We have been asking the Government since the arrest of a BVI Premier on foreign soil on 28th April 2022 to have a debate in the Honourable House to devise a mechanism in law or policy to avoid that history repeating itself.
They have steadfastly refused.
But they find time to do the things that allow them to live off the largess of the land. They created legislation to fill their pockets and to hold the keys to the city so that, in death, their family fortunes are not diminished by the financial obligations to dispose of the dead.
But who looks out for the Territory?
We told the government on multiple occasions that the roof of our BVI was on fire. But like that 80s song by ‘Rock Master Scott and the Dynamic Three,’ they answered crudely in inaction:
“We don’t want no water……..”
But when the verdict was announced: “Guilty on all counts;” The Premier put out a statement that included the paragraph:
“As a jurisdiction, the British Virgin Islands is committed to good governance and upholding the highest standards of integrity in public life.”
Let us examine that commitment.
We constituted some of the weakest Boards ever put together in the history of the Virgin Islands. The result? Membership to Boards is now by application.
We harassed the pleasure boats and super yachts to the point where many of those businesses left the Territory. Overnight guest count is off by scores of thousands and hotel and restaurant workers are suffering mid-season.
We hijacked the HR function and made it impossible for the Human Resources Department to even advertise a vacancy without ‘sign off’ from the Finance Minister.
We refused to allow the RDA to rebuild the Territory post Hurricanes Irma and Maria and the public infrastructure (especially the roads) is a disgrace to ourselves and a wonder to our neighbours in the subregion.
We rejected a loan guarantee that offered us cheap money to rebuild the infrastructure over reasons yet to be discussed with the public.
We spend a lot of time spewing private opinions around the halls of OECS, CARICOM and the UN seeking an independence that has no mandate from the people.
We have been the most publicly undiplomatic of any government in the history of the relationship with the UK. We brawl in the most undignified way.
We have continued the disgrace of ensuring that the highest Officers of the land (DG, FS, PS-PO) are kept ignorant of the policy direction of the government. They do not see the minutes of the Cabinet, even the DG who as Ag. Governor chairs the Cabinet. So, almost 3,000 civil servants are working blind if at all.
And we paraded God in the streets to the silence of the First Estate demonstrating a callous indifference for the separation of church and state.
But we are committed to good governance.
When ‘Atlas Shrugged’ (Ayn Rand), the world changed. Those who were the producers, builders and thinkers were sidelined by the State in favour of incompetents, sycophants, family, friends.
Anarchy moved in with its partners: Crime, drugs, lawlessness, vice, hunger, idleness. The infrastructure fell into a state of disrepair; Jobs vaporized; Taxes disappeared and that world teetered on the brink of collapse.
But BVI does not have to follow that Ayn Rand tragedy. We have the rich legacy of our predecessors who were thinkers, workers, leaders. Still, we have sown the seeds of our own destruction and crime now destabilizes the community.
Brazen acts of criminality take place in the full light of day before witnesses. The public does not feel safe.
Notwithstanding, we should refuse to be defined by a single rogue leader although he has done considerable reputational damage to the Territory. We will have to deal with the ramifications urgently and we must now count on that partnership with the British to be thrown a lifeline.
I doubt that OECS, CARICOM and the UN will assist us with the needed resources. They cannot.
But the people will have to disrupt their deep relationship with ignorance, the rumor mill and misinformation if BVI is to find its way out of this conundrum.
If ensuring that we never allow this history to repeat itself is not important to the House of Assembly, then we have the wrong House.
And if the people cannot force a policy change in the way power is exercised to their detriment by the Leader of Government Business, then we stand a high probability of walking this road repeatedly.
And we, on Fridays, might as well lay down our pen,
And surrender…
…Your move:
Happy Friday!