Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

‘People have a right to hear’ HoA Committee Stage discussions - E. Benito Wheatley

- Special Envoy to the Premier says new VI Gov’t needs to 'push transparency'
Special Envoy of the Virgin Islands (VI) Government and the Premier’s Advisor on International Relations, with a particular focus on the United Kingdom (UK), European Union (EU) and United Nations (UN), Mr E. Benito Wheatley has said the new VI government must push transparency. Photo: Facebook/File.
Mr E. Benito Wheatley has said he sees no reason why the Committee Stage of the House of Assembly should not be made public. Photo: VINO/File
Mr E. Benito Wheatley has said he sees no reason why the Committee Stage of the House of Assembly should not be made public. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – More transparency in government is the call of Special Envoy to the Premier Mr E. Benito Wheatley, who said, moving forward, the Government of Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has to push more transparency.

“Transparency is something that can always be improved and we needed much more of it. So going forward, the new government has to push transparency, which can come in many forms,” he said in an interview with 284 Media and posted on YouTube on May 4, 2023. 

The Premier’s Advisor on International Relations, with a particular focus on the United Kingdom (UK), European Union (EU) and United Nations (UN), added that more transparency could come via the Freedom of Information Act and the government can also release information to the public in different forms.

Committee Stage of HoA should be public- Mr Wheatley

“The House Assembly is live and it has this regular sittings and sessions, but the committee stage of Bills is private. I see no reason why it should not be public; I think people have a right to hear the discussions and debate on bills,” Mr Wheatley said. 

“It shouldn't simply be something discussed in the backroom off-camera. People have a right to see the rationale behind these things and to understand,” he added. 

Mr Wheatley, the brother of Premier Wheatley, detailed that such moves will give the public more confidence and more understanding of what is happening in government.

Reconciliation

Meanwhile, he also encouraged members of the Government to reconcile with other election candidates who ran in the 2023 elections. 

“To the new government I would say, encourage reconciliation. It was a bruising election campaign and I think to move forward, we have to try to reconcile with each other, between political parties, between different camps.”

Mr Wheatley said the 2023 election season must therefore be behind them and persons should not hold on to grievances, given the people have spoken and the results respected.

“The government is now formed we should get past any misgivings about the government and how it was formed. They are there, there is competence and so to the public, I say encourage the government, support them, but keep them accountable,” he said while adding, the government must govern and the people must hold them accountable in a positive way.

9 Responses to “‘People have a right to hear’ HoA Committee Stage discussions - E. Benito Wheatley”

  • Observer (09/05/2023, 13:02) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Very valuable advisc that I am sure the new government will want to heed
  • ReX FeRal (09/05/2023, 13:24) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just like some cannot handle the truth they cannot handle transparency. That's the reality in the Real Virgin Islands
  • bell this cat (09/05/2023, 13:48) Like (3) Dislike (18) Reply
    Somebody anybody please restrain this individual!
  • Lmbo (09/05/2023, 15:11) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Brother’s brother. Will we hear of this no bid contract too? Conflict of interest? Same one been buddy buddy with the Corner for the past year and orchestrated everything.
  • I agree 1oo%. (09/05/2023, 16:01) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    All other caribbean country does the committee stage openly for the public to see. Why are we hiding. ? Its the people's business.. Have it open.
  • hmm (09/05/2023, 16:04) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Strupes..
  • 911 (09/05/2023, 19:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Time to move on
  • Ed Miliband and David Miliband (09/05/2023, 19:28) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    Ed and David Miliband can teach us a lot about political fallouts. You should research how things worked out for them, seen that you are close to number 10.

    Maybe you can share with the people why you chose to advise in support of not publishing the Amanda Mills letter, when she had requested it be made public.

    Tell us your role in the negotiation that has resulted in the COI recommendations. Or else leave it to the young leader.

    You need to wait for your talking points before any public statements! You are no N Wheatley.
  • Interested (10/05/2023, 09:49) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I guess we are stuck with you for the next four years.We all know it is you who runs the country.
    Lord have mercy


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.