PREMIER DR. NATALIO WHEATLEY’S RESPONSE TO UK GOVERNOR SEEKING ADDITIONAL COLONIAL POWERS OVER THE BVI
My fellow Virgin Islanders, good afternoon.
I come to you on a matter of the utmost urgency. As you’re conscious, the Authorities has been working diligently on governance reforms since Might 2022. We’ve got made real strides in strengthening the programs and establishments of presidency. Good progress has been made and the work concerned continues.
We’re taking the required steps to construct the British Virgin Islands into the mannequin democracy our folks want for ourselves in order that we are able to thrive as a neighborhood. One simply has to have a look at areas comparable to procurement and social help to see the enhancements to date in strengthening our inside processes.
We stay firmly dedicated to good governance and our dedication to reform is unquestionable. A presentation on progress was made to the general public earlier this week by the Premier’s Workplace. It’s accessible on-line so that you can evaluation.
This isn’t to say that there aren’t challenges, however issues are getting into the best path. We’ve got pressed ahead, regardless of the preliminary timeliness that have been agreed below duress. Some deadlines have been adjusted to make sure we have now the extra time and sources to finish sure reforms and that the folks and related stakeholders affected are consulted.
This needs to be comprehensible, particularly since we have now needed to concurrently steadiness implementation of reforms and the supply of public providers and hurricane restoration. This isn’t even to say the pause in work after the Home of Meeting was dissolved to carry our free, truthful and incident free Common Election final 12 months.
To be clear, a lot of the reforms which might be nonetheless in progress fall below the duty of the Governor.
Like my Administration, he has additionally had the problem of balancing reform implementation and overseeing his personal constitutional duties in areas comparable to safety, particularly because it issues the police and jail the place there are inside issues that should be addressed.
My Administration has tried to help the Governor the perfect we are able to with further sources so he can enhance these areas whereas progressing the reforms he’s liable for.
Clearly a reform train of the dimensions we’re enterprise can’t be accomplished in its entirety in two years. In the UK (UK), Brexit was not accomplished in two years and there are nonetheless excellent points. Primarily based on all that we have now needed to do right here within the British Virgin Islands in a really brief span of time, we have now executed effectively. That is regardless of the Governor’s want for sure reforms to be in place earlier than his tenure ends later this month.
My Administration has labored within the spirit of partnership with him as we have now delivered reforms, whereas on the similar time executing all of our different duties.
This is the reason all of my Honourable colleagues and I on either side of the isle are extremely dissatisfied with the Governor’s request for extra powers in his most up-to-date replace on governance reforms. It seems he needs to behave in areas of constitutional duty devolved to the elected arm of presidency.
The Governor shouldn’t be looking for further powers to bypass democracy and the folks of the British Virgin Islands in order that he can implement measures as he sees match with none democratic accountability. It might be a colonial act.
We should keep in mind an election was held within the British Virgin Islands in April 2024. Every District and Territorial Consultant within the Home of Meeting was elected by the folks of those islands so their voices may very well be heard. A Authorities was fashioned to manipulate the society and make selections in session with the folks. That’s democracy, for higher or worse.
It might be an insult to the voters and other people of those British Virgin Islands for extra powers to be granted to the Governor to empower him to push his agenda in devolved areas of duty. Topics comparable to immigration and crown lands fall below the elected arm of Authorities and there’s no justification for powers being transferred or given to the Governor to undermine the democratic will and democratic rights of the folks of the British Virgin Islands.
Resolution making needs to be underpinned by democratic governance. We should keep true to this precept not simply within the UK, but additionally proper right here within the British Virgin Islands.
For the previous 20 months, my Administration has engaged constructively with the UK Authorities in a real effort to enhance relations. We considerably contributed to the event of the Political Declaration not too long ago agreed between the UK and Abroad Territories in what was regarded as a real effort to re-establish a contemporary partnership and finish the drift backward towards a colonial relationship.
Final September my Administration hosted the UK-OT Illicit Finance Dialogue Assembly of Senior Officers right here on Tortola. It was an awesome assembly and we made good progress between UK and Abroad Territories colleagues on vital points.
The UK facilitated a British Virgin Islands delegation’s participation at COP28 and we held constructive talks on UK local weather help to the Abroad Territories.
As well as, early final 12 months Lord Goldsmith visited these islands in what was the start of a constructive rapprochement between the British Virgin Islands and UK.
The present OT Minister Hon. David Rutley continued on this vein, and I’ve recommended him for positively altering the tone of the connection.
I will likely be writing to Minister Rutley to induce him to not help the Governor’s request to grant the Governor further powers, however slightly to proceed his strategy of constructive engagement between the UK and British Virgin Islands as companions and help to the elected arm of presidency in implementing governance reforms.
I’ll ask him to remain true to democracy.
Granting the Governor further powers would go straight towards the Political Declaration we and different Abroad Territories have simply agreed with the UK and would do appreciable injury to the connection. It might additionally set again democracy within the British Virgin Islands and destroy any belief the folks and Authorities of those islands have within the UK.
We want for partnership, not a confrontation that’s fully pointless.
Individuals of the British Virgin Islands, that is one other unsure second in our relationship with the UK and we should be united.
To my political colleagues on either side of the isle, we should be united.
To the personal sector, public sector and civil society, we should be united.
To each district and neighborhood throughout these islands, we should be united.
Virgin Islanders from each stroll of life, we should be united as a result of unity is the one means that we are able to defend democracy and defend our human rights and rights as a folks.
I’ll replace you sooner or later as issues develop.
God bless you and God bless these stunning British Virgin Islands.
Donate At Caribbean Information Service, we don’t cost for our content material and we wish to maintain it that means. We’re looking for help from people and organisations so we are able to
proceed our work & develop CNS additional.
