Premier Wheatley calls out Opposition for ‘seeking to disrupt’ Gov't’s work
Dr Wheatley was at the time responding to a question from a reporter during a press conference and General Update on matters in the Virgin Islands (VI) on May 2, 2023.
“What I don’t welcome is ideas that they’re going to seek to disrupt the work of the Government for the people of the Virgin Islands…They have described themselves as a united Opposition, saying that they’re going to have votes of no confidence without anything even coming to the House. So, in my opinion, that shows bad intentions on behalf of the Opposition.
“I would ask myself whether they are interested in supporting the work for the people of the Virgin Islands or are they interested in power? Are they just wanting to try to make the Government look bad or are they willing to cooperate, all thirteen of us, in the best interest of the people of the Virgin Islands?,” Dr Wheatley said.
'The elections are over!'
He further emphasised that voters have expressed confidence in the thirteen elected members and it is important for them to work collaboratively in the best interest of the people.
Additionally, Dr Wheatley stressed that it is important for the Opposition to shift its focus from trying to capture power.
“The elections are over, now it’s time to work…If they want to be able to have Ministers have specific focus on different areas that won’t bother me at all. I’m gonna still go about doing my work, and however they want to organise themselves as an Opposition, that’s for them to decide. I don’t have a challenge with it. I’m not daunted by it, I’m not intimidated by it…,” he noted.
Opposition promises Motions of No Confidence & filibustering
During a joint press conference which included Members of the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM), National Democratic Party (NDP) and Progressives United (PU) on April 27, 2023 promises of motions of no- confidence and filibustering were made.
The Opposition said it will do all it possibly can to achieve its agenda when up against the Government in the upcoming Fifth House of Assembly (HoA).
Opposition Leader and PVIM Chairman Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), who is also Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), registered his intention to make the meetings of PAC public, as he pointed out that the Opposition has ‘the bully pulpit’.
Opposition Member Hon Julian Fraser, RA (R3) also called for the meetings of the PAC to become public, noting that they will resort to filibustering if they need to.
Filibustering is the ‘activity or practice of obstructing progress in a legislature, especially by speaking at inordinate length.’
Hon Fraser said he sees at least two motions of no-confidence on the horizon.
“…what I can predict right now is you will see not one but more than one, probably two, motions of no confidence coming before the Fifth House of Assembly. I can predict that is going to happen and the debate is going to be vigorous, embarrassing, it’s going to be everything,” he said.
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31 Responses to “Premier Wheatley calls out Opposition for ‘seeking to disrupt’ Gov't’s work”
Let Fraser and his GANG OF GOONS TRY ANYTHING STUPID AND THEY WILL SEE WHAT IS UP FROM THE PEOPLE. I saw where someone posted if they start the nonsense with the Government or their work, they will be picked up by the scruff of their n***s and dr** out the HOUSE. BUDDAH, if this goes down, you take cover you are not the one that will get scruff up and toss out. FRASER AND HIS GANG OF GOONS WILL.
Fraser will never become premier by the people’s vote. The people already made that clear.
What looser!
Moreover, members who are not part of executive branch are either backbenchers or in opposition. The opposition, though it may not be directly involved in the day-to-day running of government, nonetheless, play a critical role. Some view the opposition as a government in waiting. The opposition advocates to ensure the government is operating transparently, fairly, efficiently, effectively, etc, consistent with the constitution, laws, etc in the best interests of the territory. For the opposition to deliberatively broadcast that it will work to disrupt, muck up, slow down, etc, government operations is counter to good governance, unprofessional, amateurish, childish, etc. With this poor,,abject, selfish, bad-loser approach to governing, they should not even be elected members, for they are Ill-serving the territory and the electorate who they are elected to represent. Can they be censured by the HoA? Here is a news flash. Opposition does not literally mean automatically opposing everything. The opposition is not expected to hold hands with government and sing kumbaya but there are occasions when government and opposition must link arms in doing things that are in the overall best interest of the people. The projected bad behavior, small politics, is neither patriotic nor statesman-like. The people deserve better and needs an apology, which they will probably never get.
Moreover, members who are not part of executive branch are either backbenchers or in opposition. The opposition, though it may not be directly involved in the day-to-day running of government, nonetheless, play a critical role. Some view the opposition as a government in waiting. The opposition advocates to ensure the government is operating transparently, fairly, efficiently, effectively, etc, consistent with the constitution, laws, etc in the best interests of the territory. For the opposition to deliberatively broadcast that it will work to disrupt, muck up, slow down, etc, government operations is counter to good governance, unprofessional, amateurish, childish, etc. With this poor,,abject, selfish, bad-loser approach to governing, they should not even be elected members, for they are Ill-serving the territory and the electorate who they are elected to represent. Can they be censured by the HoA? Here is a news flash. Opposition does not literally mean automatically opposing everything. The opposition is not expected to hold hands with government and sing kumbaya but there are occasions when government and opposition must link arms in doing things that are in the overall best interest of the people. The projected bad behavior, small politics, is neither patriotic nor statesman-like. The people deserve better and needs an apology, which they will probably never get.