Wheatley ‘rejects notion of UK takeover’ as COI exposes BVI ‘flaws’
With a Commission of Inquiry (COI) still underway to learn whether corruption or abuse of office may have taken place in recent years, some members of the public who’ve lost confidence in government have embraced the inquiry and want “Britain [to] take over for a while”.
But while delivering his official address for the territory’s 2021 emancipation holidays, Deputy Premier and Culture Minister, Dr Natalio Wheatley described those persons as being “disillusioned”.
He further dismissed any calls for a British takeover.
“My people, I reject this mentality with every fibre of my being. Let us continue the work of developing our institutions, and educating our people. Let us use the tools of democracy — including public forums, responsible journalism, protest, debate, and even elections. But let us not surrender to the archaic and colonial tools that the world should have forgotten about long ago, such as takeovers, imposed legislation, and imposed administrators,” Dr Wheatley stated during the 2021 Emancipation Service on Sunday, August 1.
“Let us also be appreciative of our ancestors who have toiled hard to lay the foundation for our success. And let us never shy away from our responsibility to keep building these beautiful islands for the benefit of coming generations,” he added.
No country immune to these alleged deficiencies
As for the COI, the Deputy Premier argued that any society placed under a microscope will have its flaws and weaknesses exposed, “especially a society that has suffered great neglect and exploitation by its coloniser over hundreds of years”.
He said the United Kingdom, like other societies, is not immune to the kind of “alleged deficiencies” being scrutinised here in the BVI. Bolstering that point he cited a recent newspaper article from The Guardian newspaper, published a headline stating, ‘Under Boris Johnson, corruption is taking hold in Britain’. The subtitle reads, ‘Cronyism is rife, our system of checks and balances is being dismantled, and ordinary people will soon start to suffer’.
“That is just one article, but similar scathing claims can be made of the United States of America, Russia, China, and all throughout the world,” the minister said.
“The reality that the [UK] Prime Minister [Boris] Johnson rejected calls for a Commission of Inquiry in the United Kingdom while allowing one to be imposed here speaks to the unequal partnership that exists with our administering power,” added Dr Wheatley, who reminded residents that the has done well for themselves.
“Let us never forget where we were prior to 1950, with no proper healthcare, no proper education, no proper infrastructure. It is the advancement of our democracy and our local autonomy which has led to the gains in our society. And while we are extremely critical, let us not take for granted that we are incredibly blessed and enjoy a standard of living that many people around the world would hope and dream of. As bad as some think we are, we still attract people from all over the world who choose to call BVI home. We can’t be that bad. Our education system produces individuals who have topped schools abroad and even topped various industries abroad. No, we are not what some paint us to be.”
“In fact, we have done well. And we have a lot to thank God for. Let us never be ungrateful for his favour upon us,” he stated.
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Maybe thats the best way forward, maybe thats the fresh start we need, maybe thats what will restore acountability and honesty…If that should happen, You all have only You all self to blame..I cannot understand why not one Government member can or did speak out on the people’s behalf and denounce the wrong thats going on..Thats troubling to me. I would say, our finance is been recklessly spending, that need to get check for sure..That England definitely need to do something about.
I’ve already bought my British flag and am currently flying it. Can’t wait for the ?? to take over.
Agreed
This man is ra**st and needs to go
I have learn that the once the COI is mentioned on this site especially, the same UK has organized many bloggers to always put our elected officials and country in a negative light and make the COI look like our saviors so we who read these blogs can think the same. However the truth be told the UK only cares about themselves and the COI is a modern day slavery wip to try to make us believe that we cannot do anything right and need the UK to govern us. What a pity. WAKE UP BVI.
And once again the Belonger reverts to racism as the cause for poor governance, theft, cronyism, and drug dealing. The world is tired of hearing these same excuses for years and years. Our white Masters caused this. Just a whole yard of rubbish. The fact is that the Black man uses and hurts his fellow Black man 100 fold over what the white man does. The Black man reaches power and he exploits his brothers. This is the reason of the COI and this is the reason the Brits need to take over. Wheatley sit your a** down and STFU. You are as useless and cr***ed as they come.
Has anyone ever noticed that the Belonger can never say they were wrong or that they don’t know or they need help? They never once utter these words. This is shows the very closed and uneducated mind set. One cannot achieve without failing. Not once during the COI hearings did anyone utter, “I don’t know” unless it was to hide the truth. Not once during the COI hearings did anyone utter, “I was wrong” or “I didn’t know”. What they did say was lies to protect themselves, their families and their cronies. Never once have we seen anyone own up to the wrong doings. Not a bit of repentance from any of them. For this reason alone, they all need to go.
