We’ve inspired confidence, Premier says ahead of UK trip
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has argued that his government has made significant strides in implementing governance reforms — an argument he believes can bolster his planned request for the UK to remove a Parliamentary Order in Council against the BVI.
The Order in Council set up to enforce the implementation of agreed governance reforms in the BVI following a damning Commission of Inquiry (COI) report last year.
Ahead of his planned visit to the United Kingdom (UK) to meet with UK Overseas Territories Minister Lord Goldsmith and other officials, Dr Wheatley explained in an interview with ZBVI Radio, that during his visit to the UK last year, there was no formal request for a removal of the highly controversial Order in Council.
“Right now, we’ve been doing the reforms for sometime, of course, I believe we’ve inspired a certain amount of confidence that we are serious about reform,” the Premier said of his intention to request the removal.
Dr Wheatley expressed that his government can now clearly show measurable progress on those reforms, and has shown a commitment to good governance, accountability and transparency — all of which were serious concerns emanating from the COI report last year.
According to the Premier, in the process of implementing those governance reforms, his government has shown itself to be a committed partner which the UK can trust to honour its obligations.
Democracy trumps dictatorship
Premier Wheatley further related that his delegation plans to emphasise to UK officials that democracy is a more favourable prospect for the territory than dictatorship.
“We believe once we’ve strengthened our democratic institutions and strengthened the checks and balances in the system, that is more favourable than having one person just dictate what happens in the Virgin Islands,” Dr Wheatley stated.
In the meantime, the Premier counted the territory’s ability to hold its upcoming general elections as a victory, particularly since the prospect of self-governance was almost removed with the main overarching recommendation of the COI.
“Having the elections itself is a victory, because of course that was threatened to be taken away from us, and I believe we’ll help them to see that elections are also a way of being able to drive forward your democratic agenda and drive forward democratic reforms,” the Premier said.
Premier Wheatley will lead a delegation to London from 14 – 22 January. He said the trip is to advance the economic, political, and environmental interests of the Virgin Islands.
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He needs to take a hike.
Agreed. Keep up the good work.
We appreciate your efforts. This whole COI process is totally unreasonable and set up to make us fail. The time frame for implementation is ridiculous. The BVI can complete and implement every recommendation from that questionable COI process, and it still will never be enough to satisfy the UK Officials. Also, the BVI cannot afford all these new financial commitments and take care of the real needs of the people. Just wait and see. The reality is the UK Officials want to rule all OTs directly especially financial services, so they can give their friends jobs as the economy in the UK is really bad. If we think we have it bad under our current local public officers & elected leaders, then wait until you are ruled directly by Brits Officials. BVI be careful what you are asking for because you will regret it. The Brits Officials must immediately stop this abuse of power officially in public and private and remove the two Orders in Council FORTHWITH!
Natalio Wheatley the UK can’t trust you, you want the UK to trust you when every chance you get you are calling them down and running to these bodies looking for protection 1) The United Nations
2) CARICOM3) USVI GOVERNOR4) OECS, you are a back stabber, the UK should take over. By you going to the UK to beg them to remove a Parliamentary Order in Council against the BVI shows that you want to have your own way, if they were to remove it all of you will go back to doing business as usual and the BVI will be right where it started from. You want independence because you don’t want to answer too anyone, you want the order in Council removed because you don’t want to answer to anyone. I hope the UK send you home with your tail between your legs. You are not the person for this job go back to whatever you were doing before getting elected.
Although there are those who intend to make people believe that there is nothing good in BVI we all know that this is not so. The BVI is no worse than any other country. Like everywhere we have improvements to do but we continue to well. Let’s push forward together.
No matter what needs to be fixed or addressed in the BVI or any Overseas Territory the fact remains that orders of council cannot be a tool used to do so in modern day times. It is oppressive and sends the wrong message in a modern partnership. It also gives the impression that only one side of the partnership will always be correct and have all the authority over the next when in fact the system should be modernized to hold all partners in the partnership accountable with penalties for both when it does not happen. Until this is so then lack of trust in this modern partnership will continue. Let us negotiate a balance for all.
@UK resident, If you are a UK resident if you are living in the BVI and see what the BVI been through in the last 30 years please go back home, if you are in the UK keep out of what don’t concern you if the
Order in Council against the BVI is removed they will go back to running the country they were running it before the COI.
Confidence where!? sturpsss
This man has no clue. The issue is not confidence. Go back to
Your history books.
Seems to be spreading in tsome people in the BVI lately , on the streets it is said that, its either yhe vaccine hypocrisy or lame excuses to hide their corruption
Despite concerns about certain things, we must also be fair and balanced. The Government took office in the wake of the damages of two catastrophic category 5 hurricanes where not much of the damage was fixed prior to them taking office including the effects to the economy both public and private sector. There is still more to do on this end, but since taking office this government did fix many of the public roads and infrastructure and schools that were damaged. If this was not challenging enough for them to deal with as soon as they took office, up comes the worse pandemic in the last 100yrs which rock all country’s governments & economies up to this present time. There was no play book to tell how to handle this pandemic for no government to use as this pandemic & its effects, especially financially, baffled all leaders. The government handled it well compared to other governments worldwide (large & small) and their efforts saved many of our lives & the economy from tanking out. While dealing with all of this the UK imposed a COI that leaves a lot of debate over the timing and processes used and transparency and real intent. Nevertheless, the government has done fairly well under all these circumstances and if anyone be fair then they cannot say otherwise.
We should certainly ensure that Lord Goldsmith is provided with ample copies yours and similar comments in all the local media releases so he has the full picture of the local population. Just so you are aware, your post would be highly illegal in the UK. Additionally, the entire world has access to this racial garbage, so, what impression do you think that gives the outside world of these islands. You are a disgrace to your country and your people
This dude just wasted more tax payers money he does not have a clue election come fast fast
Let Shaq go play in the playground