NDP Myron Walwyn Challenges Premier To Honour His Promise To Repeal ‘Greedy Bill’

Six Electoral District Representative and National Democratic Party (NDP) member  Myron Walwyn has challenged Premier Natalio Wheatley to honour his promise to repeal the controversial Retiring Allowances (Legislative Services) Amendment Act, 2021 popularly known as the “greedy bill”.

At a NDP, Progressive Virgin Islands Party Movement (PVIM) and Progressives United (PU) joint press conference on April 27 in Tortola, Walwyn stressed that the promises made on the campaign trail must be held up by the politicians elected to the Fifth House of Assembly.

 “..the legislative amendment act that I made very clear that should be repealed. I recalled the Premier indicating that he would repeal it and I would like to see that as the first order of business in the house because the people of this country cannot afford  to carry that burden with all the other social issues that we have.”

Residents argue that The Retiring Allowances (Legislative Services) Amendment Act, 2021 passed by the Virgin Islands Party administration led by Andrew Fahie gives politicians cushy retirement packages.

The greedy bill was one of the hottest topics debated during the campaign trail following the announcement by Governor John Rankin in mid March that general election will be held on April 24.

The former NDP chairman first made the legislative public during a campaign speech and incumbent Premier Wheatley responded with a promise to not only repeal the bill if re-elected, but to abstain from collecting any of the benefits and allowances guaranteed by the legislation.

During the press live conference, Walwyn thanked the people of the Sixth Electoral District for the “confidence that they have reposed in me” and assured them that “things we campaigned on I will fight for you to get those things done.”

“I want to assure them that as a member of Team BVI I will do my best to support what is brought forward that is good and right for the country, but anything that is contrary to that will be met by my stark opposition.”

Walwyn also congratulated the VIP elected members.

VIP won six seats – Chairman and Premier Wheatley in the Seventh Electoral District , Karl Dawson in the First  Electoral District, Luce Hodge-Smith in the Fourth  Electoral District, Kye Rhymer in the Fifth Electoral District, and Vincent Wheatley in Ninth Electoral District.  Sharie De Castro won one of the four Territorial-At-Large seats.

NDP won three seats – Walwyn in the Sixth Electoral District and Marlon Penn in the Eight Electoral District. Lorna Smith won one the four Territorial-At Large seats.

PVIM won three seats in the House of Assembly – Mitch Turnbull returned as Second Electoral District Representative and Skelton and Stacey ‘Buddha’ Mather won two of the four Territorial-At-Large seats.

And, PU Chairman Julian Fraser was re-elected as the Third Electoral District Representative.

Many expected PVIM, NDP and PU to form a coalition government, but less than 24-hours after results were announced, NDP’s Smith crossed the floor and joined the VIP. The former First Lady is now the Deputy Premier.

Walwyn noted that the House of Assembly needs to address a number of issues at the district and national level, adding that  “we must take the work of the public and the people very seriously.”

He wants the new government to pay more attention to young people with good business ideas.

“I want to see opportunities for our young people. I want to see programmes brought forward… that can help people who have a good business idea to bring those ideas to fruition and an agency that can guide them through…”

Other pressing areas, according to Walwyn are the treatment of seniors and unemployment nationally.

“…the thought of our seniors being relegated after they have given so much to the country…can no longer be. Bring them to the forefront because they still have contributions to make.”

He also wants a further examination of the Commission of Inquiry  (CoI) recommendations.

The CoI report found corruption at all levels of government and listed 50 recommendations to fix governance concerns.

Walwyn noted that the 2022 Unity government formed after the United Kingdom threatened to temporarily suspend the territory’s constitution was “almost fearful in assisting the people of the country.”

“I want us to be able to look at those recommendations from the CoI. Not be fearful. Not be gullible, not accept every single thing. Whatever we do must be in the best interest of the people of this country,” he stressed.