Radio caller wants new constitution; No power for Governor
The caller was expressing his views on the matter on the Speak out BVI programme with host Doug Wheatley on ZBVI 780 AM on Tuesday March 21, 2017.
The Virgin Islands was abuzz with what many believe was a dictatorial move when the Governor announced that he was ordering some $800,000 to go towards financing the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) last week.
Many have voiced their opinions on the issue, including Opposition Leader Andrew A. Fahie (R1), Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith(AL) and even the former Deputy Governor Mr Elton Georges, CMG, OBE.
Honestly disappointed
“I am honestly disappointed in the position that the Governor took, I am very disappointed. I understand that nothing like this has ever been done in this country, and for the governor to take such a position it comes across like a dictatorship. I don’t think the Governor should have done that,” he said.
The caller informed that while he is not against the fact that the police should be properly funded, as he strongly believes that they do, the citizens of the territory voted in a Government to handle its affairs.
“…but for the governor to take such a position, you know what pained the most in situations like these? We have our leaders of our country whom we vote in an election, the Governor is no such person. From my understanding we are not even supported by Britain anymore, so for the Governor to take our tax money to do what he wants, yes he is doing it for the good of the country I recognise that but it is just the way that he goes about it,” he continued.
“Sometimes Doug you know, it is not what you do you know, it is how you do it. It’s not what you do is how you do it. We have a Minister for Finance. We really need to go back to the drawing board, we need a new constitution, and we need to take away that power from the governor.”
Powers will not be able to be revoked from Governor
But Mr Wheatley said as long as the Virgin Islands remains a British Overseas Territory, the Governor will have such power.
“You will not be able to take it from the Governor,” Mr Wheatley said.
Wheatley informed that the governor had two sets of reserved powers and among them finance, but during the constitutional review in 2007, the British Government gave up the one reserved power that he had earlier in the constitution and they kept the one where he can go in the funds. Because the governor as far as the British Government is concerned, must have at all times the ability to ensure that certain things happen in the territory and he is responsible for a number of subjects under section 60 of the constitution.
Wheatley said because of this the Governor has to have the ability to take care of the areas in which he is responsible.
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33 Responses to “Radio caller wants new constitution; No power for Governor”
On the other hand the Premier and indeed the NDP have brought this unto themselves by time after time ignoring the constitution and the rule of law and acting as though they can do as they please on all matters. If the Government abide by the constitution and listen to the electorate, this sort of thing would not have to happen. We did not elect dictators. Hopefully this is a lesson learned. If the government does not want the Governor to dictate, then they should not try to either.
The Governor did inform the Premier, but he's sleeping all the time!!!
If you don't like the fact that the Governor has powers, then call for independence and we will support you.
Unfortunately, some people don't hear what they say, and they always try to hide their heads in the sand.
Another idiot who doesn't know or understand the constitution. The BVI is a DEPENDENT Territory. Dependent like a dependent child which means smarty that we are not a law unto ourselves and must answer to who we are dependent to. IF the people who we elected won't do what they supposed to then he has an obligation to do what he must to protect us from the ones who we elected to act in our best interest. We give you kudos and a drink of tea. Since its cleaning time lets continue in the spirit of cleaning house:
1) Audit for the wall
2) Audit for the Cruise Pier
3) Accountant General Audits for the last 6 or so years
4) Accountability on BVI Airways
This will do for now cause all the people hearing is hot air and we tired of the secrecy, underhadness and bullying mentality.
“Murders have been happening in the territory long before the current governor arrived.”...Honourable Mitch Turnbull, member of the National Democratic Party.
Best hope for our young people heeey! :(
You got to be crazy!
Mitch is a follower not a leader. A mouth champion I will give him but no substance nor relevance.
He is like a hype man for a rapper. Those guys who appear on stsge with famous rappers and ends up screaming most of the song than the rapper him/herself.
Tell Mitch to go jump in de water and take a bathe!!!
I personally am glad what he did as it was within the powers reserved by the constitution and that it was a wakeup call to the Government that they are checks and balances to their powers. At the same time, the Police need proper financing to get the crime situation under control.