the wall as a defence mechanism for excuse for your bad and unprofessional and inept behavior. The money that was spent on the wall you keep talking about is peanuts compare to the money that you have spent on stupid ghetto party, first class plane tickets and 5 star hotel accommodations.

    Like 23
    Dislike 1
    • @my goodness says:

      The wall is there for John public to see; it’s still there serving a purpose; it is still there protecting the majority of the school buildings and yard; it is still there. Where is the music fest report; where is the report from the village; where is the report on the road project in fat hog’s bay; where is the report on the stimulus grant for persons who never catch a fish, never built anything; do not have businesses; are not farmers nor fisherfolks. Where are the reports? We want our tax money back. At least we are seeing a wall and let the chips where they may for that.

      Like 13
      Dislike 1
  9. I Observe says:

    You Mr Premier is an unapologetic boldface low IQ disrespectful selfish disgrace to these VI and to the memory and legacy of your respected and respectable ancestors.
    Same as Andrew Fahie.
    To Hon Walwyn:
    Thank you Sir.
    Much respect.
    God Bless You!

    Like 25
    Dislike 3
  10. no says:

    @oh snap. you are right. The premier should lead and when he wants something done he should turn to the minister of finance and ask can we afford this?

    The minister should be able to tell him no it would be unwise lets scale it down blah blah.

    Like 13
  11. Mr. Practice says:

    Former public servants, in this case, one teacher and maybe others in education and other, deserve and demand their money/increments also. It has been to long. They have gotten nothing but promises cycle after election cycle, let downs and disappointments.

    When will the campaigning lies and false intentions stop, and will the value of human beings be uplifted and their contributions to all of society begin to be recognized and rewarded?

    Why would elected after elected normal men, once they get into power become so , stuffed up, s a matter of fact, selective in their assistance mentality, blinded to human decency, morals and fowl towards the post working retired professional and working class?

    Wil they ever get there worked for and owed increments, Mr., Premier, Mr. Opposition Leader and others?
    If God were to come down today and walk on his ground, he will condemn all of you to hell’s fire immediately for all the sufferings all of you have placed before so many. Shameful! This and other previous governments are Shameful!

  12. Thank you says:

    Thank you Honorable Walwyn, thank you. Thank you for the much needed transparency. I have and will always back you. I can’t stand liars, unprofessional I want/know I am wrong and want to be strong at the same time people. Lots of people here knows a leader of a Country should not be in control or in possession of the Country Financial Portfolio. I highly agree, that is playing Russian Roulette with the Country. Mr. Premier, focus on the Country. Stop trying to control and dominate because you have the power.

    Like 12
    Dislike 1
  13. Homegrown says:

    Hon.myron. probably need to go easy but I don’t see the bvi getting any better under slowanda leader. We need that change now its urgent.

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
    • @ HOMEGROWN says:

      Why should he go easy? This is the reason why our Territory is so damn F…ed up and getting more and more F…ed up day by day. Go easy my A.. The Premier need calling out and fire blazing under his behind until he do what is in best interest and betterment of the Territory and the people. If he can’t do the right thing as a leader then it is time to get to stepping. People are over tired and stressed behind the nonsense and actions of the Premier.Working people is going to bed worrying about how they are going to meet their monthly bills, keeping a roof over their heads and feeding their families and he out here squandering the taxpayers money on parties, expensive first class plane tickets and five star accommodations. Some of us have to work two jobs to make the money that he is squandering on just first class airline tickets.

  14. Ohho says:

    BVI is at God’s mercy?Why all of these members in Govt were too much evil to get elected.From Senegal,Jamaica,Venezuela,you name to much EVIL nothing suprises me

  15. Chupes says:

    its so fake all these pro myron blog..go take care of your court matter boss from on bvi news all day trying to make yourself look good withe these different comments

    Like 2
    Dislike 13
    • @Chupes says:

      Mind your F.ing business.He is not the only that have court matter. That is all you got to say you DAMN BUSH GORILLA IMBECILE? GO BACK TO THE BUSH AND CONTINUE TO BEAT ON YOUR CHEST LIKE THE HEAD GORILLA DOING YOUR MATING CALL. OW, OW, OW, AH, AH, AH. YOU NEED A RIDE OR CAR FARE BACK TO THE BUSH GORILLA IMBECILE?

