Host of the Speak Out BVI radio show has called for a new political dispensation in the political arena of the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File

On the Speak Out BVI show aired last evening, March 5, 2013 on a local radio station, the host said “I see this as a new dispensation, out with the old and in with the new, we have to adapt to a new approach to how we handle things politically…”

Wheatley felt that the way in which political candidates were assessed in the Virgin Islands warranted another look as sometimes candidates who perhaps ‘cut a nice figure’ or ‘might be a very good businessman’ are the ones often chosen above candidates who are most suitable for the job. “We say well this person might be a good person to be in the legislature… somebody who it’s easy to package,” he added.

“I think what you have to do, is look at the person to see if the person is really qualified to be able to handle matters of government, has a good knowledge and a good background…” the host suggested.

He offered that the electorate needs to be more selective with candidates starting from the next election while adding that it was necessary to always remember that “the customer is king, the consumer is king, the electorate… they are the kings, the voters are the kings…”

According to Wheatley, “when we allow the representatives to become leaders and over us, I think we are making a big mistake, I think we must always let them know that they are working for us and we have to have a good interaction between the two parties… the persons who hold the governmental positions and the rest of us, the electorate.”

Earlier, a caller stated, “the Queen of England [has] no power, the power is always in the people and about the people.” He described the ruling NDP as ‘employees’ and said the people will always be the government.

The host agreed and stated that in a number of Territories, the people had given up the power to those who had been elected, with roles only being reversed every four years when general elections were being held.

“That is not good enough,” Wheatley stated before the caller added that the power was the electorate’s to give and to take. “we can’t just roll over and play dead,” Wheatley agreed.

Wheatley also called for more cohesiveness between the two rival political parties, the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) and Virgin Islands Party (VIP). “In that, I would like to see the Opposition and the Government working more closely together on National or Territorial issues…”

He also reiterated a desire for the parties to implement national development plans that extend ‘many years into the future’… “the people of the BVI should decide where they want the BVI to go over the next twenty [or] forty years.”

He pointed out that the area of Financial Services was a good place to start as the evidence had already shown, but felt that there was a need for this to spread to a number of other areas where “a more unified and beneficial approach to the development” of the Territory could be achieved.