Walwyn: BVI must attract qualified people if it adopts bicameral system
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has suggested that the Virgin Islands will need to find ways to attract qualified and capable individuals if the territory moves toward a bicameral system of government to strengthen its lawmaking process.
Speaking in the House of Assembly recently, Walwyn said that while the territory has many competent people capable of interpreting and shaping laws, most are unlikely to leave high-paying private-sector jobs for the current level of pay in politics.
“You have to be able to attract people of a certain quality when you have certain persons in the private sector. And that’s one of the problems we have,” Walwyn stated. “It ain’t that we don’t have competent people here or good people here who could do this job and do it well, particularly in the direction it’s going. You have to pay them to get here.”
“You could go tell somebody who working in one of them trust company’s or law firm — making $200,000 a year — to come in here for $36,000? In which world is that going to happen? It will not happen. And that is part of the challenge that we have,” Walwyn said.
He later clarified with BVI News that the salary structure for legislators in the BVI do not attract the most capable minds from the private sector.
Walwyn made the comments against the backdrop of his advocacy for the introduction of a bicameral system that would see the BVI’s legislature comprise an upper and lower house.
He said a second chamber, such as a Senate, could help ensure laws are properly reviewed before being passed, adding that the lower house would still have the final say.
“At the end of the day, of course, the lower house will have the say, because we are the ones elected by the people,” Walwyn said. “But certainly, you have something to consider so you can make a better piece of law. And we need that.”
Walwyn also acknowledged that introducing a bicameral legislature would have financial implications but said the added cost should not be viewed negatively.
“Anything in life could be negotiated,” he said. “It ain’t no whole heap of money. But it is needed.”
His comments come amid public outrage over the massive salary increases recently granted to elected officials. An Auditor General’s report revealed that lawmakers quietly approved pay hikes of more than 100 percent late last year, raising the overall cost from about $681,000 to nearly $1.5 million.
The Premier’s salary rose from $72,000 to more than $176,000.
Many residents have criticised the process as secretive, saying the pay raises were not debated publicly. Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has defended the increases, saying ministers were previously underpaid compared to senior public officers and that the adjustments were based on independent recommendations.
Walwyn recently said he understands why the public is upset over the increases, noting that even if the process followed Westminster norms, the perception of secrecy damaged public trust.
At the same time, the Opposition Leader urged the territory to confront the issue of competitive compensation in politics, saying capable professionals are in the territory but will not enter public service if they aren’t offered decent salaries.
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Well Sir, many have much respect for you personally and your powerful intellect, no question asked.
Adittionally, many were pleased with your tenure as Minister of Educaion.
Meanwhile, why is there onot a board obeioong oestablioshed that will bring deeper agency too currioculum and foroward educational upliftment?
Wouldn’t it be sufficient enough tõ simply highlight the territorie’s educational short comings, or is it past time to put persons responsible for the expansion of curriculums?
Should not the deficiencies highligted as your côre opionions be addressed by bringign in the requisite minds and skills to expand the educational curriculum in the tertiary level to satisfy those glaring needs?
Indeed, as we groow, we learn and recoognize our dficiencies. Hence, it seems asthoough the time has ooast tooo upgrade the curriculum oooon the coommunity cooolleoge level.
As,just as core subjects are critical, curriculums must modernize and transform themselves to meet the modern and progressive needs of the territory.
Bringing in seasooned qualifiedexperts is a nessescity, Meanwhile however, there should manifest great urgency in creatng those kinds of expertise for ourselves.
Listen man, we don’t need to change the system of government we need to change the people in it.
Sir: many have much respect for you personally and your powerful intellect.
Additionally, many were pleased with your tenure as Minister of Education.
Meanwhile, why is there not a board that is in establishment that will bring deeper agency to curriculums development and forward educational expansion on the tertiary level?
Wouldn’t it be insufficient enough to simply highlight the territory’s educational short comings, or is it past time to put persons responsible for the expansion of curriculums?
Should not the deficiencies highlighted as your core opinions be addressed by bringing in the requisite minds and skills to expand the educational curriculum on the tertiary level to satisfy those glaring needs?
Indeed, as we grow, we learn and recognize our deficiencies. Hence, it seems as though the time has past to upgrade the curriculum on the community college level.
As, just as core subjects are critical, curriculums must modernize and transform themselves to meet the modern and progressive needs of the territory.
When a special need arises, the importation of the requisite skills must be a short-term stopgap. And there should be visionary minds in place to recognize and act upon those imperatives.
The country is rich enough for politicians to rob its coffers, but appear incapable of getting anything of significance done, for the forward movement of the country.
She is currently in a very bad state where leaders financial well-being are more important than the people and the state.
Therefore, bringing in seasoned qualified experts is a necessity. However, there should manifest great urgency in creating those kinds of expertise for us.
Sadly, those in charge are doing as they said they would, “those before us/me did whst they did, so we going in for the same thing.”
And, they have certainly kept their word in broad day light behind closed doors. Behind closed they executed their stated intention. Don’t mind the noise people.
I see we now have the tourist industry, the financial services industry and now the third pillar the government industry.
I get what yuh sayin’ bruh. It’s just the optics of how this @$s clown brigade have played their cards. I get that and may won’t and it is easier to be emotional and blame some of ya’ll. Many on here would not even think of putting themselves out there to get slaughtered by us, but some of your colleagues need a bull if ‘cross dem rear ends for friggin’ up…plain and simple – who vex; get Imodium
But Myron right, he simply saying pay people what they worth, you can’t pay peanuts, for a good product?? Da ain’t gone wuk!!