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VI scholar issues call for more Debates among Candidates

-says Brexit/Registers/other woes being overlooked
The most recent call for debates among Candidates vying to become Legislators, is being pushed by Fellow at the Cambridge University Mr E. Benito Wheatley. Photo: Team of Reporters
National Democratic Party, Leader and Chairman, Honourable Myron V. Walwyn (pictured here), has challenged his political opponents to debate him publicly. Photo: VINO/File
National Democratic Party, Leader and Chairman, Honourable Myron V. Walwyn (pictured here), has challenged his political opponents to debate him publicly. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The call for debates among Candidates vying to become Legislators of the Virgin Islands (VI), ahead of the 2019 General Election, is reverberating more across the Territory.

The most recent, is being pushed by Fellow at the Cambridge University, Mr E. Benito Wheatley.

Mr Wheatley—one of the Territory’s scholars who recently headed the BVI Finance London Office—continues to keep a ‘close-eye’ on the big issues that threatens the prosperity of the VI on the financial services front, the Territory’s main economic pillar.

Registers/Brexit Woes

Appearing on the January 18, 2019, edition of JTV’s Big Story, Mr Wheatley said, the Territory's leaders have only scratched the surface issues that are related to the Brexit, the pending establishment of the Beneficial Ownership Register and the 'shaky status' of the VI/European Union relationships, among other woes.

“The issues have been touched on a bit but I need to hear more and I think the public needs to know more about how the parties are going to approach these issues,” he said.

According to Mr Wheatley, to pay for the implementation of the Recovery Development plan, its known that the Territory has to access a UK Loan Guarantee, “which we have not done as yet…There are a number of conditions that have to be met that have been set out by the UK Government.”

He told the moderator, “…we need to know from each of the Parties (Political Parties) how they will see them pursuing that loan guarantee…In fact, they will try to pursue it or find some other means to pay for the plans that they have, so I think that we need to hear much more on each side both, international and domestic.”

Debates

On that note, Mr Wheatley adumbrated the need for the correct forum for residents to ask the tough questions on those matters.

He recalled, “there was a debate in District 9 and I think that went relatively well…We need more platforms like that to draw out the answers that we all are looking for.”

Mr Wheatley suggested, “we should have a few more of those debates before the election actually happens.”

According to Mr Wheatley, “we can’t simply walk into this election blind and then cross an X based on who we like and or popularity…We need to know the issues because this is an election like no other because, we are at such a pivotal juncture in the recovery of the Territory.”

Recovery

Speaking to the Territory’s future over the coming decade, Mr Wheatley was adamant that the mandate of the new government, when elected, will be to consolidate the recovery of the Territory.

“It means that we would have to get the funding that we need to implement the recovery and development plan…That plan is costed around $500M, we have to figure out where the funds are going to come from.”

He said, “if it’s coming from the UK we would have to meet the conditions they have set…If it’s coming from elsewhere the various parties would have to demonstrate where the money is coming from…But regardless of what we need to have happen is the basic economic infrastructure that needs to be in place needs to be laid out over the next four years.”

9 Responses to “VI scholar issues call for more Debates among Candidates ”

  • The Hooded Claw (19/01/2019, 11:19) Like (15) Dislike (6) Reply
    It's refreshing to hear Mr Wheatley outline the importance of debates. Unfortunately Hon Fahie thinks debates are nothing more than "weapon of mass distraction".

    • @hooded claw (19/01/2019, 11:53) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply
      It doesn’t matter what Fahie or any other candidate thinks debates are, we the people need to get answers so that we can make intelligent choices at the polls. This is about the survival of our territory and by extension the people of this country. So they need to answer these difficult questions and let us know if they are truly going take this country forward or drive it further in the ground, than where we currently are.
    • @thehoodedclaw (19/01/2019, 11:57) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      Idiot!!!
  • chad (19/01/2019, 12:01) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
    Debates don't make u win because if u have a stuck up way about u nobody wouldn't still vote for u if u win a debate
  • fish (19/01/2019, 12:06) Like (8) Dislike (10) Reply
    we will never debate Myron he does not have the people interest at hand
  • Lady London (19/01/2019, 13:17) Like (1) Dislike (9) Reply
    Is he single? I’m interested.
  • Batter up (19/01/2019, 15:41) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Only candidates that need to have debates are those seeking to be premier. Case closed
    • wize up (19/01/2019, 19:29) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ batter up: every man jack up for elections the majority of us know them personally: we live in a small society not Europe or USA: we have a reasonable understanding of the candidates: however I personally think the people should vote directly for the premier of this territory. We should not be given some Nominee chosen From within a party: as you noted the public will then hold debates with all persons seeking to be our premier ..
  • wize up (19/01/2019, 15:49) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    what debate: we need upstanding men and women to oversee the future guidance of the territory: fancy talkers and fancy talk have this territory in the predicament we facing all now(my back is broad so bring the comments) sick of the talk(talk on tv, talk on radio, talk on social media, talk under the tents; talk on talk-shows): because a person did not win the debate does not mean that person will not do right for our people once voted into public office: not all persons have the gift to speak eloquently in public forums: we had great representation in our territory well before 2019(debates).....some of us better be careful with the jive talkers(the ones with all the answers to all of your questions)...RDA, will be running this territory for a few years, so watch out for all those usual political promises(I gone!!!)


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