      Like 7
      Dislike 1
    • CRATERS says:

      hey @chupes:

      But you have a court case also Wiggy! Save the energy for your fraud case big frog….lol

  16. BuzzBvi says:

    Walwyn cost us $1,000,000 but we ended up with a wall. He inadvisedly tried to help by giving many different contractors work. A poor way of doing things, but hehad good intentions some people think. He did not steal the money, lose the money or forget to account for the money
    . It is still hard to understand why he is in court and yet $40,000,000 was given away without account or any actual physical thing being produced, or in fact any real justification for why this money landed in the hands that it did. I just don’t get it. But what I do get he has no need to be humble like Premier487 does.

  17. @Chupes says:

    GOU LONG WITH YOUR UNKNOWING SELF. What the pi** do you know about Mr Walwyn? Can you walk in his shoes? Then proceed from pi**ing and doodoooing through the mouth.

  18. Sowande again. says:

    I am in a confused state of mind seeing and hearing my 2 favourite men in politics going at it. Ronnie was my favourite but since the consistent attack on the Governor blaming Britain and the Gov. For all their mismanagement and failures. Myron should be the leader..There is no one in VIP capable enough to replace the good Premier. He is not perfect of what we have in HOA he is the best.

  19. ITS NOT ABOUT WALWYN says:

    It’s about incompetence / negligence and being
    lackadaisical in doing yhe people’s business / and if the guy has the ballz to tell cbit as it is the right thing to do if the best interest of the country is our first priority / they are hollering out about the wall that is unfinished yet they allow yhe people who live here to walk amongst us freely as it’s no big deal , instead of taking the nessary steps to make
    sure yhey c9mplete the job that they were paid with taxpayers
    Money / but they prefer to join forces with the wigged one to insinuate that he stole the money / if walwyn was in the position we are sure yhise hustlers would been made to fulfill their obligations of the contract OR return our taxpayers money / but they choose to YAP YAP YAP

    Like 0
    Dislike 1
  20. Perhaps says:

    It is being said in the private chat circle and dining room table talk that a little portion of the 20 million was allegedly used to control and revamp T* Radio. Still working on my research on that.

  21. What? says:

    Hey Myron- let he who is without sin cast the first stone. But all ayo is cr**ked..

    Like 2
    Dislike 0
  22. Pro Bono says:

    Mr. premier, if you don’t get yourself together and do what is right. It is a possibility you may end up like your old boss Andrew Fahie. Give up the Financial Portfolio.

  23. Honesty says:

    Speaking the truth on issues that affects the life and economy of the country should be shouted out from the ROOFTOPS

    It should not br label as not being humble

    Stop taking us for fools .

  24. Hmmmm says:

    So you’re telling me that most persons on this article fail to realize that Walwyn and his government is thieves but just covering it with the premier’s failures. Smh. Come on folks. Yea we shouldn’t dwell in the past but this current government has done more than Walwyn and his NDP government has ever done.

    Like 2
    Dislike 2
  25. SMH says:

    This guy talking about another being humble and he does not have an iota as to what humble depict. Instead of telling another to move forward from the past and ironically he is dwelling on it. Boy Premier, pull up your draws and accept responsibility for your actions which are totally unacceptable and not befitting the title of Premier/Chief Minister. You are completely obligated to the trust and well-being of the Territory and to date there is NOTHING significant or of relevance to be seen. All those in support of your behavior is like that of the USA Republicans. The clown was doing as he pleased even though morally, ethically, politically yet they tend to condone such governance. Boy Premier has these so called VIP electors the same. Disgrace and utter shame to the voters who believed in giving them the opportunity to work for them.I am extremely devastated on how supposedly grown folks can be so shamefully naive.

