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Vetting bill wrongfully paints everyone in VI as corrupt- Hon Melvin M. Turnbull
Hon Turnbull was giving his contribution to the debate on the Bill that has come to be known as the Vetting Bill, during the Seventeenth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) on Thursday, August 1, 2024, where he made it known that he did not support the bill.
The bill, is part of recommendations under the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report and will amend the Service Commissions Act (No. 8 of 2011), seeking to allow for the vetting of those at HM Customs, the Department of Immigration and His Majesty’s Prison and including the functions of the Commissions the power to vet, or cause to be vetted, specific officers, or applicants for a post in the public service.
Vetting Bill paints all VI people the same- Hon Turnbull
While these changes are being made, with the introduction of these new bills, in the name of good government, transparency, accountability and more for the country’s continued development, Hon Turnbull said the Vetting Bill “is painting all the people of the Virgin Islands, as was done since April 27, 2022, with one brush…that we as a people here in these Virgin Islands are corrupt and we are bound to corruption and the wealth and gains that we have, have not been accomplished through hard work, dedication, sweat and tears or education”.
Hon Turnbull also said the Vetting Bill also creates the narrative that not even those entrusted to uphold the law, with the exception of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), can be trusted and so must go through this vetting process.
Why Customs, Immigration & HM Prison only? Hon Turnbull
Hon Turnbull explained the RVIPF has been left out of this Vetting Bill because it falls under a different subhead than that of Customs, the Immigration Department and His Majesty’s Prison which fall under local government and so need to be vetted.
"Why these departments are going to be subjected to this rigorous vetting process and not others need to be understood," he continued.
Reading deeper into the Bill, Hon Turnbull said, will bring one to understand the why and it is because the narrative being put forward is that the people of the VI are not good enough and are corrupt.
Hon Turnbull; however, said the people of the VI are, in fact, good enough.
“With the help of God, and we have everything that it takes to build this territory to where we need to…and smoke out those that are doing the wrong and committing the crimes and illegal acts and trying to break down systems,” he continued.
Hon Turnbull also said while it is necessary to eliminate those wrongdoers, it cannot be done at the expense of “disqualifying your own”.
There have been concerns that the rigorous vetting is an invasion of privacy and would discourage locals, who place a high premium on privacy, from applying for certain jobs.
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17 Responses to “Vetting bill wrongfully paints everyone in VI as corrupt- Hon Melvin M. Turnbull”
Child Please
Come On
Stop Lieing
GO Long
Shut Up
Sit Down
Because of approximately the past 35 to 45 years of public funds been, and continuing being mismanaging by some, if not all our political Leaders, vetting is justified.
The above does not excludes that vetting doesn't applied to people worldwide, especially when money is the main focus issue.
For too long the people of the BVI have suffered under an uneven distribution of our income profit. The time is right to put a stop to this misconduct of political Leaders mismanagement of the people of the BVI financial. This can only be done by honest vetting to ensure better accountability of managing public funds for the betterment of all the people of the BVI.
All humans were born with a corrupt (sinful) nature. Since when BVI political leaders have not?
This legislation is seeking to amend the principal act governing the Public Service Commission.
In due course the Police will be dealt with, and the Police Act will be similarly amended. A veiled attempt by member to ferment unnecessary discord.