UK’s threat of partial suspension meant ‘total suspension’ for BVI
Former legislator Myron Walwyn has concluded that the United Kingdom’s threat of partial suspension of the BVI’s constitution is perceived by some residents as a complete suspension.
This partial suspension meant that there would be an interruption of the parts of the constitution that relate to representational government.
“To us in BVI, that’s a total suspension because that is, perhaps, the only participating part of the constitution that everybody plays a role in,” said Walwyn while appearing on the Talking Points radio show recently. He referred to this as the right for persons to elect who they want to lead them.
“So to them, to the UK government or whomever other persons, they can call it partial. But to us it is total because that is the extent of the participation that most of us do,” Walwyn expressed.
He said once this representation element is extricated from the constitution, then all that is left is the normal functioning of government, particularly the public service.
Where were the counter-recommendations?
In the meantime, Walwyn suggested that there should have been some pushback on the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report. He argued that there was nothing to prevent the territory from coming up with counter-recommendations to those presented in the report.
He also argued that the government of the day still has a responsibility to the people of the territory.
“There are certain recommendations that you might make that perhaps may not be in the best interest of our democracy, and our country, and our people, because of where we are at this particular time,” Walwyn stated.
He pointed out that the government is the main driver of economic activity in the territory, and it becomes a problem when decisions are made to inhibit how the government can help its people.
Background
Following a months-long COI on governance in the BVI, a damning report was issued at the end of April, 2022 which recommended, as its first and main overarching proposal, that the BVI’s constitution be suspended for at least two years in the first instance. The COI report proposed that an interim government – led by the governor and supported by an advisory council – be set up to rule in the elected government’s place during that time.
However, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government, led by Dr Wheatley, accepted members of the political opposition into its fold while shifting other elected members around as part of steps it took to avert that suspension. The government then agreed to a framework to implement the COI’s proposed nearly-50 recommendations over that two-year period.
As a measure of enforcement, UK legislators placed a draft Order in Council in the UK parliament which is set to be triggered if the BVI runs afoul of its commitment to implement the agreed upon reforms in the framework document.
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CHUPES!!! YAP! YAP! YAP! ELECTION COMING YUP!
Poacher turned gamekeeper!
“The Government is the main driver of economic activity”?
This is where you fall so desperately short. The Private Sector is what drives the Economy. It is Government that helps or hinders, or even adjusts in times of need.
During Covid a large part of the Private Sector, especially Tourism, got absolutely hammered. Government did NOTHING! In fact, they did almost the reverse of what any other Country did.
Now, as we come close to election time, all you wannabe politicians and re-treads are going to come knocking on the Private Sector’s doors begging money for your campaigns. Only then will you see truly see who the economic engine really is. I pray to God that ever door you knock on is slammed in your face, much as Government has done to us private companies over the last years, let alone, last few decades!
If I sound bitter, it is because I am!
On this particular issue Myron and Sowande and a few others have been right in their assessments of the COI but if you look at some of the comments here on these issues you would swear they said something bad or wrong. This reminds me of the situation on the much larger, global platforms like Yahoo, Twitter etc. where the comments range from disgusting to insane. Almost like bots making the comments or people with an agenda to bring down the BVI in all situations.
Some of the comments make me feel like it’s not people that are actually from or love the BVI. There are lots of people that are here just for a living but talk bad every chance they get. I don’t have on rose colored glasses. I know the BVI is far from perfect but the picture that some want to paint is far from accurate.
“The government is the main driver of economic activity”
What planet does this deluded f**l live on?
It’s ridiculous how the media can make this man feel he is important when he along with the others are the reason of where we are today.
On top of it he has his little paying fan club blogging on every page over 40 times to gain momentum.
Mr. Walwyn, this dominance game of social media will not work here this time around.
Your opinion is yours only. You left the country in a compromising state and now we are here. No blaming game now. Let the UK ?? do what it has to do so we can finally get good governance.
Today is heroes day . Look where we are
They fought so we can have self legislation but out own black brothers and sisters … destroy this because of :
Greed, selfishness, nepotism, cronyism, hate to see each other prosper , it is all because of this why we are on our knees to the UK parliament . Why out premier is on lock down, why some of our civil servants are held
And had to be bailed out from the law . We are getting too devious towards our own . We despise our own Caribbean brothers and sisters well don’t talk if they are from Guyana … heaven help us !!
We laugh in front of each other then get in groups and cut their throats …, How are we going to prosper as a nation . Expatriate who live among us for years, who contributed you are afraid to acknowledge. We are dying as a country !!
“Talking season has officially begun”
Why some people feel like this was a negotiation despite all that has happened? The premier got locked up for drugs and it had evidence to prove several other heads of government departments were corrupt. This is on top of a COI that basically just concluded with good reason that good governance don’t exist in the BVI… why some people still feel like we was in a position to say you know what we don’t like this suspension of the constitution idea and we don’t like the recommendations and this is what’s gonna happen instead. Brilliant guy but all this sayin is if he was in there the constitution would have already been suspended.
Is he declaring his candidacy? What’s the scoop.
If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it must be a duck.
the NDP have a great role to play in the UK seeking to invade the territory because of a set of questionable transactions with government money: BVI Airways: High School Wall: Pier Park
Any one who cannot hold a ministry should not run for office
don’t forget the 5000 people doing whatever , rather pooorly
To, “We are our worst enemy!!”
We are not just a dying country, we are a hopelessly dead, rotten, evil oriented towards the destruction of our own people, from family members to others.
Our hatred for each other is all encompassing and no one is spared. The wicked we perpetrate upon our fellow man, family member, colleague, mother, father, brother, sister, cousin and on and on is unspeakable.
It highly unbelievable that there is a God and Heaven that many of those so fervently believe in and worship.
We are worst than satan when it comes to the destruction of our own people, whether in words, actions or deeds.
Live in the “hell hole” for and entire life time and career, experience the horror and terror every day, on the job and in the salary and in benefits, promotions, etc., and the only words that are your daily bread are “my God, why has thou forsaken me?!!” Live it and you can relate!!
Worked an entire career in education as an educator. He who liveth in the brimstone knoweth of the heat of the fire and of the evil of its ways.
Most wickedly, the evil emanated most cruelly from from superiors, department heads, department employees, colleagues and administration folk in control of the money especially, and all around.
To work and sacrifice for your country for your entire life only to retire to live and age on a financial precipice, deliberately orchestrated by individuals in positions of authority, such that have affected constant painful fodder that will be follow to the after life….. What a horrible people we have become!!
Our ancestors weep!!
Admin. at BVI News must/should develop some common human decency and, basic journalistic integrity to know that manipulating the up down features of any comment would not necessarily influence the reader’s intellect, interest, actions, beliefs or future political actions.
He better go back to Antigua
The amount of mumu in these comments ready to hang themselves because they dnt like the messenger. thats how headcoach get in to mess things up, and thats why UK gon take over
not the crooked politicians, but the stupid population!
MyRun, please go SIDDUNG
I wish I could you comment 1,000 times. It it soo accurate!!!
Independence breeds corruption, just saying…..