VI cannot do reform by force
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has argued that the BVI cannot be made to institute Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommended reforms by force.
The Premier’s statement echoes sentiments expressed by several other legislators who have argued over the past few months that the BVI cannot, among other things, conduct constitutional reforms with a proverbial ‘gun to its head’.
Premier Wheatley, while appearing at a recent press conference, argued that everyone should be worried about the concept of the BVI’s constitution being suspended, particularly since it is a looming possibility.
“There was a recommendation from [Commissioner] Sir Gary Hickinbottom that our constitution be suspended,” the premier said. “The concept has not been completely abandoned. Everybody should be concerned about it. But what we cannot do, we cannot be implementing reforms based on coercion or force. That’s something I reject completely.”
Premier Wheatley further expressed that he wanted to be ‘true to the process’ in going through the COI-recommended reforms. “I want a dialogue with the people of the Virgin Islands. I know that the people of the Virgin Islands see areas that need to be reformed and they’ve needed to be reformed for a long time,” the Premier stated.
He added: “So, going through reform for me is not a challenge, it’s not a problem. I think it’s the appropriate thing to do to reform. But we must reform based on what the people want to see.”
In the meantime, the Premier urged that the BVI’s people must be educated about the needed reforms, arguing that they must be given the necessary information and must also be trusted to make the right decisions along the way.
Premier Wheatley added that residents must also communicate their wishes to their elected representatives who must in turn represent their views in Cabinet and in the House of Assembly.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
After 6 months into it you start crying? Get it done or get out..
Delay tactics.
Next election VIP will be no more.
It isn’t by force as you already agreed to the reforms and the schedule for implementation. Please stop your ranting as all it will do is frustrate our Governor even more than he already is and force him to do just what you don’t want.
What are you going to do when your government is disbanded and you are all out of jobs?
Please just get on with the implementation quickly as it is the only way this mess is going to go away!
All of this hoop-la is because of the requirement for these no hood ministers to declare their interest…
This man really disappointing and very s**w in his head. Everybody has been saying this to you from day one. You finally now see this? But wasn’t your intention was to capitalize on Andrew’s downfall to become Premier so you would have signed anything even with satan to get that job?
You are a d***race. Call elections let us get rid of you and your remaining u***ess bunch.
Oh Sl**ande, just watch them
Hindsight is not always 20/20. Sometimes it’s Blinding.
All governments that have been in power while serving this country, including the VIP and NDP, will always use plausible explanations to defend any arbitrary results. However, due to their inept lack of vision, they fail to perceive, acknowledge, and adjust, and as a result, always end up causing others to suffer or perish. Consequently, they are unable to recall the past and are therefore doomed to repeat it, while (we, the people), who learn from history and pay for their bad decisions, are doomed to watch them (the government) repeatedly do so. Our cries of “too late” will never cease!
Natalio, your only vision was being the BOSS but took no thought to the strings that came attached to that lauding of self. NOW you wake up, we the people have to pay the price for your false promises. Lord help our Nation!
So WHAT do you call having an Order in Council OVER your head? Isn’t that by force? You ***
Headline should just read “VI cannot reform” or “VI too proud to reform”