Negotiate, But Take Measured Approach—Opposition Advises Premier

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(PLTM) - While all five Opposition members at the public meeting held at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School on September 11 noted that the Premier should negotiate with the United Kingdom, they said that they do not support the present approach.

While noting that they represent three separate political entities, the Opposition members emphasized that their meetings are not aimed at political campaigning or Government bashing.

All of the legislators at various intervals of the meeting noted that the Recovery and Development Agency was born from an Act that was passed in the House of Assembly, and noted that there are issues in the Act that was not agreeable. However, they maintained that legislation is now law.

All of the members expressed concern about what they stated was a deterioration of the relationship with the United Kingdom and the Governor.

In his opening remarks Fourth District Representative, Hon. Mark Vanterpool stressed that the relationship with the United Kingdom should be preserved; as well as the relationship with other international partners of the Territory.

“I think it is important that we maintain decent relationships with many of our international partners; not just the UK but as a group. We have to be careful how we do that. There is nothing in this world anymore call independence per say; you always have to have relationships with other countries, other people, other places…We have to keep our relationships well. We have to respect each other; and work in the best interest of the people of the Territory,” the Fourth District Representative said.

On the hand, Second District Representative, Hon. Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull has called for a balance approach to the concerns about the Recovery Development Agency (RDA or the Agency) and the UK Loan Guarantee. In explaining why a measured response is required the Second District Representative noted that the BVI is still a United Kingdom Territory.

He said, “While the discussion is going on about –is the Agency good, is the Agency bad. The important thing for us to focus on is what do we do now and how do we manage the relationship that we have because we are still a dependent Territory. We still have to maintain the relationship with the United Kingdom. Whether it is through the governor or any other person, but on the ground the Governor is the person that is here representing the Crown, and the Queen’s behalf. In order to go forward.”

On the other hand, Sixth District Representative Hon. Alvera Maduro-Caines announced that this is a delicate situation. While she noted that in here opinion there is a need to negotiate, she said she would still like the Territory to maintain a good relationship with the United Kingdom.

The Sixth District Representative stated that the BVI cannot just roll over, but she said at the same time there needs to respectful dialogue.

“The last thing we need now is to have a strained relationship with the UK, but on top of that we would say that we still cannot lay down and play dead. We have to have open discussions and negotiations and move forward with the best interest of the people in the forefront. I have my issues, and there are certain things in the RDA Act that I would like to see changed…The RDA is not necessarily a bad thing, but part of my main problem was the procurement part.”

While calling for more discussions among legislators of the House of Assembly, Third District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser noted that a series of informal meetings were held in the lead up to the creation of the RDA and the passage of the legislation that governs it. Therefore, he said that a similar approach is needed now to solve the issues that are currently being discussed.

“These things didn’t just fall off a cliff and someone found it – we all knew about it. The Premier was one of those persons who voted for the establishment of the RDA. I didn’t vote for it, but this is a democracy we went to the House of Assembly and majority won. The RDA is established by legislation is the law of the land and we are expected to follow the law of the land,” he pointed out.

In echoing his concerns about the relationship with the United Kingdom Government, the Third District Representative stated that he feels that it is at the edge.

Hon Fraser said, “Our relationship right now with the United Kingdom government is tethering, it is on the brink. Everyone knows that the United Kingdom right now is ripe for strife. They’re good at confrontation, they’ve got all the practice in the world; so, for us to get into a little spat with the UK they will just take it out on us; and we can’t afford it. I think that one of our missions as the Opposition is to ensure that we ground the feet of our Premier to being sober in his dealings with the United Kingdom.”

“At this particular point. Yes, somethings they nag us, sometimes they are not doing what they are supposed to do, but at this particular time, I think the least frustration they get they’ll take it out on whomever they can and we are as vulnerable as anyone can be,” Hon. Fraser added.

In further noting his concerns about recent UK/BVI relations the Third District Representative announced, “I have seen our relationship with the United Kingdom going down a path that someone like myself who has been around for as long as I have cannot afford to sit and allow it to continue. I see the Premier making public conversations and correspondence he is having with the Governor and the United Kingdom Government. You cannot negotiate in public, it is not the right thing to do.”

Leader of the House of Assembly Hon. Marlon Penn stated that he is concerned that there is fearmongering going on.

Hon. Penn said, “The point about fearmongering is a serious point. It is a dangerous thing to get your people riled up, for them to start a fight or join a fight and they don’t know what they are fighting for.”

“There is this argument going around that based on the RDA, based on the UK has decided to take over our finances. I think I heard that was a statement made by the Hon. Premier. There is no documentation me or my colleagues have seen that suggests that; and if the Premier has that documentation I think he needs to share it at least with the legislative arm of his Territory; so that we can be aware of what are the challenges that we are facing as a Territory so that we can articulate clearly the position to you the people,” the Leader of Opposition stated.

“He has made some statements in the House of Assembly, we have asked the Premier to make them public, so that we can then elucidate and make the public clearer on what is really happening in terms of the dialogue between the UK and our Premier. We have not gotten that. He refused to give us before he left,” Hon. Penn added.

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