‘We got a lot of energy for people who look like us’- Deputy Premier
Defending VI laws
Members of the Opposition, particularly Premier aspirant and Opposition Leader Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) and Second District Representative Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) have chosen to go the route of the protestors and have refused to entertain even a discussion of the facts surrounding the issue that led to Hon Willock filing an injunction to prevent three United Kingdom lawyers from working for the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) while not being called to the Virgin Islands Bar, a violation of the Legal Professions Act, 2015.
After Hon Willock did not get the support of the Attorney General (AG), he withdrew the case and Justice Adrian Jack ruled that Hon Willock was not acting in his capacity as Speaker when he filed the injunction and should pay the legal fees out of pocket. The legal fees reportedly amount to some $120,000.
Opposition tries to mislead public
Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) subsequently successfully brought a motion to the House of Assembly for the formation of a Special Committee to consider all the facts available and then consider three possible recommendations in relation to whether the House of Assembly should stand the legal cost incurred by the Speaker.
Hons Penn and Turnbull erroneously argued during the debate that the motion was seeking to overturn the judge’s decision. Hon Penn even brought a counter-motion but it was defeated for lack of votes.
During his debate on the substantive motion, Dr Wheatley, who is also the Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, rhetorically asked whether anyone would march if the Governor is to use his powers afforded to him in Section 103 of the Constitution to take monies from the Virgin Islands’ coffers to pay for lawyers defending him and the CoI lawyers.
Governor John J. Rankin has indicated he will need legal representation at his next scheduled appearance before the CoI.
Cowardly Opposition
“We got a lot of energy for people who look like us. We got a lot of fire, we got a lot of picket signs, we got a lot of bullhorns. Let the Governor use his powers. He could take up a hundred and twenty [dollars], he could take up a million [dollars], not one will march,” Dr Wheatley pointed out.
Meanwhile, Hons Penn and Turnbull have sought to argue that their position is a courageous one; however, this was picked apart by Dr Wheatley, who said the Opposition in fact has taken the cowardly route by refusing to support a democratic process to please disgruntled ears.
“And then we talk about courage, who have courage?” Dr Wheatley asked as he related that he has had the unfortunate experience of having a police officer aiming a rifle at his head more than once and another time, during a visit to Africa, a soldier waved a machine gun in his face. “And they tell me when we got out of that jam, that it aint nothing for them to leave somebody just so in the bush, you never hear from them again.
“Don’t tell me about courage. Mr Speaker, I ain’t giving up my backbone for anybody,” Dr Wheatley, who is a strong believer that Africans and people of African descent need to unite to overcome their obstacles to prosperity, stated during the 12th Sitting of the 3rd Session of the 4th House of Assembly on November 4, 2021.
‘Persons blind to who real enemy is’- Dr Wheatley
According to the former college lecturer, persons can agree to disagree on certain things; however, he wanted people to know that he would not sacrifice his conscience for anyone.
“And I say to you without a shadow of a doubt that there is an injustice taking place in this country. There is an inequality taking place in this country right now.
“There are persons who are blind to who the real enemy is right now,” Dr Wheatley asserted.
He said it was a “wise call” by the Premier to say “let’s sit down in a committee and ascertain the facts…all of those persons who are out there, who are upset, get the facts. Have a proper, impartial, dispassionate view of the facts and let’s come to a conclusion.”
Dr Wheatley also said that after the matter is taken through “a democratic process”, everyone should remain united.
“Let us not allow what the CoI has done here to divide us.”
Additionally, he pointed out that the CoI was imposed on the Virgin Islands at a time when the territory was struggling with a pandemic and hurricane recovery.
“No one can expect you to have a CoI and just lay down and let them take the country from us,” Dr Wheatley said, adding that all of the legal fees being incurred by the Government as a result of the CoI are a direct result of the decision of the United Kingdom.
Suspicious CoI
Many have argued that the CoI, being called during the COVID-19 pandemic by the UK, which has hypocritically put off its own CoI due to the same pandemic, is not interested in a just outcome and could result in the UK imposing direct rule.
The CoI was announced on Martin Luther King Day, January 18, 2021, by ex-governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, who fought with the democratically elected Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government that was strongly advocating for self-determination and preparing the Virgin Islands for the inevitable.
Mr Jaspert was accused of misinterpreting the VI Constitution to defend his actions, which were seen as provoking the elected Government. This was also revealed in the Commission of Inquiry.
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35 Responses to “‘We got a lot of energy for people who look like us’- Deputy Premier”
Na We good. We know you an what you do. We not blind. We see an we smell too an wa we smell is badness in our leaders.
government ?
Tell us upholders of equality why are minorities not respected in their use of plant medicines years after the science has been published?
And now Nationalism is being made an enemy, thanks to foolish statements like this.
Nationalism only teaches people to be proud of what they did not do and to hate people they never met.
Your leading in the wrong direction.
The government using our tax money to foot $120,000 bill for willock instead of taking out money from our tax to fix schools and things that are going to benefit us.
Are you all saying that this is the Case or all of us are just dam blind. It is highly impossible for anyone to tell me that two years of the VIP Government is worse in management of the British Virgin Islands than Eight (8) Years of NDP Government.
Just look back at the last twelve ( 12) years people. For some of you all Government workers who could have retired five years ago or who can retire now, can you say where your salary would have been if the pass six (6) years increment was received, plus the five percent (5%) of the increment that was held back by NDP Government saying for development and the same time spent the Seven Million ( $7,000,000) in the air.
It is ridiculous for a people to be so dam blind. No, I am not saying that the VIP Government is perfect but they are doing a far better job than what NDP Government did. Now if any one knows that when ever someone speaks for their Rights they are considered rude or disrespectful well that is the present situation with the VIP and the UK. The UK just want the People of the BVIs to accept what ever is push down their throat. Not that the VIP approach is correct in all the circumstances but hell yes they are representing the People better against the UK than NDP did.
Now the other thing that is so appalling is people still coming on these blogs and talking about people living in the BVIs for 30years and stiil can not get any Rights. Oh my God. Who ever made this comment must have been dead when the fast track opportunity was given to every elligerble person residing in the BVIs. So if you are living in the BVI for over 30years and did not apply and if you applied and was not successful it just means you are not suitable. Simple.
Do not encourage wrong, absolutely not but show me what that is happening here that is not happening in the UK or any place else.
Can better be done Yes.