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CoI reforms: ‘My assessment is that things are going pretty well’ - Premier

Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) says his personal assessment is that the roll-out of Commission of Inquiry (CoI) reforms in the Virgin Islands (VI) has been going good. Photo: GIS/File
Meanwhile, with the premiere is scheduled to visit the United Kingdom to advance the economic, political, and environmental interests of the Virgin Islands the agenda will include financial services, investment, and environmental partnerships. Photo: Internet Source
Meanwhile, with the premiere is scheduled to visit the United Kingdom to advance the economic, political, and environmental interests of the Virgin Islands the agenda will include financial services, investment, and environmental partnerships. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) says his personal assessment is that the roll-out of Commission of Inquiry (CoI) reforms in the Virgin Islands (VI) has been going good.

The Premier on January 6, 2022, stated during a press conference that the majority of the reforms are not at the completed state when asked by the press.

Reviews coming in - Dr the Hon Wheatley 

“Just about the majority of the recommendations have begun, there’s of course, we have lots of reviews, many of them are coming in right now, which will of course help our completion rate,” he said.

“But the important thing is that the majority of things which should have been started already have been started, and we are definitely on track with things that should have been started perhaps, maybe one or two or three, lagging behind,” he added.

The Premier; however, reminded that for those lagging behind, the Government is treating it as urgent to get everything done and that some requests being made for adjustment of deadlines.

“My assessment is that things are going pretty well, and we’ve worked very hard. In fact, we have frontloaded most of what needs to be done, so the majority of things have been started already,” he added. 

Advocating for removal of Order in Council 

Meanwhile, with the Premier scheduled to visit the United Kingdom to advance the economic, political, and environmental interests of the Virgin Islands, the agenda will include financial services, investment, and environmental partnerships.

The Premier, speaking to the press, also affirmed his commitment to keep advocating for the removal of the Order in Council when he meets with UK Minister Lord Goldsmith. 

“I will be meeting with the minister and I certainly will advocate for that Order in Council to be lifted,“ he said.

