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To politicise ‘Fast Track’ immigration matter was very distasteful - Hon Wheatley

- says matter was about the lives & family of those involved
Ninth District representative under the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has criticized those whom he referred to as, blowing the Fast Track immigration matter out of proportion, calling it a simple matter that just needs validation in the House of Assembly. Photo: HoA/Youtube
The 4th House of Assembly (HOA) was today recalled by Governor John J. Rankin to regularise the status of 688 persons who were granted simultaneous Belongership and Residency Certificated under the Government’s ‘Fast Track’ process when they did not qualify for both. Photo: HoA/Youtube
The 4th House of Assembly (HOA) was today recalled by Governor John J. Rankin to regularise the status of 688 persons who were granted simultaneous Belongership and Residency Certificated under the Government’s ‘Fast Track’ process when they did not qualify for both. Photo: HoA/Youtube
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Ninth District Representative and Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Candidate Hon Vincent O. Wheatley has criticised those whom he referred to as, blowing the Fast Track immigration matter out of proportion, calling it a simple matter that just needed validation in the House of Assembly.

Legislators of the National Democratic Party and Progressive Virgin Islands Movement in particular used the matter to villify the VIP administration, while trying to score political points ahead of the general elections just days away.

“It makes people feel that somehow something sinister went on… and then my colleague was talking about too fast, well I don’t know any right pace for anything,” he added.

On the advice of Governor John J. Rankin, CMG, in consultation with Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Whealtey (R7), the 4th House of Assembly (HOA) was on, April 17, 2023, recalled by Governor Rankin to validate the status of 688 persons who were granted simultaneous Belongership and Residency Certificates under the Government’s "Fast Track’ process when they did not qualify for both. 

“I agree with the Governor to some extent, let's put it to rest… let all of those persons who got status know, you’re ok. No one can come and question it,” he added.

“It’s not about VIP, it's about people’s lives and families, persons who are trying to make this place their home.. finally felt like that they are part of a community,” he added.

Matter should have been discreet - Hon Wheatley 

He added that for the persons making the community of those who were regularised feel like something went wrong, it was not the right way to go about the matter as it was not the fault of those regularised under the fast-track issue.

“I agree with the member of the Third [District], when he said this should have been settled in a more discreet matter, don’t have to be no public debacle,” he said.

Hon Wheatley said while it was historic that the house was recalled, it may not be the last.

He added that noting was illegal about the Fast-Track process, rather just an oversight that caused legislators to have to be back in the House after it dissolved.

 

 

 

28 Responses to “To politicise ‘Fast Track’ immigration matter was very distasteful - Hon Wheatley ”

  • straight up (18/04/2023, 13:29) Like (14) Dislike (10) Reply
    Even our outdated Painters know that "If you rush the Brush, you will get darbed".
    Romney did, Andrew Fahie did, and Wheatley did, Even Nixon did, Bush did ,and Trump did.
    Will all the outcomes be the same? No,
    But look at it from its own perspective,England is darbing on dah chiniebrush on us right now.
    • Straight up history of current AG (18/04/2023, 15:38) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
      Did nothing major as Permanent Secretary at Premier’s office.

      Did nothing major at FSC.

      Same now as AG.

