Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Ministry of Education & Culture admits no money there!- 2013 Annual Report

According to the Ministry of Education and Culture 2013 Annual Report tabled in the House of Assembly on November 2, 2015, on page 19, it blamed the lack of government funds to get anything done on the 'economic climate.' Photo: VINO
The Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry headed by the controversial Hon Myron V. Walwyn (left), has claimed it could not execute many of its programmes in 2013 because it 'encountered financial constraints.' What is of interest to residents is that the same year Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honorable D. Orlando Smith told the public that things are getting better, as money in the government coffers were up, including his administration’s contribution to the emergency fund, tourism arrivals were up and crime was down. The report seems to be a serious contradiction to what the Premier told the public in 2013. Photo: VINO/File
The Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry headed by the controversial Hon Myron V. Walwyn (left), has claimed it could not execute many of its programmes in 2013 because it 'encountered financial constraints.' What is of interest to residents is that the same year Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honorable D. Orlando Smith told the public that things are getting better, as money in the government coffers were up, including his administration’s contribution to the emergency fund, tourism arrivals were up and crime was down. The report seems to be a serious contradiction to what the Premier told the public in 2013. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry headed by the controversial Hon Myron V. Walwyn, has claimed it could not execute many of its programmes in 2013 because it “encountered financial constraints.”

According to the Ministry of Education and Culture 2013 Annual Report tabled in the House of Assembly on November 2, 2015, on page 19, it blamed the lack of government funds to get anything done on the “economic climate.”

Did someone lie to the public?

What is of interest to residents is that the same year Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith told the public that things were getting better, as monies in the government coffers were up, including his administration’s contribution to the emergency fund, tourism arrivals were up and crime was down. The report seems to be a serious contradiction to what the Premier told the public in 2013.

The Ministry’s Annual Report went on to state as one of its major challenges in 2013 that “it was a period of finding ways to do more with less as a result of budget cuts and policy decisions put in place to help regulate activities.”

HM Prison a financial burden?

The 2013 Ministry of Education and Culture Report also listed Her Majesty’s Prison located at Balsam Ghut, on the main island of Tortola, as a serious major challenge because of the need to stabilise the facility. The report stated that “an on-going challenge at the Prison is limited human resources, as throughout the year, it proved difficult to get the full complement of staff.”

The Ministry of Education and Culture attempted to correct the problem by spending taxpayers' money to hire Edwards’ Consultants. However, the cost for this consultancy was not disclosed in the report. The Ministry further claims in the report that once the consultants were hired the “situation was brought under control.”

The Report, when speaking about HM Prison and schools, told the public that “the maintenance and upkeep of facilities under the Ministry posed some difficulties. Several school facilities and buildings at the Prison are in urgent need of renovation and maintenance.”

2015 drama

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Education came under fire as many teachers and parents flooded our newsroom with calls about lack of basic needs at schools throughout the territory. They told our newsroom that students are asked to walk with some basic items such as toilet paper, and teachers complain that they have to take money out of their own pockets to purchase teaching aids and other items for the classroom.

To date, the Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn and the Ag Chief Education Officer Jillian Douglas-Phillip have been silent on these allegations.

33 Responses to “Ministry of Education & Culture admits no money there!- 2013 Annual Report”

  • i from here (15/11/2015, 14:06) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    We done know who telling untruths
  • Bloggers (15/11/2015, 14:43) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    We nah fight no unjust wars.
  • DON Q (15/11/2015, 14:45) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    Yea my daughter was ask to walk with a fan to school
  • wow (15/11/2015, 14:57) Like (22) Dislike (3) Reply
    The BVI needs political leadership change and Myron will NOT be a great force to bring it
  • REAL TALK OFFICER (15/11/2015, 14:58) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    THEY HONESTLY PLAYING WITH FIRE UP IN THAT PRISON, THERE IS A RATIO OF 20 PRISONERS TO 1 OFFICER AT ANY GIVING TIME, THAT LITTLE PITTINGS THEM PAYING, WHEN THINGS START WE GOING JUST GAVE UP ON IT ALL.THEM KEEP GIVING EMPTY PROMISES TO OFFICERS ABOUT A PAY INCREASE AND NOTHING HAPPENING, BUT THEM COULD KEEP APPROVING THEM BIG $$$ CONTRACT TO THEM EAST END CRABBE PEOPLE. (REAL TALK) WHEN THE THING START I KNOW A LOT OF OFFICERS JUST AINT GOING TO RESPOND TO IT. HOPE NONE OF THEM DONT CARE MAN SERVING LIFE DONT END UP IN THEM SENATERS HOUSE .
  • insider (15/11/2015, 15:04) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply

    Don't tell Dr Potter !! ssh "C**k mouth kill C**k"

  • SMH!!! (15/11/2015, 15:10) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is Soo sad!!
  • wize up (15/11/2015, 15:20) Like (33) Dislike (3) Reply
    stop taking money for our children's education and paying for band during festival:
  • were the festival bills paid? (15/11/2015, 16:47) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why was that expensive prison type wall built around the high school? Why was so much money wasted on a private building in baugher's bay? Why spent a hundred thousand$ on a dinner? No wonder the schools supplies slow and coming!
    • wall ain't finished (17/11/2015, 20:29) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      all that money spent on a wall and it hasn't even been completed. It's a shame!
  • Yes (15/11/2015, 16:52) Like (31) Dislike (2) Reply

    Moron is worst politian ever in BVI history. How people voted for his lying @$$ the second time around still amazes me.

