(CMR) Premier of British Virgin Islands Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley has requested an Emergency Caribbean Overseas Territories Caucus meeting after Governor John J. Rankin requested additional powers from the UK Government over the BVI in order to make decisions in areas of governance devolved to the elected arm of government.
Wheatley requested the meeting with heads of government, including Premier of the Cayman Islands Juliana O'Connor-Connolly, for Thursday, 11 January.
“Among other things, Governor Rankin has requested the power to introduce legislation to the House of Assembly so that the Governor can pass legislation as he sees fit; take control of Ministries and Departments at his discretion that are under the constitutional responsibility of Ministers of Government; and exercise
control over procurement regardless of decisions made by Cabinet within existing financial regulations,” a letter from Wheatley said.
Wheatley said, “This request is completely unjustified, unnecessary, and squarely aimed at supporting the Governor’s own agenda.”
In 2020, the Governor called for the suspension of the government after the then premier Andrew Fahie was arrested in the US on drug-related charges.
Premier Wheatley said since last year’s successful General Election, his administration has continued the process of building a model democracy in which the people of the British Virgin Islands thrive and the society achieves its
full potential.
He said the government has continued to advance the Framework for Implementation of the COI Recommendations and Other Reforms agreed between the UK and the British Virgin Islands.
“The Governor and I, the Cabinet, House of Assembly, and Government Ministries and Departments have
worked tirelessly on implementing reforms and made good progress in this regard while at the same
time continuing to deliver public services and hurricane recovery,” he stated.
He said the Government has supported the Governor by providing additional resources to assist him
with the execution of his constitutional responsibilities, especially in the area of security, where there
are challenges with the police force and prison.
“Demonstrable progress has been made by the Government in the reform process, which can be seen in
procurement, social assistance, and other strengthened internal processes. The revision of timelines for
some reforms was important to permit the Government and also the Governor to further advance the
reforms that remain in progress under our respective remits,” Wheatley continued.
He further stated that where there are any challenges in implementation, the UK, the Governor, and the BVI Administration should continue working in partnership to improve and accelerate the process.
“The Governor does not have the democratic accountability to make certain decisions for the people of the British Virgin Islands, which is why the Territory has its own parliament and Cabinet,” Wheatley continued.
The Premier said he has asked the Minister for the Overseas Territories, Hon. David Rutley, to decline
Governor Rankin’s request and instead continue to work in the spirit of partnership with the British
Virgin Islands.
“Approving additional powers for the Governor would be a blatant colonial act and go directly against the spirit of the Political Declaration recently signed between the UK and Overseas Territories to re-establish a modern partnership. It would also do damage to the UK’s relationship with the British Virgin Islands, which has considerably improved over the past year,” Wheatley continued.
“Harm would also be done to the UK’s relationship with other Overseas Territories concerned about such an unjustified retrograde step being taken against another Territory,” he added.
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