18 Responses to “CoI reforms: ‘My assessment is that things are going pretty well’ - Premier”

  • really?? (09/01/2023, 18:41) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    You better have a chat with Immigration Department then...
  • bvibuzz (09/01/2023, 18:56) Like (20) Dislike (15) Reply
    More lies the white man got him by the balls
    • @BviBuzz (09/01/2023, 20:06) Like (21) Dislike (19) Reply
      You mean he is fighting the white man modern colonial dictatorship so that their well-organized plot to have us all by the balls do not succeed.
  • 9th month (09/01/2023, 19:53) Like (8) Dislike (18) Reply
    His assessment is wrong. This is the 9th month of CoI recommendation adherence and little has changed since the end of April 2022.
    • To 9th month (09/01/2023, 20:08) Like (14) Dislike (12) Reply
      This whole process is totally unreasonable and set up to make us fail. The time frame for implementation is ridiculous. The BVI can complete and implement every recommendation from that questionable COI process, and it still will never be enough to satisfy the UK Officials. Just wait and see. The reality is the UK Officials wants to rule all OTs directly especially financial services, so they can give their friends jobs as the economy in the UK is really bad. If we think we have it bad under elected officials, and our current local public officers, then wait until you are ruled directly by Brits Officials. BVI be careful what you are asking for because you will regret it. The Brits Officials must stop this abuse of power and officially in public and private remove the two Orders in Council FORTHWITH!
  • UK resident (09/01/2023, 20:02) Like (11) Dislike (9) Reply
    The two Orders in Council are both wrong and do not reflect democracy nor a modern partnership. Both need to be removed immediately, both the one for financial services to make the register public and the other one with the suspension of the constitution.
  • Dear Premier (09/01/2023, 20:03) Like (21) Dislike (16) Reply
    On behalf of people of the BVI please have the Governor produce & make public what he wrote in his document to the UK to get the Parliament in UK and the Privy Council to issue the Order in Council. Also the same thing about the financial services with public registry where he has another pending order in council to force down our throats. Those two pieces of information and everything related to them needs to be made public. I am sure that in both it will reveal that the facts were massaged to fit their devious purpose. The people of the BVI need to know what was in those documents sent by the Governor so that they can have a fair and transparent opportunity to defend themselves. In a time of when the Governor and UK is calling for transparency, they have acted under a cloud of secrecy and deceit. This information must be known & known now. They should have no reason to keep this information private while they are using it to act publicly.
  • BVI Rise up (09/01/2023, 20:15) Like (14) Dislike (16) Reply
    The UK plot is real but the BVI has some of us asleep and some of us brainwashed like they did in the days of slavery. Speak about these things in the UK. The abuse of the judiciary and police force will rise in 2023 as the Governor is over them and don't let them fool you saying that they are independent because they are not. In-order for the UK plan to enslave us and take over to work and bring in their UK people for all senior public offices, they must instill fear in the majority of our population so we can lose faith in our people and depend on them for refuge and have them as our saviours. They will do this through many investigations and arrests that will seem justifiable because of how well organized the plot is, and they do not care if any of us win the case in court or not as by then it will be too late for our people to see the plan. This all plan for all of us and not just politicians so do not fool yourself thinking otherwise. BVI MUST RISE UP!
  • Hmm (09/01/2023, 21:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hmm I hear ya!
  • Trying (09/01/2023, 21:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    @really. You're right. Is like they are never-ending helpless people. They don't care whatsoever. Immigratiin needs a big clean up. You mean to tell me the hold on to some passport for 6. Months now and they keep saying they will call and they never once call.
  • Time to be real (09/01/2023, 22:14) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    This is so wrong how and what the UK officials are doing. We cannot afford all those recommendations at the same time and still take care of the needs of the people and country. They know this and they know it is wrong. Some of you praying for peace without a fight but I do not see how that will be possible as it did not happen in the Bible, and it will not happen now. You cannot negotiate with the devil. The UK senior public officials see all their Caribbean Overseas Territories in a negative light (in all areas) and inferior to them. This will not change so we have to make up in our mind to elect persons that will help us fight for our freedom and what is right because the UK officials is going to keep coming forward with their agenda no matter who is elected. And depending on who is elected all they will do is change their strategy, but their wicked intent toward us cloaked as good governance remains the same.
  • The Public (09/01/2023, 22:17) Like (12) Dislike (12) Reply
    These recommendations clearly paving the way for only the Governor to be in full control no matter who is elected. Elected officials will only become a figure head and the common man and local & Caribbean public officers will now suffer more than ever. Remember you read it here first.
    • @The public (10/01/2023, 07:44) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
      I fullly agree. Can't BVI people see the plot? You have all the below rejecting the UK dictatorship moves especially with the Order in Council for direct rule:
      1) The United Nations
      2) CARICOM
      3) USVI GOVERNOR
      4) OECS
      If all these were against actions of our politicians' decisions or public servants and they kept moving forward regardless, the majority of us would have been hitting the ceiling if they failed to listen to them but we want to give the Governor and his UK senior public servants a free pass. It is time to end dictatorships. It is time to end colonialism. It is time to end the two orders in council and their attempt at direct rule & trying to take over our financial services.
  • Is the UK above the law? (09/01/2023, 22:23) Like (9) Dislike (8) Reply
    Imagine every regional and international body is telling the UK their actions with the Order in Council to suspend the BVI constitution and do direct rule is wrong but they are so colonialist in their thinking and behavior that they are determined to pass through God's stop sign to them and keep moving forward in a manner where they will try to convince all that they are correct. When a man wrong ways seems right in his sight only, you know you have a modern-day Pharaoh. The BVI is no worse than any other country. Let the courts and the law deal with matters that are questionable and not a Governor and a set of UK senior public servants playing judge, jury and executioner. They too should not be allowed to be above the law nor allowed to act above the law.
  • Not equal (10/01/2023, 07:37) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Every subject under the Governor is a failure yet the COI gave him a pass with no disciplinary actions. Talk about double standards. Any way the COI was his COI.
  • Yes to UK (10/01/2023, 10:56) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply

    @ Is the UK above the law?, Whatever is happing between the UK and the BVI the governments over the last 30 years brought it on us. Stop blaming the white man and the UK, the UK has given us a long rope to see if would come clean but the something went on year after year, government after government, most of you out there talking SH** must be part of the problem.

    • To Yes to the UK (10/01/2023, 15:47) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      You are obviously one of the colonial masters' group members because if you were not you would think in a manner that allows systems to function and not a one-man gang of the Governor and UK. Their actions do not reflect respect for democracy. You cannot have a man with power to override the judiciary and the democratic process of determining leadership in a country when he is not satisfied with the outcome. The UK people are not pleased with their leadership style neither as things are worse in the UK than in the BVI as a result of a few senior UK public officers making decisions not in the best interest of the people. I agree we need to improve in several areas like all country does but do it in a manner that allows systems to function with strong policies that will hold all accountable including the Governor and his office and not only he can look into everyone, but no one can look into him and his affairs or that of the UK. This is wrong.
  • WEW (10/01/2023, 15:13) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    YOUR assessment means nothing. Just give us REAL facts and fiqures


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