Turnbull to grill Premier over insurance coverage for gov’t fleet
Opposition member Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull is set to question Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley in the House of Assembly today over the type of insurance coverage held for government-owned vehicles in the Virgin Islands.Turnbull, the Second District Representative, will request a comprehensive breakdown of the current insurance policy, including the number of vehicles insured, those not insured, and the associated cost implications for taxpayers over the past five years.
A question has been raised about the current number of government-owned vehicles — excluding those belonging to statutory bodies — including how many are insured, how many remain uninsured, and the reasons for any lack of insurance coverage.
Turnbull is also demanding to know the total repair costs paid by the public for uninsured vehicles and claims arising from accidents involving such vehicles over the past five years.
His line of questioning comes amid growing concerns about rising government spending, including on vehicle procurement and maintenance. Premier Wheatley previously disclosed that over $2.5 million has been spent on new government vehicles in the past three years. Questions have been raised by members of the public and some legislators over whether adequate planning and insurance coverage accompany these purchases.
The House of Assembly sitting is scheduled to begin at 10 am in Road Town. The agenda includes ministerial statements, bills for first and second readings, and additional questions from legislators covering infrastructure, environmental protection, and social services.
Turnbull’s question is one of several he will pose during the sitting. Other topics include public safety in response to a rise in burglaries, the status of disaster management infrastructure, and preservation of natural resources in Cane Garden Bay.
The Premier is also expected to face a revamped motion of no-confidence that is being brought by Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn. The government staged a walkout when the motion was brought previously by former Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton.
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Mitch knows full well that government vehicles are self-insured and it’s been this way forever. The government does not insure their fleet using private insurance and they have never ever done this, even when he was a member of Cabinet under the Unity Government. Will the Alliance tell us what they plan to do for the Territory or people should just vote for them because things are bad right now?
Even with a valid police report and admission of guilt, the accounts department just won’t pay “ we’re cutting you a cheque come back next week “ delay delay until you give up disgusting.
Big organizations around the world use captive insurance or are self-insured because from an economics standpoint it makes more sense for them. From a BVI Government perspective I would imagine that there is an amount budgeted to deal with liabilities/accidents that may occur with govt owned motor vehicles. In the BVI we seem to use ignorance as a weapon for everything. Why don’t we seek knowledge instead of destruction? Ask the government about water, sewerage, roads, schools, cleanliness of the place, development, economics and stop the grandstanding bullshit!