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The 800-pound gorilla in the room

April 1st, 2023 | Tags:
Dickson C. Igwe. Photo: VINO/File
Dickson C. Igwe

In the heat of the Virgin Islands General Election Campaign, the one matter that appears overlooked, amidst the thrusts, hustings, and rhetorical shuffling of electioneering, is how politicians intend to fulfill the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry.

Now, an incoming government post the April 24, 2023, General Election will face a ‘’tricky’’ landscape. Governance will involve walking through a ‘thick jungle of pits, traps, and dangerous beasts.’  

In the quest to govern, a new premier and his or her ministers will face a ‘Sword of Damocles’ hanging over the land.

The Order in Council threatening the suspension the Virgin Islands Constitution will serve as a check on any government that fails to fulfill the requirements of the Commission. Springing from that Order in Council will be tension in managing the affairs of state.

Consequently, there is no point in avoiding the COI on the campaign trail. Voters want to know the what, where, how, when, and who of implementing the recommendations of the Commission.

We all know the why, which is the collapse in integrity and justice in managing the affairs of the country by past governments going back over 25 years. There is no innocent party.

The latest revelations include the abuse of the grant process, issues in the granting of Belonger status, and the arrest of the former premier for drug-related charges in Miami. 

Before that, there was the alleged mismanagement of funds by the previous government.

These allegations of the COI leaves no one untarnished, apart from a few ‘’newbies’’ who can claim the ‘’innocence of a virgin raped by some rapacious beast.’’

Issues that require immediate attention include fixing the garbage dump at Pockwood Pond; building safer roads; enforcing safety rules for scooters and motorbikes; fixing water and sewage woes in specific locations; ensuring better health insurance; and correcting the matter of politician’s pensions. 

Therefore, please come clean to voters, and state how you will govern effectively, while fully implementing the COI Recommendations.

Above all, refrain from the diversionary tactics of attempting to provide Joe Public with ‘’worthless entertainment’’ spouting words that are actually meaningless, with the objective of grabbing power by accident, which even a two year old can see.

Dickson Igwe

7 Responses to “The 800-pound gorilla in the room”

  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (01/04/2023, 10:29) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    These truths on this topic matter should not be overlooked by anyone, or taken lightly.

    Life is not a dream, but rather a journey in time experiencing both certain and uncertain reality of both good and evil from within and without.

    Integrity is vital for the healthy growth and balance of every community demographic everywhere.

    Thank you Dickson Igwe for the reminder of the facts presented.
  • Calling for change (01/04/2023, 11:41) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need to get it right politically, our future hangs in the balance!
  • Undercover Observer (01/04/2023, 12:16) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thought I would have preferred that the one-sided CoI was conducted by more than one member, ie, former judge of the English Court of Appeals, Sir Gary Hickinbottom, the CoI is what it is and the VI is directed to implement it. The CoI was one sided in that all the functions under the purview of the UK-appointed Governor seem to have gotten a pass though some of them apparently had/has some problems, ie, RVIPF, etc. Honest brokers can surmise why, for the rational is clear as mud. Nevertheless, the UK has unilateral power and is unaccountable no one for how its OTs are treated, ie, perhaps different from Crown dependencies. As such, the CoI is a done deal; ie , the Unity Government committed the BVI to implementing it. Consequently, any incoming government must be cognizant that in addition to deliver the customary services, must simultaneously work on implementing the CoI. I’m taking wild ass guess that the leaders of VIP, NDP, PVIM, and PU has implementing the CoI top of their TDL.
  • The watchdog (01/04/2023, 15:44) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    More like a big elephant in the room
  • @ UNDER OBSERVER (01/04/2023, 16:02) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    THE RAPACIOUS so called BVILANDERS is who are the perpetrators of all the corruption against their own people / so to say the Coi was one sided is hypocrisy , 5he white boyxmz only revealed the evidence that was found / its like a blogger said ( saint andrew ) was set up by the white boyz ) , and there are those who is using our ancestors /racism and colonialism rethoric as an excuse to hide their guilt of what they have been getting away with for years . My respect to you igwe and senior citizen for being outspoken , who vex , vex
  • Common Sense (02/04/2023, 08:26) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    All this commentary about the one sidedness of the COI exposes a total misunderstanding of the process, the Governor does not report to anyone in the BVI, he is solely answerable to the UK government. Accordingly, the UK government have full and direct control over him and his functions, and, accordingly, don’t need that duplicated by the COI. The COI was established to investigate those functions and responsibilities delegated to the BVI government by the UK via the process of self determination, something that’s proven to be a complete disaster, hence the need for a COI.
  • @ Common Sense (03/04/2023, 17:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    @Common Sense, so do as I day and don’t worry about l fo or don’t for I am privileged and entitled. I’m superior and run things so you have no rights, privileges that I’m obligated to respect.


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