Premier Rejects Blame for Human Rights Complaints
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley. Photos by Andre ‘Shadow’ Dawson/BVI News Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has suggested that it’s the former National Democratic Party (NDP) administration, not his government, that should be taken before the newly established Human Rights Commission over long-standing water problems.
Photos by Andre ‘Shadow’ Dawson/BVI News Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has suggested that it’s the former National Democratic Party (NDP) administration, not his government, that should be taken before the newly established Human Rights Commission over long-standing water problems. The Premier made the suggestion during a heated House of Assembly exchange with Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn, who questioned whether the government’s persistent failure to provide reliable water could constitute a human rights violation that could fall within the Commission’s jurisdiction.
However, Premier Wheatley accused Walwyn of violating parliamentary standing orders by seeking an opinion on a hypothetical legal question. “Despite the contravention of Standing Order 17(h), I will give the member the answer he is looking for,” Dr Wheatley declared. “My considered view is that the esteemed people of the Sixth District should hold accountable the administration of 2011 to 2019, of which the member was a part, before the Human Rights Commission.” He accused that NDP administration of doing “absolutely nothing” to address water problems, leaving the current government to confront the crisis.
The exchange between the two representatives became increasingly contentious, forcing Speaker Corine Georges Massicote to intervene and demand that Premier Wheatley answer Walwyn’s actual question. In the meantime, Walwyn also took issue with Dr Wheatley’s description of Sixth District residents as “esteemed,” suggesting the Premier was being condescending. “Esteemed is a positive,” Dr Wheatley fired back. “I think you need to get a dictionary or thesaurus.” The Premier then dismissed the question itself. “In my view, the question wasn’t serious.
What does a Human Rights Commission have to do with anything?” The Speaker again intervened before the Premier could finish his statement, moving proceedings to the next question.
Primary source: BVI News