Dr Wheatley was at the time appearing on the November 28, 2021, episode of Real Talk with Karia J. Christopher on the topic of 'Scrutiny from the United Kingdom'.

Dr the Hon Wheately was at the time appearing on the November 28, 2021, episode of Real Talk with Karia J. Christopher on the topic of scrutiny for the United Kingdom.

Governments 'pounded' by UK - Ms Christopher

Host Mrs Christopher said over the years governments in the VI have been ‘pounded’ by the UK regarding spending and questioned what difficulties exist regarding helping persons in the territory as part of the ministerial job.

Dr Wheatley said, “This really has to do with the United Kingdom and we really want to ask the United Kingdom to really temper their views,” he said.

“We believe in transparency, we believe in accountability, we believe in good governance, but one thing you can’t forget when you speak about all those things, is also progress for the people,” he said.

Mrs Christopher said while the scrutiny faced by the government of the day over its financial performance is not new, it is more heightened as a result of social media, “it’s a whole new world we are living in now.”

VI still has to move forward - Dr the Hon Wheatley

According to the Minister, sometimes persons get caught up with good governance, accountability, and transparency, that persons forget that the government is actually supposed to deliver for people and get them to meet their aspirations.

Dr Wheatley said, in one instance, procuring furniture for the schools resulted in a delay that exceed one year due to the tender process, “It took a very long time because of the tender and the problems we have in the tender process,” he said.

"So you’re trying to get value for money for this furniture but then the children need a place to sit, so you end up having to spend money to buy temporary furniture and you still going through this process of getting value for money,” he said.