The leader of government business Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley has residents on notice of the possible damage that could result in the BVI over the next 10 months if the governor is granted his requested additional powers.
Premier Wheatley said the BVI’s Constitution will first have to be amended to allow for the governor to have additional powers if approved by the United Kingdom Government.
Dr. Wheatley also pointed to the section of the existing BVI Constitution which currently gives the governor the power to pass legislation in the House of Assembly without the vote of sitting legislators.
He said if the governor is granted the power to introduce legislation in the House of Assembly, there is no telling what legislation would be passed in the BVI over the next 10 months.
The premier also spoke on providing the governor the power to take over ministries. He said such an act would take the advancement of BVI politics back more than five decades if allowed.
Another possible additional power that was referenced by His Excellency Governor John Rankin is the authority to control the procurement process for the issuing of government contracts.
Premier Wheatley said this too would be damaging to BVI politics.