      Speaks eloquently but does no work other than find how to seem busy.
      • Bigbellytroll (19/04/2023, 07:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        She bad minded, does no work in her office. She giving advice to that will cause the Government to pay out hefty awards in lawsuits for her incompetence. Her arse want to be permanent and pensionable having the work of her office being performed all over the globe by consultants. What kind of piss is this? If you can't get a local AG, find somebody else. That AG needs removing. An AG must lead, instead she following Maya and others in office to do her delegated work that she should have done.
  • U all Corrupt. Get serious.. (18/04/2023, 14:02) Like (33) Dislike (33) Reply
    Thats the problem, they are committing these criminal acts and see nothing wrong with the public getting upset and angry....Boss. I am one that did it the right way, I am here for 40 yrs got my resident status like 9nyrs ago put in for my belongers like 7 yrs ago and to date can't get an answer on my application.. About 2/12 yrs ago I spoke to you when you were the minister, I spoke to the chief Immigration officer . U all promise to look into it and get back to me..Yet nothing, still waiting...You all bluffing.. Good or bad just say something, then I take my case to a senior staff, who said, its an inside office oppression that's what's going on because once your application is registered in the system like once per yr or every two yrs it will pop up on the screen with a need attention reminder.....4 yrs before fast track my application was in, so, no back tracking was done..Fast track were a set of new applications, so all those belonger and resident application that being in the office for yrs, just got stepped over. You all break the Law just to accommodate friends and Family, yet you see nothing wrong with that and you want my 5 born here children to vote for VIP, Never..My Children and grand Children will forever hold this against you all, just like others would, even Immigration officers are encouraging me to write the Gov but I will not do it. I will satisfy and be contented with my resident status and leave U all to God...U all will never get back in..U all aint see nothing wrong with all you all wrongs, so its a clear sign of not willing to change...
  • Common Sense (18/04/2023, 14:17) Like (15) Dislike (9) Reply
    These politicians need to stop minimizing what took place with Fast Track, it was illegal, so, it’s very apparent they have learned nothing from the COI initiative. The government should make the then AG’s legal opinion public so the people can determine the governments culpability or otherwise.
  • clock (18/04/2023, 14:34) Like (11) Dislike (9) Reply
    You have one more week don’t stress yourself. We the voters minds are made up so save the yapping
  • No accountability! (18/04/2023, 14:46) Like (20) Dislike (14) Reply
    You all had ample time to bring it to the House and address it but you didn’t and that’s why the Governor had to take charge.
  • Shame On You (18/04/2023, 15:20) Like (10) Dislike (9) Reply
    What was distasteful is how things were done initially. If those concerned had to wait 12 months to finalise their status, and they were fast-tracked in 2019 and 2020. One year after those dates would not have taken them to 2023, so the issues that existed as of yesterday and today would not have existed. If a country set laws then those laws must be followed by all, but some government officials believe that they are exempted from all laws.
  • The only mistake (18/04/2023, 15:23) Like (18) Dislike (5) Reply
    The real and only mistake is to trust the Governor. If any elected official organized a COI or investigation and selected the terms of reference and then selected the person to do the COI or investigation and selected the staff to do the COI or investigation. Then tell the people it is being done independent of the politicians and it is a transparent and independent process and although the report has to be submitted to the politician it does not reflect the politician's view or intent, then the whole BVI would be in an uproar. Yet we sit like ducks on the pond and allow the Governor to do all of the above and have him fooling us that his actions were transparent and are in the best interest of the people of the BVI and not that of his and his UK bosses. We all agree the modernization of many policies in government is long needed but this is a failure of the Governor, but he is being allowed to give himself a free pass by blaming others and going after others. If this continues, like this then we will not know when we have been enslaved again. The UK cannot get their own affairs handled in the UK but making some of us think they are our best hope and no leader in the BVI is worthy of trust. We are making a sad mistake falling for this century old divide and conquer British strategy.
  • Clearly (18/04/2023, 15:23) Like (20) Dislike (10) Reply

    Is this is the well-planned mischief the Governor organized so we can fight each other and destroy each other, and this would help him to influence the elections and get the government he wants to assist with his British planned takeover as he would be seen as our only hope? The Auditor General report should be challenged in court as some of what is written is unprofessional but serves the purpose of the real intent to try to influence the elections.

  • Just wicked intent (18/04/2023, 15:24) Like (31) Dislike (1) Reply
    The only audit on the Fast track programme was done on the one did by the VIP in 2019 where fifteen hundred persons benefited, and most were Caribbean people who were here for years, and their application was being ignored. This sparked the Governors' interest, so they included it in the COI and for the auditor general to do a report. Simply put, this annoyed him and the last Governor as they are not pleased so many black Caribbean people got status. On the contrary, not a word or not a report or not an audit was done on the 70 rich upper class white friends especially those in the "prestige" financial services industry who got status right before the 2019 General Elections by the NDP and the current Attorney General who was the Permanant Secretary in the Premier's Office at the time. The slavery mill is grinding slow but grinding still and with some of our local's helping the slave master hoping they will give them power.
    • Notmucorner (19/04/2023, 08:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You are the brightest blogger. Just so it is. The Governor mad the Caribbean people got status. Andrew warned us we didnt know what was coming. Them want to push their global agenda with Lorna in.them Corner, but we not voting for she nor her rich white friends. Scatter with her agenda.
  • What about the 2019 NDP mistake (18/04/2023, 15:25) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    In 2019 the NDP through the other half of the then Premier and other NDP officials gave 70 rich white friends status and no one else and most of them did not qualify for neither residence nor belonger but the then Governor said not a word and some of them were allowed to vote in 2019 and now in 2023. Some lived in the BVI only two years prior. All these mistakes are being covered up by the Governor & auditor General out of hatred for the VIP helping many of us from the Caribbean islands who lived here for years. God does not like ugly.
  • Youth man who wasn't VIP (18/04/2023, 15:26) Like (19) Dislike (19) Reply
    My parents got status through this VIP fast track process and did so by filling out the application and then paying $1500 each as our family do not support VIP. They did not ask for any favors and they received their status. Now we were told they are two of the 688 that were given status by mistake. How can the government be blamed for this "so called blunder". Is it really a blunder or a political stunt? Since only VIP cared enough to try to do something to get the back log dealt with and they are being ridiculed for doing it then all 1500 who got status under VIP FastTrack should vote for the VIP and send the Governor, Attorney General, Auditor General, and all the naysayers a real message. My parents were split between PVIM & NDP, but they are so annoyed by this nonsense that they have decided they both will now vote VIP. You know what, I will now do the same.
    • @Youth man who wasn't VIP (18/04/2023, 16:14) Like (9) Dislike (11) Reply
      Get your facts straight...More than 500 of those fast track were new applications...The Issue is those who did it the rigbt way. Who's applications were in waay before the fast track idea..They Got their resident first waited a yr or more to apply for belongersi, thats the right and legal procedure. The VIP did it the wrong way.. Nothing to debate or defend..
    • VIP let's go! (19/04/2023, 08:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      VOTE VIP. They are looking out for black people.
      NDP with Lorna in a drinking corner looking out for rich Pale friends
  • My post from last week (18/04/2023, 15:27) Like (23) Dislike (5) Reply
    To anyone with sense can see the Governor is misusing his powers to interfere with the outcomes of the elections with this latest move as he has several plots in one:


