‘Wheatley did well as Deputy Premier’, Rymer takes up mantle
Premier Andrew Fahie has commended Education Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley for his performance during his three-month stint as Deputy Premier of the British Virgin Islands.
Dr Wheatley’s tenure came to an end on Wednesday, June 5. The post has now been transferred to Minister of Works, Utilities & Transportation Kye Rymer.
Rymer will also serve in that capacity for three months.
“I must say that I am very proud of the manner in which Honourable Dr Wheatley handled himself when circumstances called on him to hold the fort as Deputy Premier while I attended to other official business abroad,” Premier Fahie said at the during the ceremony on Thursday, June 6.
He continued: “Dr Wheatley demonstrated great enthusiasm when it came to utilizing the opportunity to learn as much as possible about the functions of the office of Deputy Premier as well as that of the office of Premier … He is better prepared today to assume the premiership than before, should he be called to fill that position in the future.”
Capacity building for newbie ministers
In the meantime, Premier Fahie said the initiative is about capacity building for first-time legislators.
After each of the ministers takes their turn at the post of Deputy Premier, one will be chosen for the position permanently.
“Our history in the BVI has been one in which our senior leadership ranks have been occupied by persons who had very long tenures, and I thank those persons for their service. However, it is best when their tenure involves sharing of knowledge and ensuring that capacity building is realized,” Premier Fahie said.
He continued: “By allowing our ministers to take turns in the office of the Deputy Premier we are giving them a wider, more comprehensive view of the functioning of the whole government system while equipping them to take on bigger challenges in the future. I like to say that we are not only outfitting them for success, but for succession.”
Like Dr Wheatley, the Premier said he is confident Rymer will “adapt to the role of Deputy Premier quite easily”.
“He is going to make the most of this learning opportunity.”
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After everyone gets their 3 months, what happens?
7 members * 3 months = 21 months or less than 2 years. What happens in the next 2 years? If previously advised, please refresh memory.
What about putting a little common sense to your question and asked yourself what will you have done if you were the Premier? Common sense will only suggest that after 21 months then the cycle will continue and oops that would make 42 months less than four years in which the government is eligible to stay in power if they don’t decide to call early elections.
Appoint a deputy from first go. They have been together for some time so our Premier should already know their strengths and weaknesses – Kye, Vincent, Carvin (the strongest).
Good forward thinking initiative.
I am willing to bet that the buck stops with Carvin, any bets?
It seems like we are playing dolly house now
This is a wose move by Fahie.
WHY YALL DON’T SHUT YALL S@#%t AND GIVE THE MAN A BLASTED CHANCE? ALWAYS WITH SOME NEGATIVE CRAP, FOR GOD SAKES THE MAN JUST TEK OFFICE AND YALL CRITICIZING HIM ALREADY. IS YALL PUT HIM THERE SO DEAL WITH IT.
Keep it up VIP
All the VIP did for the first 100 days were majority stupidness just to say that they are getting things done. So far the only people happy are claude cline, … motors, willy t and the company that owns the body guards
Guess governace and political consistency are now antiquated realities.
musical chairs vip playing with that post
I like Hon. Fahie but if MVW had done this rotation ting he would have gotton hammered left right and center.
These are the actions of someone who is not a leader. He is afraid to make a decision. He knows who he wants already but doesn’t have balls to say so to the others. Leaders are born and some are created. Winning a popularity contest in most cases by any means necessary doesn’t make you a leader. Our country has suffered over the years because of this. This is why we still crave HL Stoutt soo many years after his death.
There may be some value in each minister getting the opportunity to serve as Deputy Premier. However, If the assignment was for 6 months to a year, then OK. IMO, 3 months is pure semantics.
Other than acting when the Premier is off Island or out of packet for a long time(with communication the Premier can always be in touch and in command), what are the responsibilities of the Deputy Premier? Do the other ministers report directly to the Deputy Premier or is it a nice sounding title with perhaps a little more pay?
Bring some structure to the organization; demonstrate the courage and appoint a permanent Deputy Premier. Conventions have proven their worth over time but that does not mean that things should stay static. Things being done in an unconventional way does not mean it is a panacea for what ails governing in the BVI. The Premier should have been addressing these scenarios before the election but it looks as if he didn’t expect to win. Trump didn’t expect to win and look at the success. Bryan in USVI is same tory in readiness.
This is current 3 month rotation is just playing musical chairs. If the Premier want to be audacious, daring and unconventional and want to provide ministers with some real experience while serving as Deputy Premier, he should appoint ministers for 12 months and have other mjnudters report directy to the Deputy Premier. This would put the DP in the loop for all that is happening and be in a position to lead any change that is needed. This would provide the opportunity to get some real experience. And the Premier should be able to focus on big picture issues.
This just playing musical chair. If the Premier want to be audacious, daring and unconventional and want to provide ministers with some real experience as Deputy Premier, he should appoint ministers for 12 months and have others report directy to the Deputy Premier. This would put the DP in the loop for all that is happening and be in a position to lead any change that is needed. This would provide the opportunity to get some real