  26. NOOOO says:

    Walwyn does NOT need to be more humble ! it’s about time somebody stood up in this country ! too long the Premier has been wasting our tax money on parties, we can afford to miss a party to better our infrastructure, we are a tourism ran country and this is the kind of roads we are welcoming them with, I see why they call him the accidental premiere

  27. Myron Bloggers says:

    The bloggers back in action: it won’t help – we sticking with VIP and Sowande

  28. decentralize now says:

    one man must not control finance, that is a sure way to have a porous budget riddle with pilferage and lost.

    Corruption is on the rise my people. AF never taught his minion to do anything the right and equitable way!

  29. Tafari Zharr says:

    The “MONARKEY”
    by Tafari Zharr

    Wo- oh oh Wo- oh oh – oh oh

    The Debockery
    Don’t Forget
    The “MONARKEY”

    He’s Her Creature
    Forever Pleasers
    He’s Her Grinder
    He’s Her Teacher
    He’s Her Hero
    Dream Seekers
    He’s Her Preacher
    He’s A Keeper
    He’s the “MONARKEY”

    He’s A Special Kinda Man
    Hope
    Her Love Understands
    He’s A Keeper

    He’s Slow On Romance
    Hope
    Her Heart Breaks His Stamce
    He’s Her Preacher

    He’s Moon Catching Her
    She’s Sun Chasing Him
    Dream Seekers

    He’s Rebel Overtime
    She Commits
    He Solves Crime
    He’s Her Hero

    He’s Got Eyes In His Back
    He’s Leader Of The Pack
    He’s Her Teacher

    He’s the Master Of Her Whine
    Her Cocktail’s Coffee Black ‘n’ Lime
    He’s Her Grinder

    Peace In Paradise Might Define
    Their Poetry. Him Rebel Her Rhyme
    Rusty Sweet Pleasers

    She’ll never stop loving him
    Hope
    He’ll Never Stop Loving Her
    He’s Her Creature

    He’s Her Creature
    Forever Pleasers
    He’s Her Grinder
    He’s Her Teacher
    He’s Her Hero
    Dream Seekers
    He’s Her Preacher
    He’s A Keeper

    Wo- oh oh Wo- oh oh – oh oh

    Can She Leave Him Behind?
    Will He Suspend Her In Kind?
    Or, Are They Both Blind?

    The Debockery – Don’t Forget
    The “MONARKEY”
    The “MONARKEY”
    The “MONARKEY”

    Copyright. (c) 2024 by Tafari Zharr. All rights reserved

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

  30. @ MYRON says:

    One thing you does get in your daily exercise of blogging off your mouth with s**t on Myron , you are a really dangerous psycho on who will soon implode from playing super man , ( remember we cam do as much as we like BUT not for as as long we like )you fighting down the UK/ the governor/ the commissioner / Cindy and walwyn , WHO’S next on your hit list / we can see you were not brought up properly or you were dragged UP . some say one of them Lil boyz slip some of the white lady on you , so that’s why you acting like a crackhead

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  31. Eldread says:

    This premiere Wheatley behaving just like his partner Fahie, he don’t need corrections because he is right, after all he has a Phd in poems, so he has the superior logics, he knows best, but walwyn is on the ball, the other politicians seem to be more centrist or sleeping in parliament.

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  32. Rise up says:

    Rise up past the ad hominem attacks. Heavy lies the head that war the crown said Shakespeare It ain’t easy having a position of responsibility. If you want it, you have to be prepared to accept, own and fix mistakes. Yours and others that you may have had nothing to do with it. Sure, there’ll be pushback and flak, but that is what you’ve been elected to do and what you are being paid handsomely to do. Name calling just brings it all down to school yard banter and nothing gets done other than promoting division. Put on your big boy pants, make a list of priorities that need attention, get on them and move ahead. Save the parties till you meet major milestones. And, stay home and say focused. Rise up to the occasion to move the Territorry with meaningful actions. Save the travel and parties till you get siomething done. Otherwis, respectfully, sit down and shut up.

Leave a Comment