On Friday, opposition members repeated a claim they have been making for four months, insisting that Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley should be ousted over his alleged failure to tackle rising crime, economic problems, crumbling infrastructure, and other issues facing the territory.
In response, they plan ramp up efforts to force a long-delayed House of Assembly vote of no confidence against Mr. Wheatley’s government in the coming weeks.
During a press conference, Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton and his colleagues said Mr. Wheatley has mismanaged the territory and repeatedly used parliamentary tricks to avoid the confidence vote the opposition has been trying to bring since September.
“Crime is a major issue in the country today,” Mr. Skelton said. “The economy is in a state of stagnation. And our infrastructure still needs to be regenerated.”
Premier’s side
Mr. Wheatley has denied delaying the vote, claiming that he offered to debate the motion on a set date that did not interfere with the passing of legislation recommended by the 2022 Commission of Inquiry report.
But on Friday, Mr. Skelton questioned that stance.
“I think he’s being disingenuous,” he said. “He cannot do that based on the democratic process. The Speaker is in control of the House.”
Lorna Smith, who was deputy premier until Mr. Wheatley fired her in October amid the uproar surrounding the proposed confidence vote, said a censure motion against the premier is overdue.
Describing herself as an independent opposition member, Ms. Smith said, “There are points that the country needs to hear debated. And when the time is right, I hope that that vote of no confidence will be debated. The time is right now.”
‘No respect’
Opposition member Myron Walwyn (R-D6) accused the premier of routinely disrespecting the HOA.
“He is negotiating a parliamentary accountability device; he’s negotiating for it to come when it suits him,” Mr. Walwyn said. “This is somebody who has absolutely no respect for his first call of duty.”
He added that these actions represented a pattern of behaviour by the premier.
“The bills come into the House without being properly read and properly scrutinised,” he said. “The bills being pushed through — first, second and third reading — without understanding the importance of the first reading and time in between the first and second readings so that the public could be made aware as to what is taking place.”
Mr. Walwyn also claimed the premier had kept Governor Daniel Pruce waiting, delaying his delivery of the Speech from the Throne earlier this month.
“He is late every single sitting of the House,” Mr. Walwyn said. “The last Throne speech, the governor’s people were there — he had the governor waiting almost 40 minutes for him to arrive so the governor can give the Throne speech.”
‘Unpatriotic’
In an interview last week before the press conference, Mr. Wheatley criticised opposition members for pushing the confidence vote while COI legislation was before the House.
“I would think it’s unpatriotic and unwise, and I was very surprised by it,” he told the Beacon on Jan. 15. “But you know, this session, I’m prepared for a vote of no confidence. I’m ready to debate a vote of no confidence. You know, if the opposition wants to bring it, I’m ready.”
Other complaints
During the press conference, the opposition also discussed water shortages and bad roads and complained that they had not been invited to a tourism summit on Peter Island in time to be able to attend last week.
Ms. Smith, who did attend, said she had secured her participation in the summit herself.
The Governor’s Office declined to comment on the claim that Mr. Wheatley kept the governor waiting and delayed the Throne speech.
