UK promises to prevent BVI from undoing COI reforms
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has revealed that UK officials are concerned the recently enacted Commission of Inquiry (COI) governance reforms could be undone by future administrations, and have pledged to put safeguards in place to prevent that from happening.
The Premier returned days ago from a trip to the UK, where he held bilateral talks with Britain’s Overseas Territories Minister Stephen Doughty. The meeting focused on the final assessment of the BVI’s progress in implementing the COI reforms.
According to the Premier, Minister Doughty raised concerns about whether the BVI can maintain the reforms over the long term, in line with the UK’s expectations. In response, Premier Wheatley shifted responsibility to the public, urging residents to stay informed and engaged.
“We’ve implemented things in law, passed policies and the focus right now is on public education, training and ensuring we have information accessible to the public. When it comes to sustaining, the greatest tool we have is ensuring that the public has understood what we’re doing, defend it and hold their leaders accountable,” Premier Wheatley said.
He added: “Let’s say an administration comes to office and tries to reverse the progress we’ve made. Minister Doughty and his team made it very clear that they’re going to have mechanisms in place to ensure the progress isn’t reversed. If we want to continue to advance as a democracy, whatever administration takes office in the next election needs to ensure the reforms are sustained and built upon.”
While the reforms have been hailed by some as necessary for good governance, they have also sparked criticism from elected officials, who say certain measures make it harder for them to meet the urgent needs of constituents.
One major sticking point has been the new policy on social grants. Under this COI-mandated change, elected leaders are no longer allowed to issue public assistance grants. That responsibility now falls to the Social Development Department — a move legislators say limits their ability to quickly respond to people in need.
The procurement laws introduced under the reforms have also come under fire. These laws, which require more transparent and competitive bidding for government contracts, were put in place following findings that successive administrations had been less than transparent in awarding contracts.
But lawmakers argue that the procurement process is now so cumbersome that it has stalled basic public works. They point to the lack of materials to repair the territory’s ageing water infrastructure as a direct consequence of the red tape created by the new rules.
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The public would like to see the accounts for he last 8 years. The accounts for you private concert with public money. The airport reports. The name of the person that had the power to authorise $5Million dollars be invested in a bankrupt bank that used to be run by one of your Ministers.
Your empty words say “the greatest tool we have is ensuring that the public has understood what we’re doing, defend it and hold their leaders accountable.”
Once more we try to hold you accountable.
Can we please have this information now.
You are just full of empty words, empty promises and a hollow, deceitful engagement with the recommendations of the COI. The main recommendation probably is still our only hope of real committment and change.
There is a massive problem with procurement, I’ve seen the waste created to prevent corruption, with both the problem and now the solution to that problem harming service provision and capacity. To stop theft from the cookie jar, it was placed in a vault to which access is extremely limited, now nobody can have a cookie….
Is the solution to work more proactively, to get more transparency into the supply network to allow government employees to purchase from approved supplier lists, so that the hard work is done up front and best price can be achieved through the most legitimate process??
You think we should release another $5Million and see what they do with it?
WWe don’t even know who is authorising the spending or moving of money. They are either that incompetent or that crooked. Best we don’t let them do anything with the money until someone becomes accountable for it.
good news
Every one of government officials know how they swindle funds out of Government coffers into their hands
1. They overprice government projects and the share up the cutbacks between the contractors and the leaders of the Ministry who give the contract
2. They give.overprice contract to family members then split the differences.
3. They over price rents with families and friends to house government buildings that is why they do not want to build back the complex
4. They local business over price materials by contracters and solit the money.
5. Taxes collected and some receipts disappear and money is shared up.
6. Generic medicine are sold at exorbitant prices so the private companies and make a immense profit on the mark up for Government .
7. They have families fronting businesses and the top people and politicians receiving dividends.
All the top people in Government have families and friends who know what is going on but will not dqueal
The Governor has absolutely no clue of the corruption going on in the country.
The reforms will be of little effect in practice unless the franchise is significantly increased. Without that all the under the counter fiddles and threats can be carried out.
The CoI has turned out to be a huge waste of time and money. The U.K. has shirked its duties as the colonial power. It should be ashamed of itself.
According to some, the COI has turned out to be a complete waste of time.
Why? because their fantasy of seeing UK Marines landing on shore and in heliopters and taking full control of the island seem to be fading.
They fail to understand that colonialism and neocolonialism are all institutions that are becoming obsolete with each passing day.
People have and aware of their rights today and will fight tooth and nail to protect them.
@natalio: ok so he has confirmed he played us, he is a puppet the UK could use in power, he is saying the UK wouldn’t like the idea if the VIP was voted out of office, because they have a good puppet in the premier, this last trip could have been done by phone call, but you know sowandie want his pat on the head from his beloved white colonials, but the lie is clear to see through, it is the desire of the UK to see this present Andrew fahie gang dismantled and replace with fresh leadership, bye bye sowandie.
Contracts given out to party supporters for kickbacks and promises that once you help me get in I will give you more leaving capable experienced contractors outside
CoI recommendations are not laws. England full of s**t now.
Recommendations are not legally binding and do not need to be followed, unlike laws or regulations. While recommendations can offer guidance and suggest a course of action, they do not impose any legal obligations. Individuals and organizations are free to choose whether or not to comply with recommendations.