BVI News

Public officers have less family time as they slave over COI reforms

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley recently bemoaned the burden that public officers are bearing as they work to implement the reforms of the Commission of Inquiry.

The Premier said he sometimes has sympathy for the public officers who’ve had a reduced quality of life because of the COI reforms they are working on.

“They’re working all hours of the day and night. They’re not able to see their children at home and some of them, if they don’t take a break, they might end up in the hospital,” Premier Wheatley said.

He added that the work on the COI reforms is compounded by the day-to-day work that civil servants have to do in order to earn revenue for the territory.

But he said Governor John Rankin and the UK are refusing to understand the pressures of the government.

“We have to keep tourism going, financial services, we still have to recover from hurricanes and the effects of the pandemic. Instead of being understanding and collaborative, it’s just another battle that the people of the Virgin Islands have to fight,” the Premier added.

He continued: “We’re asking for the Governor and the UK to be more sympathetic and supportive of the Virgin Islands. Even as it stands right now, we’re seeking to protect our financial services industry from persons in the UK parliament who don’t understand what we do and don’t want to understand.”

Although the Premier has expressed that much work has been done to implement the COI reforms, Governor John Rankin has stated that he isn’t satisfied and may have to seek additional powers to ensure the good governance changes are implemented.

He said he is still unsure of the reasons that have caused the delays since the elected government had enough time to make progress. Both the government and Opposition leaders have rejected the Governor’s threat, saying such a move would cause the BVI to regress politically instead of moving closer towards greater autonomy.

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18 Comments

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  1. Smh says:

    There are some genuine, professional and hardworking public officers in all ministries and departments. However, there are some who are corrupt, unqualified and unsuited for many positions they are placed in. Maybe that is why there are be challenges in implementing the reforms.

    Like 50
    Dislike 2
  2. Salty Fish says:

    Bro, just do what you promised and stop acting like nothing is your fault. Or, better yet, give us some coherent and rational response as to why the delays are taking place, along with providing a well articulated plan on how you’ll get what is required done, and deliver on those said promises.

    The immaturity and narcissism on display while crying victimization and colonialism here is truly pathetic.

    DO YOUR JOB!

    Like 69
    Dislike 4
  3. Jim says:

    Whhaaaaaaaaaa. They must shed tears working sooo much. Boo hoo…

    Lazy officials now have to actually work. Whaaaaa.

    The horror

    Like 41
    Dislike 3
  4. Mervyn says:

    Pretty racist of this publication to call government workers slaves. How low of you

    Like 24
    Dislike 8
  5. BuzzBvi says:

    Dear Premier. If you are finding it too hard to do, call in the UK to take over and they will do it. You can have Governance and getting things done back when it is easier.
    Talk about not being ready for Independence!

    Like 37
    Dislike 4
  6. Resident says:

    hire more workers to get it done

    Like 6
    Dislike 4
    • @Resident says:

      I don’t think it’s more workers; I think it’s reluctance to do what needs to be done. Who would want a whistle blower act implemented for staff to report wrong doing? But hey let’s go independent.

  7. Hmmmmm says:

    Well… you either are understaff or never doing any work at all…Can not understand that heavy load of work in such small island.

    Like 24
  8. Apples says:

    “They’re working all hours of the day and night. They’re not able to see their children at home and some of them, if they don’t take a break, they might end up in the hospital”

    Many normal people work all hours of the day and night just to makes ends meat. They are unable to spend time with their children due to work hours and also due to working far from home. Many of these people end up working themselves to death to provide for their families.

    Here we have the elite class of the BVI complaining because they have been asked to pull their socks up and do their jobs! “Self-entitled” would be putting it very very nicely.

    Like 26
    Dislike 1
  9. WEW says:

    A narcissistic sociopath at his best

    Like 14
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  10. taxpayer says:

    All hours of the day and night
    Please stop all the lying.

    Like 17
    • Agreed - says:

      100% and any reporter worth their title would perhaps have sought out and interviewed some of these person who are working day and night and are on deaths door….

  11. Do the right thing says:

    Would not have been necessary had past and current administrations doen a decent job of goverming in the best interests of the voters instead of their own. As you sow, so shall you reap.

  12. Yassuh says:

    Irma and Covid excuses are well worn. Try incompetency and just lazy workers. I’ve sent 4 e mails to Immigration in the last 6 weeks and no response. Covid? Irma? I doubt it

  13. STRANGELY says:

    YOU ARE ONLY CLEANING UP YOUR OWN MESS / THE ONES YOU ALL CREATED / ALL THE LAME EXCUSES IS ONLY EXPOSING WHAT YOU ALL WERE DOING IN THE DARK / AND NOW TRYING TO USE RACISM & COLONIALISM AS A DISTRACTION ISN’T GOING TO FOOL ANYONE BUT YOURSELVES GOING DOWN ON THEIR KNEES WAS TRIED BUT IT DIDN’T FOOL GOD

  14. Rock Lee says:

    Uh huh. When I see it I’ll believe it (datebayo)

    I’m pretty that they’re still taking there 2 hour lunch breaks

    Arriving work late

    Long bathroom break’s

    Disappearing sometime throughout the day

    Leaving work early

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  15. hello says:

    I’m a victim..wahhh wahhhh wahhhh

  16. One love says:

    Why going work is slavery.waaah

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