Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 17, 2025

Deputy Premier slams ‘Fast Track’ rumors on ‘significant others’ of legislators

Deputy Premier slams ‘Fast Track’ rumors on ‘significant others’ of legislators

In a historic move, legislators on the Virgins Islands House of Assembly (HoA) returned to the House after it was dissolved on March 10, 2023, for the reading of the Immigration & Passport Validation Bill 2023 and Immigration & Passport Amendments Bill 2023.

The 4th House of Assembly (HOA) was today, April 17, 2023, recalled by Governor John J. Rankin, VMG to regularise the status of 688 persons who were granted simultaneous Belongership and Residency Certificated under the Government’s ‘Fast Track’ process when they did not qualify for both.

Opening the motions on the floor were Deputy Premier Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) with motions seconded by Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) as the House seeks a way forward days before the April 24, 2023, elections in the territory.

Hon Rymer said the recall of the House is part of the functioning of the constitution and that in the United Kingdom, the House was recalled after its dissolution in several instances.

He said it is with very good reasons that both the Governor and Premier agreed that it was necessary and appropriate for the House to be recalled as well as on the advice of the Hon Attorney General, Dawn J. Smith.

As part of the process, some 3 members of the House whose spouses or significant others were mentioned in the Residency and Belonger Status Programme, have recused themselves to avoid all claims of conflict of interest, namely Premier, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) and Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL).

The 4th House of Assembly (HOA) was today recalled by Governor John J. Rankin to regularise the status of 688 persons who were granted simultaneous Belongership and Residency Certificated under the Government’s ‘Fast Track’ process when they did not qualify for both.



Attempts to throw blame noted - Hon Rymer

The Deputy Premier said he has also noted deliberate public attempts in some quarters to assign blame on the issue and that it is a disservice to spread misinformation and rumours including on spouses of members in the House.

“This absolutely not so, let me be perfectly clear, Honourable Neville Smith’s wife was married to him for five years and qualified based on section 16 (6) of the law. Honourable Sharie de Castro’s significant other satisfied the requirement for years required under Section 16(4),” he said,

He further added, “the Premier’s wife by far satisfied the requirement of years required under the same section. When Cabinet approved applications, he recused himself and did not vote. Furthermore, Honourable de Castro and Honourable Smith were not a part of Cabinet at the time,” he added.

Hon Rymer said those who are spreading misinformation are conveniently leaving that information out to sway public opinion and that unfairly presenting someone as corrupt for their personal gain is not the right thing to do.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
HSBC Accelerates Chairman Succession as Mark Tucker Prepares Departure
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Cristina Kirchner Requests House Arrest Citing Assassination Risk
Beata Thunberg Rebrands as Beata Ernman Amidst Sister's Activism Controversy
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Sole Survivor of Air India Crash Recounts Escape
UK and EU Reach New Economic Agreement
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Two Women Found Dead in Eryri National Park
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Pentagon Initiates Review of AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Pact
Meta to Invest $15 Billion in Scale AI to Advance AGI Goals
Rare Cancer Cases Triple Among Millennials, Alarming Doctors
G7 Finance Ministers Convene in Canada with Focus on Ukraine and Trade Tariffs
×