Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Premier claps back at governor’s criticisms outlined in quarterly review

Premier claps back at governor’s criticisms outlined in quarterly review

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has said he disagrees with parts of Governor John Rankin’s first quarterly review of the ‘Framework for Implementation of the Recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry Report and Other Reforms’.

One of the biggest disagreements Premier Dr Wheatley identified was the governor’s claim that his ministerial Cabinet is still issuing tender waivers for government contracts with “insufficient justification”.

Responding to the governor’s review in press conference today, Dr Wheatley noted that there are three main procurement options the government is able to employ as it relates to issuing contracts — open tendering, restricted tendering, and single-source procurement.

Single-source procurement effectively happens when government gets products and/or services from only one supplier, even if it has other options. And according to Dr Wheatley, Governor Rankin incorrectly conflated ‘tender waivers’ with ‘single-source procurement’ in his quarterly review that was sent to the UK.

“Single-source procurement is not the equivalent of a tender waiver. The legislation (the Procurement Act) clearly defines the instances where it is not necessary to go through an open tender. For example, contracts for emergencies or contracts for national security matters do not have to go through open tendering,” said the Premier who suggested that those were the instances within which his government employed single-source procurement in the last few months.

“[In previous years], tender waivers were being done for any type of circumstance. Ministers and Cabinet had unlimited discretion as it pertains to waiving the tender process. That is no longer the case,” the Premier added.

Claims of ‘resistance’ with Constitutional Review Commission


Other areas the Premier said his government disagreed with was the governor’s claim that “resistance” was encountered with broadening membership of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC).

Dr Wheatley told members of the media today that he was unsure why this matter has caused concern.

“My ministerial colleagues and I had the duty to express the concerns of our constituents about the make-up of the [CRC] membership,” Wheatley explained. “The concerns are serious enough that they should have been brought to the attention of the governor. This is the constitution that will govern the lives of Virgin Islanders and they must have a voice in the process through their representatives. Despite the voicing of the people’s concern — which has been described, unfortunately, as ‘resistance’ — the commission was approved in Cabinet and the House of Assembly with broad and strong representation of the society,” Dr Wheatley stated.

He also indicated that he’s since had an opportunity to engage the governor “to properly understand the source of his concerns”.

“After a thorough discussion, I believe there is a genuine misunderstanding on the particular issues which we, unfortunately, did not have an opportunity discuss and clarify before the publication of the governor’s report,” Premier Wheatley said.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Starlink Now Profitable: SpaceX Hits Major Milestone with $11.8 Billion in Revenue
Portuguese Right-Wing Leader Collapses During Campaign Rally
A Pakistani imam in Italy gave a sermon stating that every Muslim should fight the infidels or face ‘catastrophic consequences’.
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
EU Court Orders Disclosure of von der Leyen’s Texts with Pfizer CEO Over €35 Billion Vaccine Deal
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
Mexican Influencer Valeria Márquez Killed During Livestream in Suspected Femicide
This man went to take $5,000 out his own bank account and was arrested for it
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
CIA Files Reveal Klaus Barbie's Role in Bolivian Drug Trade and Dictatorship Support
Daughter of crypto boss escapes Paris kidnap in latest in series of attacks
U.S. FDA to Remove Oral Fluoride Supplements for Children Amid Gut Health Concerns
Kim Kardashian Testifies in Paris Robbery Trial, Tells Gang Leader: 'I Forgive You'
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Challenges Facing EU Foreign Policy Amidst Diverging Interests
Reports Reveal Alarming Cognitive Decline in Biden Prior to Election Withdrawal
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
South Africans chant call to genocide against White people.
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Flip flop: UK Introduces New Immigration Policy to Reduce Net Migration
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Poland Tightens Immigration Policy with New Plan to Suspend Asylum Law
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
8-Year-Old Orders 70,000 Lollipops Using Mother’s Phone, Prompting $4,200 Amazon Bill and Viral Facebook Plea
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
American citizens account for 70% of worldwide pharmaceutical sales despite comprising only 4% of global population
New Details Emerge on Syrian Attacker's Motives in German Festival Stabbing
Brazil’s President Aims to Strengthen Ties with China Amid US Trade Tensions
Senate Democrats Move to Censure Trump Over Qatar Jet Gift
First White South Africans Resettled in the U.S. Amid Controversy Over Persecution Claims
Hamas Releases Last Living US Hostage from Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict
India and Pakistan Agreement on Ceasefire Amid Ongoing Tensions
Arsenal Stages Comeback to Draw 2-2 Against Liverpool in Premier League Clash
Trump's Upcoming Visit to Gulf Nations: Investment and Security at the Forefront
Rodrigo Duterte Awaits Trial at The Hague. Next week he might be elected mayor of his hometown
Trump fires director of U.S. Copyright Office, sources say
Retired British police officer arrested over ‘thought crime’ tweet
Cardinal Robert Prevost Elected as Pope Leo XIV, Marking a Historic Papacy
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Arrested at ICE Facility Amid Congressional Visit
India-Pakistan conflict may be first test for Chinese military tech
Bill Gates Announces Plan to Wind Down Philanthropic Foundation and Disperse Wealth
Historic Papal Conclave Set to Commence in Rome
Huge Copper, Gold, and Silver Discovery in Argentina and Chile — But the Profits Go Abroad
Prince Harry is pleading for reconciliation — but the royals are just as sick of his victimhood as everyone else
The Road to Freedom: She Protested Putin, Escaped House Arrest, and Survived a 2,800-Kilometer Journey
OpenAI's Flip-Flop: No Longer Going Commercial, Back to Nonprofit, After Musk Lawsuit and Backlash
“Trump Supporter” Aims to Bring a MAGA-Style Shift to Romania
First From China: Zhao Xintong Wins the Snooker World Championship
×