  • The Vendetta (15/11/2015, 17:19) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    This goes for all those representatives who think they are men worthy of praise... No man under god is worthy of praise... Judgment will be swift across the land, the father of life and all spiritual practise who we fail to realise is 1 in the same will place his blade into the hearts of the wicked.

    Proverbs 29:4
    When the king is concerned with justice, the nation will be strong, but when he is only concerned with money, he will ruin his country.

  • More concern (15/11/2015, 17:51) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    We want to know what happen to the $100,000 he gave that one on virgin goda? It still not accounted for. Them using our tax money like them private business.
  • money crisis (15/11/2015, 19:07) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yet and still we built a barn on VG for a basket ball gym despite no money in the coffers.
  • great to good (15/11/2015, 19:08) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    1st in the history of the BVI that we have schools without toilet paper...WOW!
    • sick set of voters (15/11/2015, 21:43) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
      Yes one for the history books and remember who was the minister the dude who got the most votes
  • tretretrete (15/11/2015, 19:31) Like (11) Dislike (5) Reply
    Start to collect outstanding scholarship money..............
  • school children (15/11/2015, 19:34) Like (25) Dislike (0) Reply
    OVER TEN Million dollars gone from The ports UN-accounted for thing to talk
    Build buildings out government money
    bought ferry and barges
    build expensive homes
    Ten Million dollars thing to talk
  • clap clap (15/11/2015, 19:57) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    dear vino, ya finally get myron on a LEGITIMATE issue... he so busy showboating with money instead of buying toner and ink for the schools... spending money in areas that just aint no priority... the teachers suffering having to bring their own supplies... when a doctor goes go work does he walk with his own MRI, needles and gloves or does he use the ones provided at the hospital.... so why do teachers need to buy chalk or markers??? beg other institutions to make copies of handouts or documents??? he just a JOKE... a big show man.

    the other thing now is... he so fraid to expell students caz he have votes to secure... these students are RUNNING the school caz they know wah.... them dont have no consequences for actions... clap meh boy...
    • @ clap clap (15/11/2015, 21:47) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
      People just leave mr walwyn to time and god either vino or thoes who he has under pressure need to do a thing bottom line.....the table does turn
  • Fly on the Wall (15/11/2015, 21:09) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is what happens when get caught up in the partying during an election instead of staying focused on the issues.
  • help with the fight (16/11/2015, 01:22) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    and he have the heart to tell the teachers how to dress?
  • ayo need help to crucify him? (16/11/2015, 01:31) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    I cant believe this man was the highest vote getter and doing this to the kidz.
  • Unfortunate (16/11/2015, 02:16) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    now that the election campaign is over expect another 3 and a half years of quagmire, that likely will result in the lack of real education for hundreds of our innocent children, and all we will get is spin, speeches and the long list of saying things were done when there is nothing there!!
  • we judge (16/11/2015, 02:52) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    It was easy for MVW to sit in his chair in 2010/2011 and type on a laptop how intelligence the VIP government officials, etc. should have seen this or that and put various dots together to do this and that for the BVI. You now sitting in their shoes, giving it a try and see how you are faring now!!!
  • concern (16/11/2015, 04:03) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    If all those comments are true then we are in trouble. Education is the base of the country. Cannot believe all this is happening and every minute the ministers are on planes going somewhere and makes no account of their trips to the public whose money they are spending. Who is looking into good governance? Where will the money come from for NHI to coverall indigent including non Virginislanders residing in the territory? It is time for this government to be investigated on how taxpayers monies is being spent. A host of consultants and trips. Lying to the people is not right. What is seen is a dictatorship. Will the higher power come to our rescue before we all have to beg like some in Africa andSouth America. Let Haiti next door be a wake up call. Who is in charge?
  • People relax (16/11/2015, 08:25) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Moron magic will earse this and keep him popular. It works every time.
  • Priorities (16/11/2015, 10:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Besides the issue of lack of accountability regarding the spending of public funds in general, it appears evident that education regrettably continues to be a low priority issue in the BVIs. Despite having educated leaders, education does not seem to be a core value based on the government's investment (moral and financial) in this issue despite all the rhetoric. It's unclear what kind of future the leadership of this country imagines for a country where future adults have not had the benefit of a proper education that could be applied to solving the problems today's leadership has created. But then again, this is not probably something that gets much thought. Where there is no vision, the people will perish was one H Lavitty Stoutt's favorite quotes back in the day.
  • wow (16/11/2015, 10:38) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    why are you guys complaining you get what you voted for
  • teacher john (16/11/2015, 11:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    heard after the first VINO article Myron make sure that supplies went to schools. just a set of aint care bout the people
  • Yes (16/11/2015, 14:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    That man is god on Platinum and the devil on Vino.
  • Spin Doctor (16/11/2015, 23:25) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Myron, please put your spin on this story. There must be some way to blame the teachers for your ministry not having adequate funds. After all, it must be their fault why the economy is the way it is and why the government is struggling financially. Better yet, go find the team of teachers that is willing to give 100% unlike the tired slaves that are currently giving it their all.


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.