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VI needs a local Gov’t system – Douglas Wheatley

Wheatley believes that a local Government system will be vital for the overall development of the Territory. Photo: VINO
Talk show host, Douglas Wheatley.
Talk show host, Douglas Wheatley.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – After assessing the structure of the Virgin Islands Government, one talk show host is convinced that a local Government system is key, which would allow elected members to focus more on national issues that are affecting the Territory.

Speaking on his radio programme “Speak Out BVI” last evening April 17, 2012, talk show host Douglas Wheatley told listeners that “we need some aspect of local Government.”

“I would like to see the persons who are elected be more concerned with national issues and the issues that concern the various districts we can have a local Government...a local council to deal with those matters and just allow the persons in the national legislature to deal with federal type issues,” the talk show host opined.

According to Mr. Wheatley, the VI would be a better country if it was like that.

“... for example in Road Town if you had a City Council dealing with Road Town they would be tasked with improving Road Town, beautifying RT, taking care of the garbage collection and a number of things like that...I know there are some persons who are definitely against it, and some are in favour,” he added.

So over the next few months Wheatley intends to have individuals from both sides of the fence to air their views on the show, and will try to get a draft law from another Caribbean country that has a local Government, have it modified to determine if it can work in the VI.

And whist people may think he is nuts for tackling such a project, Wheatley said, “we have to look down the road 25 years, 35 years, 50 years, and we have to decide what kind of BVI we would want to have at that time. Those of us in my age bracket would not be around at that time, but our children and grandchildren will be. We want to make sure that this little BVI that we are so proud of, it will still be there.”

7 Responses to “VI needs a local Gov’t system – Douglas Wheatley”

  • Rick (18/04/2012, 08:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is a really good Idea Mr. Wheatley.
  • same old story (18/04/2012, 09:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    ok so another for Nina
  • Iron Lion (18/04/2012, 09:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    dont usually agree wid dis guy but this is very good.
  • she the cat mother (18/04/2012, 10:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We tried that city manager thing when the NDP was in last time and it was a mess with the so called city manager tripping all over the district representative why we going back dey?
  • I'm Concern (18/04/2012, 13:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. Wheatley: To run a City counsel in the BVI that is a Government within a Government and that means double taxation. That is how the U.S. in runned and there will be other taxes involve. The Virgin I land is too small for your big Idea. Every one is already fed-up with the informations Officer. What next. Dougy my friend reconsider.
  • Diaspora (18/04/2012, 19:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The BVI is too small for a government within a government; it is only 59 square miles. This local government proposal is an unnecessary additional layer of governance. The current five ministers and departments should be able to govern the Virgin Islands effectively; all that is required is effective leadership and management. There is already too much representation. The BVI has approximately 30000 people with 13 elected representatives. By comparison, Antigua and Barbuda is 180 sqm with approx 70000 people and 17 elected representatives. Similarly, the Commonwealth of Dominica is approx 305 sqm with 65000 people and 21 elected members. Ministers have the resources to capture the needs of each district and craft effective plans for meeting these needs. Sometimes more is not always better. The law of dimishing marginal return. The BVI governing structure has not proven that it is operating at its full production possibilities frontier. In fact it is probably operating below the production possibilities frontier. We must demonstrate that we need to move production possibilities frontier outward. There is capacity within the current structure to much more with the current resources.
    • Albion (11/05/2012, 13:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      That is right. It is simply far too small to suggest that we further sub-divide political responsibility. Plus you know that "national" politicians would not be able to resist meddling with "local" political decisions. Finally, who will pay the cost of all of this?


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