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‘Work on 50 of the 50 CoI framework recommendations has begun’- Premier

-says he remains pleased with movement to accelerate implementation of reforms
Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has reported that work on all 50 of the CoI framework recommendations has begun, with the work split into a number of actions for completion by the May 2024 substantive deadline for full implementation. Photo: GIS/Facebook
The Premier shared the update during a press conference today, Friday, March 15, 2024, alongside Jr Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Dr Carl Dawson. Photo: GIS
The Premier shared the update during a press conference today, Friday, March 15, 2024, alongside Jr Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Dr Carl Dawson. Photo: GIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has reported that work on all 50 of the CoI framework recommendations has begun, with the work split into a number of actions for completion by the May 2024 substantive deadline for full implementation.

This came as part of data shared by the premier from the Commission of Inquiry Implementation Unit in reports to both the Governor and Premier on the status of what has been completed up to the end of February 2024.

Work started all recommendations - Premier 

“Based on the timelines agreed in the framework for implementation of the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry Report and other reforms, work on 50 of the 50 framework recommendations has begun. 29 of the recommendations have been completed, an increase of 3 recommendations and 21 recommendations are in progress,” he said during a press conference today, Friday, March 15, 2024., alongside Jr Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Dr the Hon Karl Dawson (R1). 

“The recommendations are currently split into on 130 actions, of these, 88 actions are completed. An increase of 5 actions, 15 actions are in progress and on track and 17 actions are in progress but experiencing challenges.” 

The Premier added that there are 10 actions that have not yet begun to be worked on and most notably in February 2024, 5 framework actions were completed including:

  • B8.02. Additional Assistant Assistance grants are reviewed and covered by overarching grants policy.
  • B11.03 Cabinet approved the Educational Assistance Grants Policy.
  • B30.02 New Crown Land policy approved by Cabinet.
  • B31.02 Crown lands included in Ministry of Finance Assets list.
  • B33.02 New residency and belonger status policy approved by Cabinet.

The Premier noted that at the last Cabinet meeting, it approved a Governance Reform Delivery Manager and opened this week was the Governance Reform Coordinating Centre.

Meanwhile, addressing questions from the media on the apparent rushing of implementation of reforms and whether pressure was needed from the UK to get the government moving, the Premier said the need for reform has existed before he was in the position, rebutting claims that his government was slow to get moving on implementation.

VI deserves credit for progress made - Premier 

“A lot of the things in the reform process have been spoken about for decades…. But in actuality, since I've become the Premier, it's been a great deal of focus on reform of outstanding matters over a number of years.”

The Premier said the process was started around June 2022, and with time now being March 2024, “the amount of work that we have done to reform years worth of I would say, areas of weak governance, is astronomical."

“And I'm not just looking for credit for myself, but credit for the entire government, along with the Implementation Unit, along with PS and Permanent Secretaries offices… along with the Ministers, the Opposition Members, everyone who's played a part. We should feel good about the process that we're doing and we're working extremely hard,” he added.

9 Responses to “‘Work on 50 of the 50 CoI framework recommendations has begun’- Premier”

  • Pervarication (15/03/2024, 13:07) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    is a sin so this article is sinful!
  • 2024 (15/03/2024, 13:44) Like (4) Dislike (13) Reply
    all the hell our forefathers been through during the slavery days have gone down the drain because our people right back in the hands the slave masters

    poor political leaders
  • Styles. (15/03/2024, 14:17) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    If you wouldn’t have complained about every single fart, had not thrown a big party (of our money), hadn’t travelled all the time but had actually gone to work….

    It would have been done by now.
  • Not serious. (15/03/2024, 14:31) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    I really don't think they are serious, just talk to comfort The Gov and Britain. Not even the Gov is serious. They both playing games. Taking the people for Jokes and fools..Those will never finish. They don't have the discipline, courage, leadership skills or the commitment
  • 1st district original (15/03/2024, 19:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    We do not wish by you the Premier standards any one on our festival stage swearing, indecent exposure and disrespecting us!!
  • Hmmmm (15/03/2024, 22:39) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is this because the decolonization team will soon be here??
  • Hmm (16/03/2024, 07:52) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Premier you and your team are Clowns...big set of clowns we voted in thinking you guys would do better!!
  • Sloppy Joe John Bull (17/03/2024, 07:50) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Having a hard time the V I leadership at this point. Having a hard time with England telling the VI what to do when their own back yard is very dirty.
  • Giving Credit (19/03/2024, 14:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Only SICK people blog SICK stuff such as all of the above. You are sore losers and obvious BVI haters. It’s quite fine to return back to where “the grass appears greener”, like your not so successful homeland.

    God bless the Premier and all the good people and public officers of the Virgin Islands, who are diligently working their hardest, with the help of the Lord, to bring the Territory back to a better place and to provide a brighter future for our generations to come. Let’s pray for such persons instead of hating them. (This includes the Loyal, or not so Loyal, Members of the Opposition.) Keep fighting a humble fight Hon. Dr. Wheatley.


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