CRC Report is a response to COI’s critiques- Hon Melvin M. Turnbull
Members of the House of Assembly (HoA) began debating the report during the Ninth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly.
During the sitting’s continuation on Friday, September 19, 2025, Hon Turnbull said he read the report twice.
“It’s not just about the report and the merits therein. Because if we take it on the surface, it would just seem like a technical report with pages of analysis, recommendations, comparisons. But this document and what it means is so much more than words on a paper.”
According to the Member of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, now is the time for the VI to reflect on where they are, as they have been offered a window for a glimpse of where the territory might go. He also said it is now a testing and challenging period for “us to decide whether we’ll be timid or cautious, or bold and faithful as our ancestors were”.
CRC Report is a response to COI’s critique
The report, he said, did not just fall from the sky but “emerged from the shadows” of the Commission of Inquiry of 2021/2022 that highlighted corruption, exposed maladministration and even identified weaknesses in the system.
The COI, Hon Turnbull said, did not give proper credit to the achievements of the Virgin Islands and its people.
“The COI, Madam Speaker, painted us as in colours of scandal, but it did not show the canvas of our progress. It told of what was broken, but it did not tell of what was built. It catalogues our flaws, but it did not chronicle our faith. And so the CRC was appointed in part to respond to that critique,” he said.
We must not be defined by outsiders
Hon Turnbull further in his contribution to the debate demanded bold reforms that put the people first in education, land, healthcare and governance.
“But above all, I want to remind this House of Assembly and the people in the Territory of the Virgin Islands, we must not be defined by what outsiders say, but we must be defined as a people of faith, courage and who choose to say and tell our story on our own behalf.”
Members of the HoA will continue to debate the 2022-2023 Constitution Reform Commission (CRC) Report on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 10:00 AM.
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11 Responses to “CRC Report is a response to COI’s critiques- Hon Melvin M. Turnbull ”
They have proven time and again that they are only able to debate and vote for what is best for themselves.
Why would we think they would do anything else but think for themselves when considering a new constitution.
BEWARE the next constitution does not just just serve our Greedy Politicians.
The VI needs a Constitution for the VI people.
We are no longer marching as a people like in 1949
BEWARE the 2025 March Towards INDEPENDENCE and CORRUPTION.
13 Greedy politicians, guided under the watchful gaze of their Criminal Mentor, still hanging on the once Honorable walls, are debating how best to carve up the future of the BVI for themselves.
Our History will showcase after 1835 when the whips; The Chains; The Murdering of Our Forefathers was Terminated) Our forefathers Develop This British Overseas Territory to what All of Us sees Today(We were suppose to a Bird sanctuary)....look it up
My Goodness, come 2020 the Former Slave Masters are back simply due to poor political performance and that is Shameful
Moving forward our people deserve far better political leadership: all they do is standup in Legislative Council and Pull down each other
We need 13 men and women once an election is complete going into House of Assembly with a mindset of move our country forward in Love & Harmony
The Leader of Opposition stood up and Ridicule the Members of The Other Side however no mention yet to the People of the additional monthly payment(we all heard about the No Confidence Conversation during the Sitting of Parliament
Seem to just be talking loud and saying nothing