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Hon Turnbull made no noise when brother given Gov't consultancy– Dr Wheatley

- Deputy Premier calls out hypocrisy in some Opposition Members regarding hiring of Ministerial Advisors
It has been revealed that the brother of Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) has a contract with Government. Hon Turnbull recently blasted Cabinet's decision to hire ministerial advisors. Photo: VINO/File
Deputy Premier Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has called out hypocrisy in the Virgin Islands (VI) Opposition and its contention with the government issuing consultancies. Photo: Facebook/File
Deputy Premier Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has called out hypocrisy in the Virgin Islands (VI) Opposition and its contention with the government issuing consultancies. Photo: Facebook/File
Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley said the NDP hired consultants while the now Opposition Leader, Hon Marlon A. Penn (in photo) was in Government, however, Mr Penn never spoke out against it, yet is vocal about the same issue under the Fahie administration Photo: Facebook/File
Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley said the NDP hired consultants while the now Opposition Leader, Hon Marlon A. Penn (in photo) was in Government, however, Mr Penn never spoke out against it, yet is vocal about the same issue under the Fahie administration Photo: Facebook/File
WICKHAM'S CAY 1, Tortola, VI – Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has called out hypocrisy in the Virgin Islands (VI) Opposition regarding government issuing consultancies.

At today’s, July 29, 2021, emergency sitting of the House of Assembly, Deputy Speaker and Territorial At-Large Member, Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) was voted to be exempted from vacating his seat after a company the legislator is a director of had entered into two contracts with the VI Government.

However, ahead of the passing of the subject motion, Hon Wheatley (R7) during the debates had called out hypocrisy in the National Democratic Party (NDP) majority Opposition, for speaking out against the very Government decisions that they supported while in Government.

The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration has come in for sharp criticisms from some Members of the Opposition, including Opposition Leader Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) and Second District Representative Hon Melvin M. Turnbull for the recent Cabinet decision to approve the hiring of Ministerial Political Advisors.

Hon Penn had blasted the decision as insensitive and a wastage of public funds.

According to Dr Wheatley, “When the now Leader of the Opposition was first elected with the National Democratic Party, there are several members of the NDP… persons who ran for elections and they were unsuccessful and they received consultancies,” he said.

NDP members got consultancies under NDP Gov't - Dr Wheatley 

“There were at least three members of the National Democratic Party who were unsuccessful… three persons who got consultancies and I did not hear him [Hon Penn] say a word about these persons receiving consultancies,” Dr Wheatley said.

“But because now it seems politically expedient to do so, all of a sudden government doesn't have any need for consultancies and expertise,” the Deputy Premier further detailed.

Turning attention to similar criticisms from Second District representative, Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2), Dr Wheately said relatives of the member are currently consultants of the Fahie Government.

Hon Turnbull had criticised the move to hire Ministerial Advisors and likened the modus operandi of government to a cult. "Why do you need to spend $120,000 when you have permanent secretaries who are trained, who are qualified, you have technocrats in the different ministries, you have private secretaries to write speeches and to do research… at this time, it is just mind-blowing,” he said in a July 26, 2021, interview with 284 media. 

According to Hon Wheatley, Hon Turnbull's "brother [Dr Michael Turnbull] has a consultancy with the Ministry of Education and he's been paid hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Ministry of Education, and I haven’t heard a word from the Leader of the Opposition about that or [from] the Member for the Second District,” he said. 

The Deputy Premier called for members to take a principal position on the matter and for them to educate the public about it.

Opposition Leader know Gov't has need for consultants - Dr Wheatley  

“The Leader of the Opposition and a member for the Second District very well know that government has a need for expertise in various areas,” Hon Wheatley said.

He said the government has needs for expertise in policy, education and even in finance amongst other areas.

Dr Wheatley further said that contrary to Opposition accusations that the Government is giving consultancies to cronies, the Fahie administration has engaged persons associated with the NDP and have even engaged persons who fought to ensure the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) did not get into office.