Yes most of us want the UK to take over the ruling of these islands. Both VIP and the opposition has failed up miserably. Let’s have a vote on this. Not even infrastructure we have. No proper roads, no school, poor everything. Stealing our money. We’re all fed up. Let’s give the UK take over a try. We have nothing to lose.
Who is this “us” “Hodgie”?
Us us and a lot lot of us.
Face Reality!!!
If one gov’t is not to your liking, vote them out and elect another. That’s how democracy works. Wanting the UK to “take over”, thinking the white man’s ice is colder, you are an Uncle Tom of the highest order. We were neglected by this same UK as a bird sanctuary until the ingenuity and determination of our forefathers built this country up. So your reality and mines are not the same.
Your forefathers didn’t build s**t to or create the income stream you all live off of. The White Man did it all and if you don’t like the White Man coming back in to set order in HIS house then I suggest that you take yourself back to your indigenous homeland. You know the place A F R I C A
So are you saying we haven’t tried the opposition NDP before? Who you trying to fool?
Free of elected Government’s willful and repeated deliberate denial of our basic human rights and their unabashed and publicly unapoligically touting of the written laws to facilitate their greed and personal agendas.
Not even adequate water.
The elderly with long ago homes and small cisterns and not enough income to purchase water,public wells paved over,who cares? Seawater for bath but how to mek tea,cook,wash?
Not even a proper functioning garbage incinerator.
People in the West and in the North left and right disproportianately dying of cancer and for many years as a result.
Schools, education and welfare of children a non priority.
Killing us softly with nonsensical and insulting of our intelligence chatter.
“We have nothing to lose.”
Nothing to lose eh? Control, land and autonomy is what the locals will lose.
We need to be more responsible among ourselves. If you know wholeheartedly an elected official has sticky hands then DO NOT vote for them. If they are corrupt in the slightest bit; DO NOT vote for them. When we as an electorate stop accepting election white envelopes then we will see the corruption disipate.
I totally agree, nothing to loose, they done rob us clean already, one mart and his big projects etc.
Governments of all parties have failed this country for the past 30 years at least. Education has been starved of money, in favor of bling. We have bad infrastructure and no serious plans to fix things properly, yet we spend on big projects – airlines, greenhouses, race tracks, etc. etc. The leaders have had no vision except to line their own pockets and stay in power, and the people have suffered. It’s time they all were thrown out and we had an efficient civil service system established, focused on really building up our country – roads, water, electricity, communications, etc. fit for the 21st century.
@Hodgie: Speak for yourself. Neither ai or anyone I know want the British to take over.
Visiting the BVI has become extremely expensive. I’m not talking about the businesses trying to survive in the current climate of Covid and the BVI’s internal dissension. I’m wondering why we are paying fees to come, to go and do everything in between! The airfare to either PR or St Thomas is high enough. Add insult to injury and you have to pay about 25% of that fare to get from PR or St Thomas to Tortola if you want to fly. The Ferry is a less expensive option but proves to be an ordeal both coming and going. The BVI Love we receive both entering and leaving is not evident to most travelers. The disorganization in entry protocols often leaves tourists exhausted and dismayed. We pay for the privilege of visiting your physically beautiful island but get treated as if we are lepers trying to bring disease to your shores. We, the vaccinated visitors are then exposed to the unvaccinated locals who flaunt science as a joke. There is an unspoken, but still evident, resentment of white people. It assumes we are all rich and says nothing about sacrifices many make in order to save for a holiday. That includes saving, working overtime and doing without a lot of things in order to enjoy a week in paradise. Food in the BVI is, granted, very costly. We had cut back eating in restaurants and even carry out as the high prices, 15% service charge, expected tip on top of that added to all of the government’s miscellaneous fees plus Covid tests, travelers insurance etc. make it financially hard on us non millionaires who want to vacation. On our last visit to the ever changing BVI, we asked a lot of people in service jobs where they were from. To our surprise, most, and I do mean most, were from down islands and other countries. The locals we have met are either in government or own a business. Is there a working class in the BVI? Are jobs given to non belongers or do local people prefer not to work in services that cater to tourism? The anti white sentiment pervades the atmosphere. The people in uniforms who are there in customs and to clear us in have not been the best example of BVI Love. The resentment is so thick you can almost cut it with a knife. I’m not a colonial advocate wanting to enslave the islanders. I’m a working person who just wanted a week in paradise after the last year in hell working from home, taking care of a family as well as aging parents and having little if any personal time. The curfews imposed on us at the onset of our visit made it difficult for us to even have a cocktail ashore. I admit we did limit our visits to restaurants but we did not eliminate them. The locals were angry at the 7 pm curfew and their feelings bled in to everything else. The government is not taking care of their own people. They are too busy “taking” the tourists for every nickel and dime they can find. What they do with it after that is a mystery. My opinion, for what it’s worth, is that if the UK took over for a while, it would just give some oversight and objectivity to the mess that exists now. I feel badly for the local people and badly for tourists such as myself. It seems like the only people doing well are the government officials. I have asked someone to post this for me as my internet is dedicated to working from home and homeschooling my children. We have a VOIP for telephone use and one cell phone for all of us. This was the result of one of the sacrifices we made to be able to afford a trip to get some BVI Love! Happy islanders wouldn’t be so angry and if the current government cannot accomplish taking care of their own, BVI LOVE remains an oxymoron of sorts!
