Premier accused of throwing civil servants under the bus

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley.

Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has accused Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley of deflecting blame onto public servants over the controversial $5 million deposit made into Bank of Asia, a move that sparked scrutiny after the bank’s owners filed for bankruptcy.

Walwyn criticised the Premier’s June 6 public statement, which claimed that placement of the funds was carried out by “designated public officers” under the Ministry of Finance.

“The Premier is throwing the civil servants under the bus,” Walwyn said. “Section 29 of the Public Finance Management Act says that money in the consolidated fund shall be kept with such bank as may be specified by the minister. Who is the minister? He is.”

Walwyn explained that the Bank of Asia account held no funds as at December 2024, but by the end of April 2025, it showed a $5 million deposit. “That money had to be placed between January and April,” he argued, during which time the bank’s owners had filed for bankruptcy and a freezing order had been issued.

“Why would the government of the Virgin Islands place $5 million into that bank, wholly well-knowing — or ought to have known — that there was trouble?” Walwyn questioned.

The Premier has since requested an internal audit into the transaction, but Walwyn called this an inadequate solution. “Audit reports are not public. The public will not see that report. It is an internal management tool,” he argued. “You cannot have someone who presides over an investigation when they are institutionally responsible for the matter.”

He has since written to Governor Daniel Pruce, calling instead for a full investigation led by the Governor’s Office, citing the need for transparency and independence.
“The Governor has all the branches underneath him to be able to give the people of the Virgin Islands that answer,” he said.

Walwyn criticised what he described as attempts to confuse the public. “He thinks the people are foolish,” he said of the Premier. “We’re talking about $5 million of taxpayers’ money.”

The Opposition is expected to continue pressing for answers when the House of Assembly reconvenes. “We cannot play cat and mouse with the people’s money,” Walwyn asserted. “The people deserve the truth.”