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VIP government’s hostility towards UK was unwarranted — Walwyn

Former NDP legislator Myron Walwyn

The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government should not have adopted a hostile posture in its relationship with the United Kingdom after it entered office in 2019, former Education Minister Myron Walwyn has argued.

Walwyn, while appearing on the Talking Points show recently, made reference to a statement by Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley that his government is soon expected to seek a loan in excess of $50M to continue the territory’s recovery projects.

The former legislator argued, however, that the government could have acquired these funds on much more favourable terms. 

“You could have borrowed that money a lot cheaper, a long time ago and a lot more progress could have been made if you just stayed the course,” the former minister stated.

According to Walwyn, things would have been much easier if the government simply moved forward with the UK’s £300 million loan guarantee offer and the incredibly low interest rate of less than two percent that accompanied the offer.

Relationship with UK important

Walwyn reminded persons that the BVI is a dependent territory and that the UK is the administering power for the territory. “The relationship (with the UK) is important, we have to maintain the relationship,” he asserted.

“There was no need for this antagonistic relationship to the British government,” Walwyn argued.

According to the former legislator, even if the BVI becomes independent at some point in time, it should still remain good partners with the UK government because of its standing in the world.

Walwyn, in the meantime, said it was alarming that no follow-through took place on the loan guarantee, despite the fact that most of the negotiations had been worked out by persons within the NDP administration prior to losing office.

Missed opportunity for poor infrastructure

He pointed to a recent disclosure by Premier Wheatley that the loan guarantee offer is now lost, as the UK currently has its own internal issues with which it appears to be grappling.

The former legislator reflected on the current state of the territory’s infrastructure and argued that the BVI could not get money any cheaper than the low interest rate offered at that time.

“We could have laid out and put together a very good infrastructure plan for this country,” Walwyn stated. ”The opportune time would have been during the pandemic, to pave roads because there was nobody on the roads. We could have done significant work during that time.”

Back when the offer was still on the table, former Premier Andrew Fahie had expressed that the UK wanted to pressure Fahie’s government into accepting the loan guarantee on unfavourable terms and later shared details of what he termed an abusive relationship between himself and former UK-appointed governor, Augustus Jaspert. 

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29 Comments

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  1. This is a vip mess says:

    This is very true. There is a difference between being assertive and down right rude. Andrew and the VIP caused great harm to this country with their arrogant and disrespectful behaviour. Don’t forget CSC on the radio every afternoon cursing out the governor. Don’t forget the current Premier attacking the governor and the UK every chance he got in the House of Assembly. Don’t forget Andrew himself disrespecting the governor and writing terrible and childish letters to the head of the FCO. Something was bound to happen the way they were behaving.

    Like 51
    Dislike 2
  2. dont mind he says:

    Wasn’t it the NDP government who turned away the British ship after the 2017 flood??????

    Like 23
    Dislike 30
  3. Jack says:

    He need to hush the same Uk going lock you up over that wall so go from here * man

    Like 12
    Dislike 24
  4. he lie says:

    Because Hon Fraser was the lone voice asking and begging them to take the loan guarantee.

    Like 11
    Dislike 4
  5. Real talk says:

    Big Facts!

    Like 5
    Dislike 3
  6. Resident says:

    Don’t forget that Andrew was deliberate in his actions. He was intentionally riling up the citizens to be against the governor and the u.k. so they can call for independence. In that way he would not have an eye overlooking things. Some of us were blinded and fell for it. Had it not been for Andrew’s actions some people including Sam would not have been so vocal about the governor and the u.k.

    Like 30
    Dislike 1
  7. Straight talk says:

    This to me this is the main reason why the governor called the COI. The VIP know they were doing a bunch of shiite and was still poking the bear with their disrespectfulness.

    Like 24
    Dislike 1
  8. Ann says:

    Any one who cannot hold a ministry should not run so go sit down Myron

    Like 5
    Dislike 25
  9. Big Richard says:

    Now this man is really talking poo. Taking lessons from Claude!

    Like 4
    Dislike 24
  10. Well says:

    Excuse me wasn’t it you and NDP who told Jasper not to swear in , in the House of Assembly, and when you published the ESH report which you were not supposed to and when you apologized to the Governor saying you would do so only because the premier ask you to? You all aren’t fooling anybody.