Wow. Serious comment. Thank you
There are countless islands in the Caribbean and all over the globe. They wont all be to your liking so my suggestion is simply to not return. Taking time to write an epistle because,among other cause to your caucasity, locals are not servers to your whims but insteadthey are owners of businesses and Government employed
Is most pleasing to the VI but offensive to your dream of BVI love. Many neighboring islands will gladly feed your ego what you are desperately seeking as only they can so keep moving.
Don’t waste another minute. You just might make their front page like many others.
Let the people decide.
Let the people acknowledge and correct their error.
A wolf in sheeps clothing (and not a very bright wolf either). Look at the state of his ministry. In absolute chaos while he’s ‘Tokyoing’ at the expense of the taxpayer. Are the people of the BVI seriously fooled by this?
Dr Wheatley I respect you immensely but I don’t agree with some of what you said in your narrative. Yes, we should work together, debate and use elections as our relief tool. But right now we need an immediate intervention to deliver us from the out right abuse, corruption and mismanagement of the people’s business that is continuing as the order of the day by the VIP government. You are talking about surrendering to the colonial masters but your government has the people of the Virgin Islands enslaved in what is supposed to be a democracy because only a chosen few is making it big and the majority are slaving to get by which includes ME. So, Mr. Wheatley if your government was operating even handedly, fair and transparent we wouldn’t be in this mess. So the VIP government can’t get us out of what they put us in. We need an Independent Impartial Justice Counsel to navigate VIP corrupt practices and policies, and put in place best practices and principled policies that will bring back the confidence of the people. At least for me I am totally in favor of the UK doing in the Virgin Islands what they did in Turks and Caicos. Clean out rampant corruption and give us back a clean government to move the Virgin Islands forward. Right now the majority of the people have no confidence in your government and we can’t continue like this. We need immediate relief.
Your Premier was the one calling for a COI.
Now he has gotten what he asked for and u complaining. Ungrateful!!
There is no local BVI descendant that wants the UK to take over. People fighting for their rights against HISTORICAL RASICTS and COLONIZERS can never be racist. You have your narrative b/c you want power. And you think some White person will grant you more power. Historically we have unflattering names for you traitors. And you will be lynched if you turn against your own people, so be mindful. The same racists you want help from with kill you. B/c that’s what they do and have always done. Africa, India, Asia. Why did they colonize them all? They say “See they kill each other so what if we kill them too.” I support local Governance and local people. Those of you who moved here and want someone else to rule it, why didn’t you stay where you were? B/c you couldn’t do as good for yourself there, so you stay here despite everything you hate about our home. You are also a COLONIZER without power to force your will. You can’t fool me. We are confident in the victory of good over evil.
I know many and I am one whose BVI lineage goes as far back as the history story books allow.
Mr Wheatley,this is as bad as it gets.
There is zero light in the future keeping the status quo.
For starters your leader mesmerized and being led by the Whisperins of sweet Nutting in his ear by the Vincentian will lead us into poverty. He is what is politely referred to as a poverty pimp and somethings got a hold on him.
I think talking about lynching anyone of any colour is
an awful thing to do. Reign it it.
Thanks.
What kind of ice cream is this man licking, microphone flavour as usual?
Free of elected Government’s willful and repeated deliberate denial of our basic human rights and their unabashed and publicly unapoligically touting of the written laws to facilitate their greed and personal agendas.