19 Responses to “Hon Turnbull made no noise when brother given Gov't consultancy– Dr Wheatley”

  • Real (29/07/2021, 21:34) Like (48) Dislike (0) Reply
    Never let a politician grant you a favor
  • A VOTER IN #6 (29/07/2021, 21:43) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Dont give the a dam
  • A VOTER IN #6 (29/07/2021, 21:46) Like (24) Dislike (22) Reply
    DON'T GIVE THEM A DAM CHANCE TO TELL LIES ON THE VIP GOVERNMENT. EVERYTHING IS OPPOSING OPPOSING THEY NEED TO GET A LIFE.
    • Reply (30/07/2021, 08:59) Like (15) Dislike (12) Reply
      must agree the thing is nothing has stuck on the VIP so far, so let them keep trying. The facts are the NDP is the most corrupt
    • Yow (30/07/2021, 09:21) Like (7) Dislike (7) Reply
      That’s what I’m saying all of them except Fraser who seems to be the most mature are too reactive.

      I don’t don’t to hear nothing about 40mil “wastage” from a nearly global stimulus initiative that went to persons in the community during times of hardship versus when 40mil was overspent on the cruise pier project in the last administration in addition to other projects that did not take flight....
  • Oh boii (29/07/2021, 23:17) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Eye
  • Advisor (30/07/2021, 00:12) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Paying a Consultant as a temp for less than one year would make more sense. Any longer 4 years is way too much much time to be in need of a Consultant.
  • lodger (30/07/2021, 02:30) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    I thought they were merely meeting to regularize the fact that they should have done this before he signed the contracts? It seems to have opened a whole can of worms!
  • VG1110 (30/07/2021, 03:46) Like (40) Dislike (0) Reply
    in 2021 and as a developing country we still have dark public streets: areas throughout this country without running water:areas throughout the country with sewage problems: all over the country have very poor public highways: very poor border security: the poorest police system in the world: not even touching the telecoms sector; big bucks each month for crappie services

    we in 2021 some of the stuff mentioned above are issues from the 60s: there are unsolved murders here from the 80s or early 90s and nothing

    our own country folks continues finding time bickering over the pettiest matters and pull one another down just to make ourselves look good



  • one eye (30/07/2021, 06:57) Like (23) Dislike (22) Reply
    Ha ha smuf and Mitch get called out they are no match for Fahie and the vip
  • trrefdrfds (30/07/2021, 07:38) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who so ever digeth the pit shall fall in it.Truth will always prevail
  • STAY FOCUS (30/07/2021, 08:53) Like (10) Dislike (5) Reply
    Mixing apples with oranges. The contract was given to his brother not him.
  • Tek dat Mitch (30/07/2021, 08:57) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    In dem muddak....
  • Yes, God who alone is TRUTH will prevailed over all evil work. (30/07/2021, 10:20) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Fatther, Creator and most high God, protect us from all our enemies, self included, so that we will be empowered by You to reconize our neighbours as our equal, and threat them likewise. With Your strength and Divine supervision, what we call truth is no more a false perceptions of our own confused minds, and nothing more than flippy-floppy political propaganda techniques against our own collective good.
    Teach to, carefully number our days, so that we will wisely apply our hearts (minds) to sound knowledge and sustaining wisdom.
    I now humble submitted tbis prayer to you, in the authority of JesusYour Son. Amen
  • josiah'sbay (30/07/2021, 10:39) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Do Gov. need consultancies sometimes they do. The question is do they need them now, at the cost and what's their added value.
  • stop (30/07/2021, 11:19) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    According to Dr Wheatley, “When the now Leader of the Opposition was first elected with the National Democratic Party, there are several members of the NDP… persons who ran for elections and they were unsuccessful and they received consultancies,” he said. So you said that you will do better than the NDP but you turn around and do the samething, Do you know the saying Two Wrongs don't make a right?
  • Quiet Storm (30/07/2021, 14:36) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Politicians bank on the short memory of the majority of the electorate, electorate indifference to political behaviour…….etc to peddle their hypocrisy and gain political points. They forget that information is widespread and readily recalled. Shameful! They need to be called out. Most of them don’t deserve to be addressed as statemen/women.
  • Interested (31/07/2021, 07:33) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    What does Dr Turnbull’s consultancy have to do with anything? Does that justify hiring Ministerial political Advisers at exorbitant fees at a time of financial crisis?


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