Premier Wheatley confident VI will soon be able to govern itself
During the Virgin Islands Voice programme on March 18, 2026, when asked what the government will do to ensure that there is not another lifting day [for an Order in Council] in the Virgin Islands, the Premier stated that the government is strengthening its institutions.
Strengthening institutions
"We're seeking to strengthen our institutions. It's extremely important right now in the House of Assembly. We're looking at our Human Rights bill. We have an Integrity Commission. We have a Parliamentary Commission of Standards, we are strengthening the Complaints Commissioner's Office, and establishing a whistleblowing mechanism."
Honourable Wheatley added that the government continues to increase transparency and autonomy within its system.
"We have registration of interests where we have a certain level of transparency and autonomy around the interests that public officers and elected officials have to ensure that we don't have conflicts of interest, so all of these institutions, we are strengthening while at the same time, seeking to deliver public services efficiently and effectively for the people of the Virgin Islands."
He further stated, "I believe if we continue along the track that we're on right now, I have no doubt that one day, we will build the confidence to know that we are able to govern ourselves."
The revocation of the Order in Council took effect on Friday, March 13, 2026, following the Virgin Islands Constitution Interim Amendment Revocation Order 2026, which was laid in the UK Parliament on February 10, 2026, and approved days prior by the Privy Council.
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24 Responses to “Premier Wheatley confident VI will soon be able to govern itself ”
We had a Commission do a review and write a report using input that included views and ideas from the people of the VI.
The HOA decided not to follow that report. The report that was a collective balance of views of the VI people.
The HOA did not accept that Commissions Report and have come up with their own SECRETIVE plan.
We need to know what that plan is before the VI gets handed (like going back in time) to these NEW STYLE PLANTER MASTERS and we are just subjugated to them.
What Constitution is it that the dirty HOA13 have in mind.
VI people would like to know.
If we had Human Rights in the VI we would be able to find out.
Why is it the politicians are the ones chaffing loudest and hardest at any relationship with the UK?
What do they want to do that they cannot do now? God forbid they want to declare war!
Do our politicians go out of their way to figure out ways for the territory to utilize and benefit from our relationship with the UK? Or do they go out of their way to avoid anything UK related?
Are there alterior motives? What do our politicians want that they can't have already?
Moreover, the electorate active engagement is vital to determining the level/choice of political self-determination options. Consequently, they must be offered the opportunity through a referendum to choose an option, ie, maintaining the status quo or free association, independence, or integration, etc..Prior to voting in a referendum, the electorate must be educated through a public education and outreached programme on the pros and cons on the political self-determination options.Bermuda, a sister Overseas Territory( OT) , held a referendum on independence in August 1995; a majority of Bermudans voted to maintain the current status—-an OT of the UK. Further, Scotland, a part of England, Scotland, Wales and Northsrn Ireland union, held a referendum to separate from the Union; a majority of Scots voted to maintain the status quo. Additionally, in a referendum on 23 June 2016, a slight majority ( ~52% ) of UK voters voted to pullback from being part of the European Union (EU). Virgin Islanders too needs the opportunity to decide the way forward; they need more than words, teases, carrots, etc; they need words in action
Additionally, in preparing for the next political status, the Virgin Islands need to build strong political and economic inclusive institutions, not extractive political and economic institutions.
Economists Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson in WHY NATIONS FAIL notes, “ while extractive institutions concentrate power and wealth in a small elite to the detriment of the majority, inclusive institutions create a level playing field that fosters innovation and long-term economic growth. “
For example, “ Greedy Bill” provided generous benefits for current and former elected members for serving as little as two terms—eight years. The second example is the recent bill which double the salary of elected members and the beat goes on. Can we blame the politicians for the self-interest behavior? No, NO, No. They are doing what the electorate let them get away with. Dependency, political patronage,etc, is common place, etc. Change is needed to right the ship which is taking on water and leaning starboard. The people need to elect unselfish, change agents to public interest over self-interes. Hear dud ya. Change is not self -executing. It requires stones, stones. We must have performance standards for politicians, rewarding those who met expectations, doing the right things, not just doing things right. We need to kick the poor performers to the curb. Some say they are not politicians, so WTF they doing in politics? Is it an opportunity to make a salary and other benefits.? There is a myth that the power lies with politicians. No, the power rests with the people. Let’s put country first. By the way, what do you mean by effective allocation? Election season is here so everybody will be out in places they haven’t been to since the last election when they were begging for a vote? Who has the power again? Power is useless if it not use effectively.