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  by pltm
• Apr 10, 2023
• 23

(PLTM) - Allen O’Neal, the National Democratic Party’s At-Large Candidate believes that the Governor John Rankin has handed Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. Natalio Wheatley a failing grade over the implementation of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) recommendations.

“We have to make sure that when we go to the polls on April 24 that we make a decisive decision not to put back the VI Party,” O’Neal said at the NDP’s Fourth District Candidate launch on Saturday, April 8.

He added, “I don’t know if you listened to the Governor in his report…and basically what the Governor did was give them a F, a failing grade. The accidental Premier got a failing grade for his stewardship of the Government. Why would you want to experiment and give a green party; a green group another four years. I don’t understand it,” O’Neal stated.

Based on his assessment of the Governor’s report, O’Neal said he understands nuances that the Governor and the British Government is not necessarily desirous of seeing the VI party back in power.

“…Because the Governor is encouraged to sit down with the new government and come up with realistic measures in order for the reforms to be implemented,” O’Neal stated.

The Governor shared on Thursday that Lord Goldsmith, the UK Minister for the Overseas Territories has responded to his latest assessment of the implementation of the CoI recommendations.

“…But he [Lord Goldsmith] also notes that progress on implementing the recommendations in the Framework document has been too slow. He is concerned that there have been signs of insufficient commitment in some specific areas, that too many areas lag substantially behind, and that much of what has been delivered so far doesn’t yet represent sufficient reform to prevent future abuse,” the Governor stated.

He pointed that overall the Minister agrees with his conclusion that serious efforts and clear prioritisation of time and resources are required to pick up the pace to deliver the reform that the people of the BVI want and deserve.

According to the Governor, the Premier has asked for eleven extensions to deadlines in areas for which he is responsible, and he has asked for two.

“Minister Goldsmith has consequently asked me, following the upcoming General Election, to agree with the next BVI Government a refreshed timetable for the delivery of the remaining recommendations and reforms in the Framework document,” the Governor said.

The Governor urged an ambitious yet achievable deadline to ensure that the necessary reforms have taken root no later than May 2024. “If that can be achieved that should allow the UK Order in Council to be lifted. Indeed as the Minister makes clear in his letter, the Order can be lifted sooner if implementation can be achieved more quickly. The staff in my Office and I will do all we can to support the implementation work,” the Governor stated.

He indicated that once the General Election is over he will sit down with whichever Government is in place to work out a refreshed plan for implementing the commitments in the Framework Document.

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