Premier submits proposal to UK on COI recommendations
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has announced that his National Unity Government has submitted a proposal to the United Kingdom (UK) on how to implement the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommendations without compromising the territory’s democratic rights.
Speaking during a live public broadcast last night, Dr Wheatley said the submission of this proposal comes as his government held its first Cabinet meeting since their swearing ceremony a week ago.
“The Government of National Unity has been engaged in a series of meetings to map the way forward for the Virgin Islands. On Monday, May 9, 2022, we held our first Caucus which was very productive. Today (yesterday), May 11, 2022, we had our first Cabinet meeting,” Dr Wheatley said.
“In terms of the Commission of Inquiry report recommendations, I am pleased to report on behalf of the Government of National Unity that I have submitted a proposal to UK Minister for the Overseas Territories the Right Honourable Amanda Milling that sets out our approach to reform and presents a framework for implementation under continued democratic governance. It represents our commitment to good governance and strengthening our institutions and systems of Government,” Dr Wheatley said.
“We want to engender a new culture in the handling of the people’s business. I hope Minister Milling and the UK government will give due consideration to the proposal and not go down the path of direct rule. We stand ready to work as partners with the UK and in close cooperation with Governor Rankin,” the Premier said.
He added that during these times, people must put all party affiliations and personal ambitions and agendas aside, and work together for the greater, long-term good of the Virgin Islands and its people.
“As we work together, cutting across party lines, we will be holding each other accountable based on the commitments we made in order to forge the Government of National Unity,” Dr Wheatley said.
“We will soon be coming to the public to explain our firm plans to improve governance in the Virgin Islands along with our plans to ensure the proper management of our society. An announcement on dates will be made shortly,” he added.
An overarching recommendation of the COI is to suspend the territory’s constitution and have the UK impose direct rule over the BVI for at least two years.
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Surely the proposal should have been shown to the people he is supposed to represent.
Why would the people of the VI know less about the proposals of “their” Government than UK.
Who really are the oppressors?
Everything continues to be done in the shadows. Better direct rule – at least that way we may be told what is going on and included in the future of the VI and not just dictated to by the privileged ruling class in this newly founded unelected One Party State.
BuzzBVI I agree with most of your sentiments. It is a downright shame that a “plan” would be drawn up and the public has yet to even glance at this plan. But your keyword is “may” be told what is going on under direct rule. I wouldn’t gamble with the British. History tells us we will lose gambling with them.
I getyou point Gamblem It is s good one but i think T and C give a good indication that the UK will be in and out once the job is done. Then the worse thing that can happen is like the T and C now and we go back to the old ways. That is where we have to hope real change is brought about,
was waiting for someone to say it. I have been saying the same thing and have the same sentiments. All they are doing in the march is instilling fear in the people when critical thinkers know that history tells the true story. T&C is well going on its way. what difference will the BVI be? It would be the same; they come in, clean the mess, set them up, have elections, and have them going on the own way. That’s all it is. They need to stop instilling fear in the people for their own gain. SMH 🙂
Can we please get rid of this habit of calling elected officials ” The Honourable ” Apart from the fact that most of them are anything but , it smacks of ancient privilege and fawning. We should be very suspicious of people who seek power and make sure they realize they are in no way superior to other citizens and that they are not above the law. Calling them grandiose names does not help that.
In the US no one is “honourable” in the media. If they’re a president or senator then they get that title, but they don’t get referred to by pompous honorifics like “honourable.”
Goes to show how much you value our opinion!
You should be submitting this proposal to the people! You let us down the most.
You all need to make that proposal public asap!
Get from under our gazebo. That position has not changed
Amanda milling honey bunch you can’t have the rats mining the cheese. Please ignore these small tactics to delay progress. They are all horrible politicians.
From bad to worst. The BVI won’t get better with the same crooks promising us different
Agreed! How is it that we don’t even know what the proposal is? Same dictatorship leaders? No! We should be marching about this! We should have a say!
Put a drunk in a brewery and this is what you get!!
If the honorable Dr.Nataleo Wheatley wants good governerance let him tell the people of 5he virgin Island about the deal he made with the now director of DOAF regarding him Mr J becoming the director of that department once he wins.If Mr Willock had to resign Mr J should do the honorable thing and resign as well, so someone who is qualified for the job can apply.
Whatever these secret proposals state to the UK government they are more likely to provoke the UK government to suspend the constitution and send all these ‘unitarian’ politicians packing.
The first two points of order should be i) rush into force the Bribery Act ii) hold an election. The first is needed as y’all gonna vote back the same set of cr**ks if elections depend on a fridge/ travel/ envelope
I do not want any d**n fridge, no travel, no envelope
but I will take a house!
What thoughtful considers went into a plan prepared on the fly. In practice it’s also common courtesy to have a convo with your auditors and senior career team to make sure the plan is feasible, identifies barriers to implementation and what resources are need to overcome the barriers, and whether the plan puts you on the right path to resolve audit and governance deficits.
The best SMEs working day and night would have difficulties developing plan and getting appropriate buy-in this quickly. PhD/Dr. after or behind a name doesn’t make you an automatic expert in all areas. So this reveals immaturity in leadership and governance. This moment requires more listening with action to come later, not knee jerk reaction. But I love my brothers and sisters and praying for success.
was waiting for someone to say it. I have been saying the same thing and have the same sentiments. All they are doing in the march is instilling fear in the people when critical thinkers know that history tells the true story. T&C is well going on its way. what difference will the BVI be? It would be the same; they come in, clean the mess, set them up, have elections, and have them going on the own way. That’s all it is. They need to stop instilling fear in the people for their own gain. SMH 🙂
As they say, “it’s over Johnny!”.
Did these clowns not get the memo? They elected themselves. The come up with a plan (that they doesn’t share any details with the public). Then they hold a press conference to tell the UK about it.
These people are not worthy of our trust. Let the UK come in and clean out these rats…we can elect some more rats in 2 years and start over!
The only solution is “dissolve the assembly and go for fresh mandate and get peoples trust”, Present government is not people’s but opportunistic
Dr Wheatley holds meeting with Harry Potter to discuss installation of fireplace at airport , joining the floo network thus cutting travel time note wands not included second bag will be charged for but not delivered!
Natalio has started off on the wrong foot, No consultations with the people who are affected.Hope he is not taking all his advice from Benito.We did not eject his brother.Just be mindful about that,Do we really trust that bunch to reform anything?
If you care so much about transparency, why won’t you show us your proposal to increase transparency?