A last-minute rush brought more progress on the Commission of Inquiry reforms last week, but Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said he fell one short of his push to complete all 48 measures ahead of a top-level meeting on the issue scheduled for yesterday in London.
Despite appearing bullish at a joint press conference with Governor Daniel Pruce on Aug. 30, when Dr. Wheatley stated that he wanted the final three governance measures in place within seven days, that ambition has now been pushed out to the end of this month. On Friday, the House of Assembly passed a COI-recommended bill to increase accountability and transparency for HOA members (see sidebar), but five other bills designed to reform statutory bodies will have to be added to the list of leftover COI measures to be addressed when the premier returns from London.
Dr. Wheatley also used his parliamentary time on Friday to introduce a motion to secure a $100 million loan for infrastructure work and other projects in the territory.
London meeting
Yesterday, Dr. Wheatley and Mr. Pruce were scheduled to discuss the ongoing COI reforms with United Kingdom Overseas Territories Minister Stephen Doughty in London.
During his five-day visit to the UK this week, Dr. Wheatley said that the Friday passage of the Parliamentary Commission for Standards Bill , plus moves on dealing with disaster funding, mean that his government has now completed 47 of the 48 recommendations from the COI.
“We are now at 47 because we passed the disaster management policy,” the premier told the Beacon yesterday from London.
Previous targets
After missing the original May deadline for COI reform completion and then an extended Aug. 31 target, the premier said last Thursday ahead of his trip that making reform “meaningful” was the most important aspect of bringing in the changes.
“This process is about real change, not just procedural fulfilment,” he said. “By addressing these recommendations, we are reinforcing our dedication to good governance and ensuring that the Virgin Islands operates with the highest standards of accountability and transparency.”
VI delegation
Dr. Wheatley, who left Monday and is set to return tomorrow, is accompanied by Deputy Premier Minister Lorna Smith; Ayana Glasgow, the executive director of international business regulations at the Ministry of Financial Services, Labour and Trade; Kedrick Malone, governance reform delivery manager in the Premier’s Office; and Kenneth Baker, managing director of the Financial Services Commission, according to government.
The VI delegation was also scheduled to hold meetings across a range of areas, including with a group of private-sector climate finance specialists.
Also on the agenda was a reception in Westminster hosted by Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
Despite indications from the premier that a press conference on general matters would be held before he departed for London, no such event materialised.
Loan motion
Another likely topic of discussion in London is the $100 million loan that the premier is seeking through a motion he added to the HOA agenda on Friday.
The motion has not yet come for a vote, but Dr. Wheatley told the Beacon that it would benefit the territory across a variety of areas.
“The $100 million loan will provide much-needed funds for investment in our infrastructure, such as our roads, water distribution network, and sewage system,” he said, adding, “It will also provide funding for the refurbishment of the Ralph T. O’Neal Administration Building, expansion of facilities at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, and improvement to educational and health infrastructure, among other projects.”