    Like 14
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  11. @ Lying Ann says:

    The lies start up. Tell us where it was written that Myron cannot hold a ministry? Then tell us where it is written that Fraser can’t hold one either because of the Sea Cow’s Bay Harbour project. I guess Natalio wouldn’t be able to hold one when they look at they investigate the fishing and farming Grant. Maybe the whole HOA wouldn’t be able to hold any after they investigate the Covid assistance grant and the assistance grants over the past three years. Vincent wouldn’t be able to hold one after they investigate the land matters that his name is being called in.
    Lies wouldn’t work this time.

    Like 18
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  12. Ann-tagonizer says:

    Is that your response to all that was said in the article? No rebuttals to what Myron said? Hmmm

    Like 3
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  13. Seriously says:

    Myron is absolutely right. Andrew and his gang of misfits behaved liked little children bickering with their parents. It distasteful, undiplomatic and quite frankly foolish. They behaved this way all the while doing things that were not proper.

    Like 22
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  14. So true says:

    All started with with the big shot rodeo and all his lying tounge, foolish x speaker this donkey from the church with the Mike along with the rest of the idiots them
    Lock them up if they keep blocking you. They are wilful and lie. I ain’t hearing they mouth now they Prince silence

  15. Me says:

    Again I’m asking nathalio why was vincent removed from his minister post,why wascarvin removed,why was willock removed,why have andrew still on my putends of taxes.Notice I didn’t address any of the criminals in CAPS.

  16. haha says:

    We remember your attitude towards them when you were on the stand being questioned at the CIO.

    The problem is you/they we think we forget things … the reality is many do forget, sadly.

    NOT EVERYONE FORGETS.

    Like 6
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    • @haha says:

      Did you watch the same COI interviews that I did? Myron was respectful and very articulate. I was very pleased with the way he and his staff answered the questions.
      Why do we lie so much in this country. This is a big part of our problem as a people. We too damn lie!

      Like 16
  17. Ms. Diva says:

    @Jack, if they lock Myron up, a whole lot of you will be getting locked up for doing less than he is accursed of. Andrew Fahie was the one who stuck his hands in Pandora’s box and opened a can of whoop A** on the Territory out of pure greed and selfishnesses.

  18. BUGARON says:

    Now Mr bugaron dat mek sense? Why they talk hard at the UK for? No sense at all.

    First time si agree with Mr Bugaron!

    Vote for the wall wind!

  19. Rubber Duck says:

    Fahie wanted the UK out so he could turn the country into a narco state from which he personally would profit immensely.

    He is not the only one.

  20. Truth says:

    I see no untruths here. Pure facts

  21. Bush up says:

    You are so blinded by hate, distortion of facts spewing lies . No government can every in the history be worst than the VIP crawl under the rock with dat . What Myron is saying is true but hate to admit it . Stop with the Wall nonsense… No wrong doing was found there . It is the former govt who have tainted this who is behind BARS with chain and monitor on their legs . Look at facts not fabricated stories

  22. Strupes man says:

    Them ain’t tired of this wall talk? Sickening now. They think all awe stupid. Two elections now talking the same piss

  23. Under investigation says:

    Can Myron hold office if he runs ?

  24. 8 Years says:

    This man like he paying this news site to make his Facebook post etc. a headline. miso go sit-down, you dead horse.

  25. SMH says:

    Tired of all these old horses trying to win a Race. Look at the current Educational System that is destroying Our Future( Our Children) We have Heads of Departments with Titles receiving Salaries with no results of Productivity. Talking and sitting and Talking is not providing any Positive Influence. In the Past the older Educational Employees were more productive and it’s evident that the present employed are not. Education Dept Staff needs to go out into the Schools and see what is going on. Why People being paid and nothing is being accountable( physical and virtual)Our Education System is a big Failure Period
    If the Minister, Permanent Secretary and Education Director not getting the Job done, they All need to step down and let Others more capable to perform. The People need to march about this. Make noise day and night for the Change needed to provide and protect Our Future. This is the height of Bull Crap. Stop with the Money and Power struggle and focus on Our Priority as a COMMUNITY. COME ON MAN! THESE ARE OUR CHILDREN OUR FUTURE! ???????????????????????

  26. Agreed says:

    Agreed. The level of arrogance and disrespect was appalling and unnecessary. Too many big egos!

  27. Truth says:

    Exactly- Current Premier was the loudest voice calling down UK.

  28. Thank U. That's the message.. says:

    Now I’m with you. U talking the right and honourable thing. I not voting for no individual who’s being hostile and disrespectful to the governor and Britain. #Nodiplomacyskills

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