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'Lack of funding' hurting VI- Hon Ronnie W. Skelton

The House of Assembly is expected to begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, where Opposition Leader Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) will bring forth a Motion of No Confidence against Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), during the Nineteenth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands
Weighing heavily among the reasons for the Motion of No Confidence to be brought before the House of Assembly by Opposition Leader Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) in Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) is the economic state of the Virgin Islands (VI). Photo: Youtube
Weighing heavily among the reasons for the Motion of No Confidence to be brought before the House of Assembly by Opposition Leader Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) in Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) is the economic state of the Virgin Islands (VI). Photo: Youtube
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Motion of No Confidence against Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) during the Nineteenth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands, this morning, September 3, 2024, will see Opposition Leader Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) bringing forth several reasons to attempt to validate this motion.

According to the Order Paper, Hon Skelton will present the Motion of No Confidence against the Premier under Public Business subheading Government Business.

Lack of funding

Hon Skelton will argue that important sectors in the Virgin Islands (VI) remain severely underfunded while others remain neglected.

According to the motion, “Education has been the driving force for the success of this Territory and its people, but this important sector remains severely unfunded by the Minister for Finance and receives far more funding assistance from the private sector than it currently receives from the government.”

Hon Skelton said the lack of funding has also affected small businesses, farmers, fisher folks, and others who are unable to access funding and other capacity-building opportunities through the National Business Bureau following the impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the COVID-19 Pandemic, the effects of the war in Ukraine and other global and local shocks.

Agriculture, minimum wage, the Public Assistance Programme, the deplorable state of public infrastructure, the physical state of the Territory, the rising criminal activity, and the Premier's "disregard for consulting the public" about the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) recommendations, among others, will also be presented to the HoA in support of Hon Skelton’s Motion of No Confidence against Premier Wheatley.

Economic state of Territory main reasons for Motion of No Confidence

Weighing heavily among the reasons for this Motion of No Confidence in Premier Wheatley is also the economic state of the VI.

In addition to the underestimation of the salary increase of public officers, resulting in a twenty million dollar deficit, Hon Skelton will argue that the Premier has failed to develop an economic plan for the Territory.

The HoA is expected to begin at 10:00 am.

14 Responses to “'Lack of funding' hurting VI- Hon Ronnie W. Skelton”

  • HMMM (03/09/2024, 11:37) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well do you know that some of those small business were the one operating during Irma and COVID. For instance all the big business like the charter business well all tourism based businesses had to closed completely but the fisherman and farmers could a still operate theirs
  • question (03/09/2024, 11:43) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
    Did the opposition decided as yet who's going to be their premier and deputy if they were to get in office.?
    • @Question (03/09/2024, 13:21) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      That was decided just before Lorna jumped ship last election.
      • @-@wuestion (03/09/2024, 15:04) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
        Nope we all know they still couldn't decide even after she leave them
  • Bush Professor (03/09/2024, 12:00) Like (26) Dislike (4) Reply
    Ok. Hon Ronnie Skelton, you saying there is a lack of funding, so how do you as a legislator in tge HOA propose to increase funding, ie, increasing taxes, fees,etc, as the VI don’t have the natural resources, eg, oil, preciius metals, to sell in the marketplace, etc.? Or you are behaving as a typical opposition when out of of power, claiming to have all tge ansswes and when in power see a different picture. Let’s stop the performance and work together to solve the issues.
  • Herbs Powa (03/09/2024, 12:18) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Yes, he shall be move today because. He don't SHOP neither DRIVE.
  • VIP need to be Gone. (03/09/2024, 13:50) Like (14) Dislike (8) Reply
    Refusing that 300 mil guaranteed with very low interested rate, is the biggest blunder in VI governmental history made by the mob Foy and his VIP .gang. Now they want to give all kind of stupid excuses like people will lend that large amt oc money just so. Donnie has proven to be a good money manager something missing in our Govt.
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (03/09/2024, 14:10) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some are supporters of the ruling Administration side, and others are for the opposition side. This should be clearly understood much better governance is needed now. Good governance is not happening as we have expected.
    How could it be wrong not to expect continuing mismanaging our affair pleasing self, but not ours? How can we be pleased leadership in power doing what please them and lying to our faces that they have our best interest at heart, but not because action differ from their words?

    Democracy is not Christianity. Christianity opposes values that opposes its own. Democracy welcomes it in words and on paper, but not in action.
    At this run-away-like state of the BVI political chaotic uncertainties, in according with democratic rule, like it or hate, the BVI political opposition have the political rights Constitution wise to exercise it rights.
    If we refuse to change our bias mindset, and we really desire a better future for us, our children and grandchildren, our bias favoritism attitude must change.

    God is Love, and Love is God
  • On lookers (03/09/2024, 14:25) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hon Ronnie Skelton if funding is hurting the VI as you stated what do you propose let start with your property rental that government is paying over and above high to your family property that you are the head off and start to make Government negotiate with other property owners that is extorting our treasury so that we can have extra funding to do stuff in the country everyone wants to be premier or power why we all just can’t come together with solutions to solve the country issues rather than was time fighting in the Hoa everyone in the longer that the premier and his green team of first timers and what did they do when they was sitting amongst the power talking to Fraser Penn Skelton
  • @ @ QUESTION (03/09/2024, 15:47) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    WERE YOU THERE ? ( NOPE ) THEY WERE AND IS STILL UNDECIDED / SO HUSH YOUR TRAP ( BACK STABBER ) YOU JUST ENVIOUS AND CONCEITED , THE DUDE YOU STAB IN HIS BACK IS
    WAITING ON YOU , SO KEEP YAPPING AND YAPPING AND YAPPING AND HOLLERING OUT " FREE THE DREW / FREE THE WEED , IT MIGHT HELP YOU WIN - ???? LIKE THE ONE THAT COMES THROUGH YOUR BOTTOM WHEN YOU FART
  • RENT FREE (03/09/2024, 15:50) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    And the ADMIN BUILDING????
  • Zone6 (03/09/2024, 16:14) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Greedy and bully opposition want power back sourlooser
  • Doh (04/09/2024, 11:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lack of funding hurts everyone. That there is lack of funding for education from the public sector means that statements like “Education has been the driving force for the success of this Territory and its people” are just hyperbole. Just look around. It would be great to describe the Territory as a success but the facts don’t bear that out. That there is no public money for education is a reflection of government priorities. Embarrassing IMHO when outsiders are more willing to invest in our progeny than we are.
  • justttt (04/09/2024, 13:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    fund the parties and west bank and tola radio and we good! dont forget to send money for andrew fahie as well just chk any politician to get linked


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