Hon Walwyn & Alliance blasted for more divisive politics over constitutional report
Last week, The Alliance, headed by Walwyn, sent out a questionnaire seeking, according to them, "to get input on the constitutional report". This was seen as an insult to the people of the Territory and the work of the Commissioners themselves, who spent almost two years seeking inputs and feedback from residents across the Virgin Islands, along with the US Virgin Islands (USVI).
Many residents and social media influencers speaking to our news centre on condition of anonymity noted that this turn of events by The Alliance deeply concerns many residents with these “efforts being made to distort the Constitutional Review process into a political exercise rather than the national consultation it was intended to be”. The recent questionnaire circulated under the banner of The Alliance represents “not an invitation to open dialogue, but an attempt to engineer consent through confusing language and predetermined conclusions”, one social media poster stated.
'Unusual'- Lisa E. Penn-Lettsome
Chairperson of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) Lisa E. Penn-Lettsome has called the move by The Alliance "unusual".
Penn-Lettsome also said the CRC conducted "extensive consultation" and allowed all members of the public to meet with it privately as well.
"To break the process at this stage to reopen public consultation will be unusual. However, it is not for me to say whether additional consultation is needed," the CRC Chair told our news centre.
Penn-Lettsome reminded that the appointments of the other members of the CRC expired on the submission of the CRC Report, and that the only appointment that is still occupied is that of the Chairman, who remains until the review process is completed.
"So, the review process is actually well-advanced and in its final stages," Penn-Lettsome stated.
An Attempt to duplicate efforts?
The Alliance Party, which consists of Hons Walwyn, Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) and Hon Stacy R. Mather (AL), claimed that “the constitution belongs to all of us and so would like your voice to be heard in the committee stage of the review.”
However, the voices of the residents were placed in the report, which was debated by elected Members of the House of Assembly (HoA) last month. Some have accused Hon Walwyn, not only of having ambition to be Premier by any means necessary, but also of using the Constitution review process, which is the foundation of our democracy, “as a tool for his ambition and manipulation”.
They noted that this style of politics can undermine our democracy as “leadership demands clarity, honesty, and humility before the people....when consultation becomes persuasion, and participation becomes performance, we move away from democracy and toward self-interest”, one resident stated.
Others, including HoA members without calling his name, stated that Mr Walwyn's debate was anti-Virgin Islanders and that the “Virgin Islands deserve better than political theatre disguised as inclusion". Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), speaking last evening on Virgin Islands Voice, assured that both his Government and the Constitutional Review Committee “have continued to lead a process that is transparent, accessible, and rooted in the views of residents". After residents' views were given, it was then turned into a report, laid before the HoA, and then debated, he opined.
There is a process
The Report now goes to a committee of the whole House, where elected members will make the final recommendations out of the report as to what will be adopted. Dr Wheatley further stated last evening that in many cases, members will vote on those items.
Once agreed, the next step will be the formation of a negotiating team that will include members of the Government and Opposition, the chair of the Constitutional Review Commission, Mrs Penn-Lesttsome, along with other resource persons.
Hon Marlon A Penn (R8) has sounded the alarm during his debate that it is important to go to London “united as a negotiation team speaking with one voice".
Mr Walwyn, for political reasons, has already sought to bring division over many aspects of the report, now requesting, via The Alliance, further input through a survey. Many people have expressed that the questions are allegedly designed to push residents toward predetermined answers.
One voice is needed
Further division is caused by asking that the Committee hearings be open to the public when, in fact, Hon Walwyn knows that “this request does not comply with the HoA Standing Orders”. One Member noted, “How come he never pushed for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meetings to be made public?” According to Premier Wheatley, to make committee hearings public, “you must go through a process to amend the Standing Orders”.
One person has also accused The Alliance of undermining the process and trying to pressure some members of the public with a sinister agenda to get what Mr Walwyn wants in the final document for negotiations. Many residents, talk show hosts, social media influencers, civil society and Members of the HoA have called on all political actors to put aside personal aspirations and remember that constitutional reform is not a stage for individual advancement. It is a sacred responsibility to the generations who built this Territory and those who will inherit it.
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14 Responses to “Hon Walwyn & Alliance blasted for more divisive politics over constitutional report”
The VI a small , resource-poor, little sleepy hollow, the poor house of the West Indies, an almost forgotten and neglected land,which some viewed as only useful as a bird sanctuary through signature Virgin Islander grit, unity, rugged individualism, etc, manifested into having one of the highest standards of living, quality of life, per capita income, human development index,,etc in the Anglophone Caribbean region. True, in recent years, it ran into some doldrums, some head winds..The VI is in a unique , awkward, etc., position, quandary, relative to the population make up. Most of its approximate 40,000 popuiation are not indigenous/ancestral Virgin Islanders. The estimated ratio between expatriates: local is approximately 70:30. It should be noted that the last completed census was the 2010 Census. How can that be? I will leave that right there……Power and influence follows the numbers. Some are perhaps being disloyal, undermining, etc., the process by using the input of non-citizens to demand what should be included the constitutional report. A close look at those who are trying to undermine the process tells the whole ‘Tory’. The VI chickens are coming home to roast. The VI a small black dot in the Caribbean Sea of 60 square miles spread over 36 islands, cays, rocks, etc with only 15 being occupied based its naturalization policy on the process/policy of big countries like the US, Canada,,etc. For example, after the 2019 election, the elected government , in one large swoop in a short period naturalized 1500 people. The VI liberal process has led to Virgin Islanders quickly becoming a minority in their homeland. The behavior of some elected members mimics the behavior of that infamous character Benedict Arnold, who turned his back on the US . Who should comprise the negotiating team selected to go to The UK to advocate for a new constitution?
When it should be for the country they working for themselves.