    1) Make it seem as if the Government did something wrong again and he is the knight in shinning armor to sweep in & save the day & good governance.
    2) Threaten to take off 700 names off the voters list so they do not get to vote for who he does not want in power.
    3) Open back the House to save the 700 names on the voters list but while doing so he gets more mischief done by getting the auditor general report on the VIP fast track for belongers only and not the NDP one in 2019 before the last elections for only a few rich white friends.
    4) He knows the well malicious intended language they put in the auditor's report will do his job for him in getting the public to go against the VIP.
    5) Divide the country further with locals verses expats especially those from the Caribbean.
    6) Get to now pressure Immigration move to immediately approve his huge number of upper class Uk white friends.
    7) Try to use this to try to justify why he should takeover and run the country by himself.

    Talk about another well organized plot once again disguised as preserving good governance. Time alone will deal with these plots as he has plenty more to come because that is all he and his gang plans all day
  • I said it!!! (18/04/2023, 15:28) Like (13) Dislike (7) Reply
    A lot has been done and said to try to permanently eliminate Andrew Fahie. He is not perfect but although I am not a VIP supporter, I say thank you to Andrew Fahie & VIP for having the guts to get this fast rack initiative done to help 1500 persons like myself to finally get our status in the BVI. It would not have happened otherwise as history has proven such.
  • Only now VIP ALL THE WAY (18/04/2023, 15:31) Like (33) Dislike (9) Reply
    They are trying everything to stop VIP but only know we are voting VIP ALL THE WAY!
  • Hold off of the corruption talk (18/04/2023, 15:32) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    This whole matter does not make sense and seems politically motivated. Let's say the former AG advised against it and Fahie went ahead ignoring the advice. Well, why didn't the then Governor intervene and flagged it then and both of them register the concern in Cabinet on the record from 2019-2020. Also, the Governor should have refused to sign the documents to give status. None of this was done because the advice from the AG allowed the process to occur & the then Governor agreed. Also, immigration was not a subject under the former Premier, so he is conveniently being blamed for political reasons. The issue is the failure of the system over the years to deal with these outstanding matters and not Fahie nor any politician. It was a good thing that was done. Too many political games with the lives of the people.
  • waste of time (18/04/2023, 15:35) Like (11) Dislike (6) Reply
    The present Attorney General is a waste of time. She talks a good talk but is a waste of time. She wants to degrade all the work & advice by the past AG at the expense of her own people to satisfy the Governor and her ego. This action needs to be taken to court. The Governor cannot continue to be allowed to act above the law and try to make us think otherwise. The present AG was the PS in the Premier’s Office when the NDP has her facilitate an 70-person fast track for their rich white friends ONLY who lived in the BVI less than 4 years & the NDP & her left out the Caribbean people who were living in the BVI for years and this is being overlooked. One must ask why? Now all of a sudden, she as the AG can condemn the advice of the last AG who advised her on her fast track as PS. The Governor, Auditor General and the now Attorney General THINK WE ARE STUPID! This is all another part of the plot to try to influence the outcome of the elections.
  • vip (18/04/2023, 17:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hi bye it’s not about VIP, it's about people’s lives and families, persons who are trying to make this place their home.. finally felt like that they are part of a community,” he added.". Are you serious? Are you ok ? or .......
  • K (18/04/2023, 17:54) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    My question is do thay give those people what ever thay get free thre was millions of dollars no one talk why now remember God is watching from a distance remember oma it was island people as you say
  • Down West (18/04/2023, 18:00) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Considering all the mistakes that the VIP has made and the disingenuous behavior of the same group that led to the historic events in the HOA yesterday I really believe that Vincent meant it was distasteful for them to engage in such an unethical procedure. They should all be reminded that no one is above the law.
  • It is time (18/04/2023, 18:07) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is time the Governor's position be an elected position.
  • "Parliament of Law" (18/04/2023, 19:10) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    If you dont follow the law,the law will follow you.
    Evil will flourish,when good people do nothing.
  • Lb (19/04/2023, 01:07) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is distasteful is why your government didn’t simply address the back log of applicants instead of only dealing with who could pay the $1500 and who were all brand new applicants! Like the members spouses!
  • @ YOUR POST FROM LAST WEEK (19/04/2023, 07:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    SHOULD OF BEEN TAKEN TO THE LAUNDRY , YOU DON'T DO THAT WITH YOUR WIG , AND YOU SHOULD DO THE SAME WITH YOUR MIND ,( BYE BLONDIE


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