VI needed new direction but not forced upon by UK Gov't– Willock
The former Speaker was at the time a guest on the Bermuda radio talk show, "Motion to Adjourn - Territories Talk' on Thursday, October 13, 2022.
Most of the recommendations good - Willock
“My position is, that most of the recommendations that were made are good… we definitely needed a new direction, we definitely needed to do things differently in terms of policy… in terms of making sure that all our I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed.”
“But in a partnership, it cannot be forced upon you. We must do this reform because they are right for us to do, not because we are at the barrel of a gun and someone is forcing us to do them,” he added.
The former speaker said the VI people have also said to the government and Premier, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) that the ‘we’ the people must also be involved in the happenings and process, however, that did not happen from the beginning.
“They are critics who are saying that it was unfortunate and wrong for the Premier to sign off on all the recommendations without coming back to the people… but in a democracy, it goes both ways, you must consult your people, you must get your people along because when there is tension, you’re going to need your people to be there with you,” he added.
Weakness in CoI Reform process
He added, however, that one weakness of the reform process is that the people were not brought along in the process.
Mr Willock underscored that while reform is good and change is hard, he does respects the partnership with the UK, “But it must be a partnership based on mutual respect, based on that we are all human, we are all striving for the same thing… and good governance does that mean that only the political class must get all the pressure.”
He said that the Governor, H.E. John J. Rankin, CMG, too must be pressured to be proactive in good governance so that all in the VI will be under the same law and this will lead to the strengthening of the local democracy.
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18 Responses to “VI needed new direction but not forced upon by UK Gov't– Willock”
We need political people that have the interest of the people: make sure we have fully functional sewage systems: stable running streets water: smooth public highways: higher education systems for our children:
I understand the system because we can not help your own people but can quickly hand out a few million to an outside company(for whatever reason
If we humbly ourselves, and recognized each other human rights, then no other nation, not even the UK, will be justified in their mind to feel that it has any tight to force their werght on us as it please them. But for as long as our political leaders believe, and continue practicing unjust domanance over the employer, the people, the UK's help is welcome. Mine opinion.
Thank you Mr. Julian Willock for your clear and fair position on this issue. Respect.
The events earlier in the year, ie, CoI, and some alleged bad behavior by some senior public officials ,exposed major structural and catastrophic failures in the governing process. As such, there is much debate on the Why, Why, Why, Why, and Why. That debate is healthy. But the past cannot be undone. The focus now must be on finding the root cause of the catastrophic failures (5 Why process can be a useful tool), develop plan of actions and milestones to prevent and/or minimize future failures. It is instructive to note that failures are inevitable (many subscribe to theory that if you are not failing, you are not actively doing). Countries, organizations, institutions, agencies, people, individuals, etc failed. In a twisted way, there are positive outcomes to failures. When failure occurs, we must lean forward and fail forward, ie, learn from the failures and capitalize on the failures. The UK has and has had failures; the VI has and has had failures. The difference is that the UK is a developed country and its people are allowed to determined how its failures are addressed. On the other hand, the Vi is in a different situation. Under the old (present) colonial structure, it is an Overseas Territory (OT) of the UK whereby the UK as the Administering Power under the UN charter has unilateral power over it. It (VI) is listed as self-governing but that is a mirage. Its constitution is a dependency model with the governor, the de facto head of state) having a) retain power, b) assigned responsibilities, c)reserve powers, and d) assent power. A single commissioner of a CoI wields great power and influence in recommending the suspension of constitution of the VI. Would the constitution of Wales, Scotland, or Northern Island be suspended on the recommendation of a single commissioner, though they are an integral part of the UK? The VI has few devolve powers and the few that are devolved are easily reversible, ie, suspending the constitution. The UK touts that it and OTs are one family. However, words are not what but the actions of words are what matters.
Moreover, the confluence of the release of the CoI, and the arrest of senior public officials put the VI government in a disadvantaged and awkward position. It was in prisoner’s dilemma, a major concept in game theory, situation. As noted earlier, the UK has unilateral power over the VI. So I will take a WAG from afar that the government had to move with skill and alacrity to avoid the VI constitution being suspended. Virgin Islanders on the ground at the 30’ level are in a better position to assess the pros and cons of the government’s decision. Nonetheless, by an order in council, the constitution was still suspended but is being held in abeyance. It is being held over the VI and its people like the Sword of Damocles.
The VI needs a codified 10-, 20-, or 30-year comprehensive plan (national development plan. The plan should set forth goals, objectives, strategies, tactics, and execution plans. Change will require all Virgin Islanders hand on deck, working collectively, cooperatively and collaboratively for positive change. In 1968-69, when Anguilla fought to secede from the Associated Statehood of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, Anguillians came out all hands on deck.
[Let us be led by eagles, not careen off the cliff like buffaloes]
Thank goodness for oversight! Left to certain individuals, no change would ever happen and the kleptocrats would only continue to enrich themselves while ever more deeply entrenching themselves, eventually to earn the sobriquet "Oligarch"!