Divisive Figures Should Be Barred — Walwyn
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn told the House of Assembly the Human Rights Commission Bill 2026 should bar people who have made divisive or discriminatory public statements from appointment. He urged that past conduct be considered in vetting nominees, pointing to the US Senate model of scrutinising earlier remarks to assess impartiality.
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has urged that individuals known for making divisive or discriminatory public statements be excluded from membership of the proposed Human Rights Commission. Speaking during debate on the Human Rights Commission Bill 2026 in the House of Assembly last week, Walwyn said the Bill’s stated requirements — that commissioners possess good character, knowledge and fairness — must be expanded to take account of a nominee’s past public conduct. "There are some people sometimes that speak on the radio.
I won't call their names, but you hear them frothing at the mouth, trying to make certain people believe that they don’t belong in this community, like they're second class citizens," he told lawmakers. Walwyn warned that appointing individuals with a record of divisive commentary could undermine public confidence in a body charged with protecting residents from discrimination. "One of the things in the constitution is the protection from discrimination," he said. "And if somebody ends up on that commission who would have made previous statements like that, they can’t be nominated." He cited the United States Senate as an example of a jurisdiction that revisits past statements during confirmation processes for senior officials. "Whatever you said 15 years ago, they take it up and put it to you now," Walwyn said, arguing similar scrutiny would help reveal whether a nominee can act impartially in sensitive human-rights matters.
However, many observers interpret his remarks as a reference to veteran talk-show host Claude Skelton Cline, whose Tuesday programme "Honestly Speaking" often features strong commentary about Indigenous Virgin Islanders and expatriates. The Human Rights Commission Bill 2026 proposes an independent body to receive and investigate complaints of human-rights violations, promote public education on rights issues, and advise government on legislation affecting those rights.
Backers say the measure aims to bring the territory into line with international standards and strengthen constitutional protections for residents. For BVI residents, the debate highlights the importance of transparent, credible appointments to ensure the commission can fairly and effectively address complaints across the community.
Walwyn’s comments add to the ongoing discussion in the House about how best to frame selection criteria and safeguard the commission’s impartiality and public trust.
Primary source: BVI News