TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands– Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley has condemned the unauthorized publication of a draft proposal between the BVI government and the United Kingdom (UK) by a local media house.
During a recent press briefing, the Prime Minister said the publication only served to cause anxiety.
“It was somewhat unhelpful, and I think it’s unhelpful to the public to have draft proposals circulating in public, especially when we are in the midst of negotiations and the language of those proposals is not final. All it serves in doing is confusing the public,” Wheatley said.
He added that the document’s publication did not serve the purpose of keeping the public informed with accurate information.
“Unfortunately, you have media operations and individuals circulating documents which are not for public consumption. Those things are not in the public’s interest,” the Premier share
While speaking to the issue of who is held accountable when confidential government documents shared with Cabinet members are leaked to the public, the Premier said Cabinet colleagues must ensure that those documents remain private.
He further argued that there is a difference between respecting confidentiality and being transparent.
According to the Premier, there are appropriate forums and processes to share information with the public, which should also be respected.
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