“I believe if the public service is placed under elected officials, we will get better accountability as it pertains to the performance and the efficiency of the public service."
Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr Natalio Wheatley has argued that the British Virgin Islands must confront what he described as an entrenched culture of bureaucracy within government, warning that creating statutory boards to bypass inefficiency is no substitute for reform.
Speaking in the House of Assembly during the debate of the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2026, Wheatley agreed with Opposition Leader Marlon Penn’s criticism that government processes have become excessively slow, but insisted the answer lies in restructuring accountability rather than expanding independent bodies.
“Government is overly bureaucratic and things take way too long,” Wheatley admitted. “We have to confront that bureaucracy head on, as opposed to kicking the can down the road.”
The Premier’s comments come as lawmakers continue advancing sweeping constitutional changes aimed at shifting more authority to elected officials and reducing powers traditionally held by the Governor.
“We have to fix the government. We have to fix it,” Wheatley said. “That’s the reason why we’re going to the United Kingdom to get some constitutional change.”
His remarks point directly to one of the most contentious themes emerging from the House’s review of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) report, which emphasised clearer lines of accountability within the public service and stronger democratic oversight. The Committee reviewing the CRC recommendations repeatedly backed governance reforms designed to strengthen local decision-making and modernise outdated administrative systems.
The House report found that members consistently identified a need to improve effectiveness, responsiveness and accountability across government, while addressing weaknesses in public administration.
At last week’s sitting Wheatley went further, linking constitutional reform to direct political oversight of the public service.
“I believe if the public service is placed under elected officials, we will get better accountability as it pertains to the performance and the efficiency of the public service,” he stated.
That position aligns with broader House recommendations seeking greater devolution of powers and stronger local control over governance functions currently outside direct political authority. The Committee agreed that responsibilities including public service administration should move away from the Governor’s special responsibilities as part of deeper constitutional reform.
The constitutional overhaul under discussion could significantly reshape how the Territory operates, with proposals ranging from transferring reserved powers to elected government, to reforms intended to increase democratic accountability and strengthen executive authority.
Speaking in the House of Assembly during the debate of the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2026, Wheatley agreed with Opposition Leader Marlon Penn’s criticism that government processes have become excessively slow, but insisted the answer lies in restructuring accountability rather than expanding independent bodies.
“Government is overly bureaucratic and things take way too long,” Wheatley admitted. “We have to confront that bureaucracy head on, as opposed to kicking the can down the road.”
The Premier’s comments come as lawmakers continue advancing sweeping constitutional changes aimed at shifting more authority to elected officials and reducing powers traditionally held by the Governor.
“We have to fix the government. We have to fix it,” Wheatley said. “That’s the reason why we’re going to the United Kingdom to get some constitutional change.”
His remarks point directly to one of the most contentious themes emerging from the House’s review of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) report, which emphasised clearer lines of accountability within the public service and stronger democratic oversight. The Committee reviewing the CRC recommendations repeatedly backed governance reforms designed to strengthen local decision-making and modernise outdated administrative systems.
The House report found that members consistently identified a need to improve effectiveness, responsiveness and accountability across government, while addressing weaknesses in public administration.
At last week’s sitting Wheatley went further, linking constitutional reform to direct political oversight of the public service.
“I believe if the public service is placed under elected officials, we will get better accountability as it pertains to the performance and the efficiency of the public service,” he stated.
That position aligns with broader House recommendations seeking greater devolution of powers and stronger local control over governance functions currently outside direct political authority. The Committee agreed that responsibilities including public service administration should move away from the Governor’s special responsibilities as part of deeper constitutional reform.
The constitutional overhaul under discussion could significantly reshape how the Territory operates, with proposals ranging from transferring reserved powers to elected government, to reforms intended to increase democratic accountability and strengthen executive authority.
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