Public funds spent, but vendor names kept secret
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley declined to provide the names of vendors who worked on Virgin Islands festival activities in 2022 and 2023, citing a need to protect their identity.
The Premier refused after Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn requested details of every transaction for the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee, including names of vendors and businesses.
While Premier Wheatley provided a version of the requested information, the document redacted all names. He claimed it was not in the public interest to expose the identity of individuals or companies transacting with the government. In his view, releasing names could lead to public targeting and ridicule.
“My reading of the standing orders tells me that once I have an opinion that is not contrary to the public interest, I can decline to answer,” the Premier said. “I understand that others have different opinions and I respect their opinion but I have a different opinion and it doesn’t say that I may decline if somebody else has an opinion.”
“I cannot, in good conscience participate in something I’ve seen happen since I’ve come to this House, especially with the COI, where persons’ identities who have done transactions with government… are placed into the public sphere, and persons are targeted and ridiculed,” the Premier said.
The Premier suggested that a broader legislative conversation about freedom of information is necessary to balance transparency with privacy.
House Speaker Corine George-Massicote ruled that the information should be made public. “I understand the point that you’ve raised. However, my view is I do not see how it’s not in the public interest to disclose the information that is being requested. That is my view. I think it’s a reasonable request,” the Speaker said.
However, she acknowledged that the Standing Orders allow the Premier to withhold information that was deemed contrary to public interest.
Penn strongly disagreed, arguing that the Premier could not pick which laws to follow and that information about the over $2 million of public funds must be made public.
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this must be aryo personal money? i never hear so much craziness since i born.
This fellow REALLY feel nobody could stop him from doing whatever he wants to do full speed ahead like a runaway train.
Please step down and do not worry about your pension it is secured. didn’t we just had a COI? you must be crazy. Auditor General hope you reading this. this is unbelievable.
Caught red handed & asked to justify
So it must be a members of his VIP party or family members!!
The COI brought up this issue in a bunch of places.
We the people need to make these PUBLIC SERVANTS go back to the drawing board and define what their jobs are. This is another example of POLITICIANS focus on hiding spending.
We all have to ask why?? Only one answer – someone’s hand in the cookie jar!
PUBLIC SERVICE has to start with the Register of Interests. Everyone needs to be able to see this info. There is too much money moving around and the people of the BVI are not getting anything for it (except busted up roads, bad schools and poor health care).
Natalee, Natalee; Natalee!!! I see you’ve been hard at home studying the playbook and have seemed to grasped the concepts of HC#1.
Boi go siddung and when will the vote of no confidence come for your pi** poor performance? How much longer do we have to suffer and slide into relegation?
the people’s tax money is bein spent , so we have a right to make sure that it’s not being
SQUANDERED AGAIN & AGAIN & AGAIN
Cant believe we got 3 more years of this man. How yall even let him get back in a second time!? Take all what ayo getting now and don’t complain. It not in the public interest yo deaf!
The idiots in District 7 will vote him back in for the free 10lb bag of rice, sugar, salty cheap ham, turkey, bag of Irish potato and a white envelope. Then they will be walking around half hungry and a lack of water to take a decent bath or shower. You people in District 7 is the ones that is responsible and should be the ones carrying the blame and shame for what slow…. Is doing to the Territory. District 7 is now known on the outside as the BAD LANDS of the BVI.
He only has 28 days left as Premier. June 1st direct UK rule commences!
@Blows. You need to find the 487 people that voted for him.
Come and find us we waiting on you if its the news or attention you looking you coming to the right place
You sounds like an A**h*** it’s our tax money been spend. How many young people in that district working. I coming for you me from Long Look.
speak for yourself
BOYCOTT THE MUSIC FESTIVAL. STAND UP FOR YOUR TAXPAYING DOLLARS THAT IS BEING SQUANDERED AND WASTED ON UNNECESSARY FOOLISHNESS THAT IS ONLY GOING TO BENEFIT THE PREMIER, FAMILY, CRONIES. A.. KISSING HANGER ONS AND THE UGLY ARABIAN NIGHTS BELLY AND HIP DANCING CREW.
You wouldn’t be opposed to sharing the information.
That is a disgrace! How can we, the public be protected from cronyism and corruption if we do not who is contracted by the government. This is exactly why the COI was needed and supposed to stamp out going forward.
How could such revelations go contrary to public interests, and invite ridicule?
..Unnnless, such names, can be tied to relational, personal, and friendly interests, that you, Premier, could be involved in!
This is why the revelations of personal interests, should matter, prior to running, and, getting elected, for public office!
.And, should be requested annually, as long as such officials, remain in office!
You get a full sense of the jive premier’s focus when the party details are TOP SECRET!
I would really love to see and read the Premier’s Thesis.
hahaha same here! he is so d**b
@from the outside
You think they include a thesis with the $25 degree from the back of a comic book?
haha this premier is a joke
It has been clear for a long time, the intent is not to learn from and put in place the recommendations of the COI. Clearly the only way forward to a better VI is is UK taking the reigns for a while. Cookie Jar mentality needs to be removed and people of the VI need to be told who is getting all our money. Clearly corruption going on and clear the current Premier similar to the last one in many ways.
he is a fraud. If you don;t see it, you’re blind.
