Premier wants everyone to get over this “non-issue”

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has expressed that he doesn’t understand why some sections of the public have an issue with the transfer of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs (VIF&F) Committee to the BVI Tourist Board.

The Opposition has raised an issue with the transfer, saying the Tourist Board is already doing work for the VIF&F Committee, although the proper legislative framework hasn’t been adjusted.

Premier Wheatley has denied that the proper legal channels aren’t being followed and has promised to make the legislative changes soon. At a press conference last Friday, the leader said he isn’t sure why “persons are planting their flags” on the issue.

“We’re making a transition so there’s going to be some spill-over. I’m not sure why persons are planting their flag on this, nobody is going to go to jail. This is not the thing to plant a flag on, there are a lot of things happening that we need to correct in this territory. But really and truly, to the persons who are trying to make an issue out of this, it’s a non-issue,” the Premier stated.

Media owner and talk show host Cindy Rosan responded, “So is the VIF&F Committee still functioning with their private budget outside of the BVI Tourist Board? Can you make it clear because if the law hasn’t been amended none of this should be happening.”

In response, the Premier said the VIF&F Committee hasn’t been fully dissolved and the remaining members are working with the Tourist Board on the upcoming VI Music Fest.

The Opposition has flagged the transfer of the VIF&F Committee as another instance where the Natalio Wheatley administration has ignored the proper legal process. The Opposition had raised similar concerns about the government’s delay in establishing the Trade Commission even though the legislation was in place for this body to be enacted.

The government later suspended the Trade Commission, amid pressure from the Opposition.