Not even adequate water.
The elderly with long ago homes and small cisterns and not enough income to purchase water,public wells paved over,who cares? Seawater for bath but how to mek tea,cook,wash?
Not even a proper functioning garbage incinerator.
People in the West and in the North left and right disproportianately dying of cancer and for many years as a result.
Schools, education and welfare of children a non priority.
Killing us softly with nonsensical and insulting of our intelligence chatter.
something just came tomy mind / your dad is supposed to be a very intelligent and a man of integrity / where is his voice on what’s going on in this country that he said he loved so much / he needs to wake up and speak the truth if he truly respect the people of this country / its clear his son ( big youth ) is somewhere else
Maybe his dad is dumbstruck. I am.
YOur ticket for 18k to go to Tokyo at this time might be a reason to take over.
BOY you are ban insult to ( lavity ) and other leaders before who has take this country to where it is today and not one of them had used the ( racism ) as an excuse as a distraction for (corruption) which has been revealed by the ( coi ) which is facts / not flaws
Look at who we replace Myron with? I voted for them but I feel really embarrassed now. This man is clueless. No plans but nothing. Why he went Tokyo to blight our athletes for? I hear the ticket cost nearly $20,000. While people hungry and cannot pay bills this man spend that kind of money to go Olympics to put a frig on our athletes.
That’s the right word, “f*!g”. It describes the situation perfectly.
Used in another way: I stood in the sun for almost an hour to vote for five of these f*!gs.
I have lost all confidence in our local governments. Time after time is just about greed and power, belittling our local people as if we don’t have a say after the officials are elected. We are known to be one of the richest countries in the Caribbean but there’s not much to show for it. Still having Island water issues, no price control, underpaid workers(but we asking for students to return to help build the country for peanuts). Pension plan packages are poor, Politicians continually getting away with white color crimes because of who they are. Schools not being funded properly for student development, Roads are constantly miserable, not many options for public services and the list goes on an on. Oh yeah can’t forget, banking services suck, especially when coming to financing mortgages.(income have to be like $12000.00 per month to afford a proper mortgage. In all to say the government lying a lot to the people and don’t give one “F” about it. They constantly use the country demise to make money off the People. I am exhausted, and I am ready for a new leaf to turn. might as well England take over because our government enslaving us anyway they all for themselves.
Richest? Who fool you. There are three (3) major things that determine a country success or how well a country is doing. 1. Our infrastructures 2. Our education system and (3) our health system. Please grade the three separately 1 to 10 then average them. Let me know how well we’re doing. Thanks. You meant to say we’re supposed to be one of the richest.
Thank you Hodgie, that’s what I meant to say! We are a 4/10. In school I believe that’s a failing grade!
What an disgusting kiss *** and a waste of my vote
why are you singing that tune now unless a deal was cut behind the scene with the UK Government, leaving the BVI people to hold the bag?
They will turn a blind eye allegedly while the corruption goes on and those who stood up will be victimize was once again.
In return allegedly they will get what they want. In 2003 they did not fix the problem some people got a slap on the wrist and today some of the same players doing the country wrong boldfaced again allegedly.
You are a good and decent character man, but you are preaching the wrong message, we all heard the testimonies and we all heard the dishonestness and many broken process, some I can say, is wilful…You should be encouraging your Comrads to do better, be more a people’s Government, Change the perception that the public have of them,. Thats should be your role..thats what we want to hear from you, remerse and commitment to change for the better.
It’s funny, the coward’s post can’t be replied to lol.
Why is it that every time the people of the BVI say something that members of Government don’t like or agree with, they call us all these names and say we are this and that. That goes to show that our words don’t matter and they will always go in the direction of what they believe and not the word of the ppl and what we want.
It’s disgusting how this place brings out the racists pretending to be local. Absolutely disgusting. I’m so glad you all can’t vote & never will. : p
There are countless islands in the Caribbean and all over the globe. They wont all be to your liking so my suggestion is simply to not return. Taking time to write an epistle because,among other cause to your caucasity, locals are not servers to your whims but insteadthey are owners of businesses and Government employed
Is most pleasing to the VI but offensive to your dream of BVI love. Proof right there, BVI is no place for your dreams,islands and the natives. Many neighboring islands will gladly feed your ego what you its desperately seeking as only they can so keep moving.
Don’t waste another minute. You just might make their front page headlines,like others before you.