As always efforts are expended by the officials of these VI coverage criminals big and little..Anonymous murderers thieves prison escapees,drug dealers,money launderers, are all under the hideawy of the elected. And the Premier is not shy in boldly telling his subjects like it is.
YES TO UK NOW !
same thing trying to hide the stimulus list
How did we get here?
…
Long story short… Stupidity.
This reminds me of the beginning of the reason for the killings on the African continents and South Americas .
Although corruption is global .
This is how dictatorship statrted and is continued until the people rise up … it led to tribal fighting, gang fighting all because of the political system
We are heading into a dark phrase of BvI history .
Is this what independence is going to look like .????
No.
Independence will be way worse.
Wish these paid trolls will stop with the scare tactics. The underhanded campaign of subversion will not work. We see you and are not as dumb as you think.
Ahhh see corruption. The Pastor say BVI not corrupt all lies
Who can we believe ..
Who is he protecting and from whom
The other ministers of his government sit there and allow him to continue to errode democracy
picture has never spoken so much as that one does, minus Dr. Smith of course.
Those before me did.I going in to do the same. See it starng right back at yah.
We done wid.
Look what the great BVI has come to.
I will keep saying it, “I am glad for you all because this is what you voted for”. VIP should k!(( ayo.
Since the last Andrew Fahie administration took office, I have not seen an at large representative in my area of the fifth district except to campaign or when there is something to take a footing of or have some kind of press conference. Would not even speak about the district rep.
But don’t worry, watch me wuk up on ah big thing at the music fest baby. Watch fo deh sign, throw waist here…..throw waist.
SUPPOSE WE HAD GONE INDEPENDENT, IT WOULD’VE BEEN WORST
where is the transparency???
it is taxpayer public money, the public has a riight to know how our money is spent. the premier cannot dictate such crazy policy.
Blah blah blah!! You all didnt want the Island Man as Premier so in 2019 you make a F**K! DEAL WITH IT!!!! I do not blame Sowande and his party for what they are doing because none of them should have been elected. You dont put a cat in a dog show and when he comes last call him a pu**y!!!!
I am confused. By vendors do they mean people selling services to the government? Should they be called suppliers? Surely vendors at festival mean those selling food, drink, entertainment to the public. In which case they should be paying govt for booths etc, not receiving money from government.
Somebody please clarify.
That is how Papa Doc started in the County of Haiti until it gradually plunged more and more into where it is today . See the ESHS had to closed down out of fear for the safety of staff and students . It is a gradual process. Then we woner how we get there
Not a soul on the Carvin Malone chat standing up with John Cline
And speaking out …
Set a mouth champion as family near or distance or friends are reciepients of the festival money
Then we are not a corrupt country . Please!Please ! UK come innand run your territory. We are scared and suffering . Democracy is ebbing away in our eyes and we too blind to see
it would be interesting have the 3 wannabe holt boyz on the same stage discussing the state of our country ALONG with the premier / skelie / the zhar / Cindy / heritage and blondie , who said he can do better in the 3rd district than the emperor , who is like a ghost with his scarecrow hair style ,one believes that buying them some rice , some salt fish , some pork ,etc will be eough get their votes ,and the other is
just contended to just sit back and enjoy the ride
Wherever there are SECRETS, there is CORRUPTION!!!!
YOU ARE SOO RIGHT. ONCE YOU ARE NOT A PART OF THE BULLS#IT SOME CHAT ON DAT PLATFORM YOU DON’T BELONG. YOU WILL NEVER SEE A PIN ABOUT THIS ON THAT PLATFORM. YOU SEE THAT BOY FACIAL XPRESSION? THIS BVI IS KUSS WITH A “K”. I BELIEVE WE ARE ALL SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THAT OBEAH MONEY THEY OWE THAT SINAGAL MAN AND THEY STILL BROUGHT IN ANOTHER ONE FOR THE LAST ELECTIONS. BVI WILL BE FR#G AS LONG AS THE VIP IS IN POWER. OBEAH RULES. SEE THE VERY PASTOR TALKING OUT HE HEAD SAYING WE ARE NOT CORRUPT. THEY CAN BRING IN AS MANY PROPHETS AS THEY WANT, THE BVI HAS BEEN FR!GGED. IT WILL TAKE A TWO WEEKS FLOOD TO WASH AWAY THE DROSS. THE WHOLE VIP IS FILLED WITH OBEAH PEOPLE INCLUDING THE LAY PREACHER AND ALL THEIR OUTSIDE SUPPORTERS. I KID YOU NOT. THE OBEAH NEARLY KILL COY BUT IT GOT “OUT OF THE WOODS”. EVERY TIME THE SHIP COMES IN WITH A PROPHET, IT COMES LADEN WITH OBEAH. WATCH AND WAIT. WHY THEY DON’T USE LOCAL PREACHERS? OBEAH GOT THE BVI TUN UP, TUN UP. MI NAH FRAID IT.
Anyone want to point out to this jacka** that this is PUBLIC money and where it is spent is PUBLIC RECORD. CLEARLY hiding something that will raise eyebrows. Corrupt?
You’re so right. Just a matter of time before he & Andrew are cell mates. Thieving @$$es….