A new system for the distribution of government grants will be forthcoming in the near future as one of the solutions to the Commission of Inquiry (COI) Report recommendations.
This is according to Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley, who made the disclosure during a recent press conference.
Recommendation B7 of the COI Report called for a wholesale review of the BVI welfare benefits and grants system, including House of Assembly Members’ Assistance Grants and Government Ministries’ Assistance Grants.
Commissioner of the Inquiry Sir Gary Hickinbottom said the review “should seek to move towards an open, transparent and single (or, at least, coherent) system of benefits, based on clearly expressed and published criteria without unnecessary discretionary powers.”
Responding to questions posed by the media last Friday, Premier Wheatley said his government is in full agreement with the recommendation and will be implementing changes soon.
Premier Wheatley was also questioned about the appointments of the once-controversial political advisors who were later renamed, special advisors.
He said these appointments will not be affected, as they were never mentioned as an area of concern in the COI Report.