Skelton criticises Premier for leaving during budget process
Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton has questioned Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley over his decision to leave the territory to attend a climate change summit during the ongoing budget process.
Premier Wheatley is currently attending the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which ends on December 6.
However, members of the House of Assembly’s (HOA) Standing Finance Committee (SFC) are currently involved in budget deliberations, along with senior government staff.
Skelton suggested that the SFC budget process has now been rendered useless since it requires the attendance of the Premier, who is also the Finance Minister, for key questions about spending in the territory.
“To present a budget to the parliament and not be here to answer some of the difficult questions that members will have. It says that the process is a useless process because there were some needs that different government departments, different ministries, different statutory cooperations need in order to function — to make the country better — that can’t happen unless he’s here,” Skelton said.
Skelton further argued that there are issues such as crime, policing, infrastructure, roads and water, and other matters that need to be fixed, and without the Minister of Finance being there to allocate the funding, this will be a problem.
The Opposition Leader said Acting Premier, Kye Rymer, who is currently standing in for Premier Wheatley, is doing his best to assist with moving the budget process forward, however, he hinted that the Premier’s absence was not helpful.
“Now you have the Premier, Minister of Finance, and the Deputy Premier away from the country and I understand the Minister of Health will be leaving tomorrow (today), so therefore, there must be an appointment for another junior minister to act as minister in this country. It’s not the right thing to do,” Skelton argued.
Skelton dismissed arguments from critics that a previous Premier did the same thing and said this never happened in the sixteen years that he served in the House of Assembly.
“We’re treating these processes in a very, you know, simple way,” Skelton added. “But these are major, major organs of the country to help the society to grow with some level of organization and with the Minister of Finance being absent from this process, it’s the wrong thing.”
Skelton further said it is his Opposition members that are causing the SFC to meet its quorum. A quorum is the minimum number of members of the assembly that must be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid.
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Ronnie right – it just shows how little the government cares for any of us. They all about themselves.
It is coming to the end of the year, and the Deputy Premier has to get enough airmiles to ensure that her status renewed on American Airlines – she can’t be worrying about the budget in those circumstances.
It also shows how much we care for ourselves because we keep voting for these same folks.
It’s not the government’s fault, it is our fault, every last one of us that keep being bamboozled by the same old con men and women.
Fact’s!!!!!!
Good points.
Also, our premier has no reason to be at a climate change conference.
Just another fancy trip for this money wasting guy.
Pressure burst pipe. How covers weakness by making childish side remarks.
Remember they are global trotting begging. There is $100M to beg for. Why we up and down begging strangers when we have a parent who was willing and I am sure that parent still willing. Get the money and send it RDA.
The Premier’s sightseeing tours are more important to him than the business of running the country. You get what you vote for the BVI is drifting.
The Premier and his entourage are wasting the BVI’s money by attending this conference. There is no climate crisis. We are being exploited by those pushing this costly agenda. Stop buying it and educate yourselves.
https://energytalkingpoints.com/20-myths/
Romney is right. I was saying the same thing
He is of no use so he sĥould stay GONE!!!!
This young man – Premier Wheatley seems to be a Travelling, Speaking and Entertainment Leader instead of performing his duties
Every month he is travelling somewhere. Lets call him the “The Travelling Premier”.
When we had the recent flood from tropical storm Phillipe he was not here
Now we have the standing finance committee which is a very important part of his duties – he is not here
When the UK takeover the BVI he will not be here either.
He going to meet the senegal men.
If this doesn’t let you all know that Joe Camel’s priorities are not in order, nothing will.
Sl**ande had to go to inflate his ego
Dubai nice. Nicer than the business of defending his hollow budget and ensuring the development of the BVI
Good for ayo. Y’all gave him your X. Tek what y’all getting and keep quiet. Next election y’all gone do the same thing. Who don’t want hear the truth y’all continue to suffer.
For real, that was a mic drop. I spending close to 400 million of your money….anyway I got to go on a trip tomorrow.
So, did anyone heard that there is WhatsApp call, FaceTime, and more , that should be use to further communication. I know some of you sleep , but understand no one needs to be in the same room to communicate anymore.
You first need to ask whether standing orders allow for such to be introduced in “ ordinary” or “extraordinary “ circumstances. The Premier attending COP is neither. His presence there is NOT going to secure any funding for the BVI which isn’t already on the table. Truth be told while, how the fund is going to be financed (I.e. voluntary contribution or defined amounts by first world developed countries )much less disbursed (amounts on what and how countries will qualify to receive) have yet to be determined by the true voting block. So be prepared for the empty speech on what was “achieved” by attending the conference, besides networking- it has it pluses.
If you truly analyzed the COP schedule the seminars which the Premier should have been in attendance to and derive substantive knowledge occurs December 8-10, but he would not be in attendance. You may ask why? Fact: he has to be back to host his Christmas Gala on December 9. So he went to Dubai for 4 days. Talk about priorities. So in the same breath which you speak of him calling in via zoom , WhatsApp, webex, could he not have participated in COP in a similar fashion?
We have a hard time separating personalities from the issues. This is one of issue. The Premier has to be more deliberate in the selection and attendance to conferences, and instead ensure the technical and/ or policy subject matter specialists do attend. Imagine Biden sent a delegation, but he the leader of the great USA did not go to COP remaining on his home soil to deal with matters which in his opinion, required his direct involvement, leaving his delegation to represent his country’s interest.