Circular questions why ‘Governor’ only reviewed VI CoI report
“We, a group of concerned citizens of the Virgin Islands (British) wish to publicly express our displeasure and profound dissatisfaction with the statement of 4th of April, 2022 made by His Excellency the Governor John Rankin, as he announced the arrival of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) Report, regarding the review and distribution of the report,” the undated circular details.
The circular seen by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) reminded that the COI was called on behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands, and therefore, “It is unacceptable that the Governor would state in his Press Release that he would consider and decide whether or not the Commissioner’s Report would be released to the public.”
The Governor on April 4, 2022, stated that the Commission’s Report has almost 1,000 pages and over 40 recommendations, and that he would review it, while sharing a copy with the UK Minister for the Overseas Territories, Rt Hon Amanda A. Milling.
The circular says that the people of the VI and their elected representatives should have been afforded the opportunity to review the report as well.
Governor was witness
“As we are all aware, Governor Rankin was a witness in the COI. It is indeed troubling that as a witness in the COI hearings, the Governor, an appointed representative to the Territory by the UK Government, is the sole person in this Territory allowed to review the contents of the COI report which was conducted on the premise of being an independent inquiry.”
The Independence of the Inquiry has now been brought into question, “If this COI was in fact independent, all bodies of governance would be allowed the opportunity to review the report simultaneously and then discussions would be held to include the public.”
Several social commentators in the VI, have already questioned the way the CoI was carried including Caricom Heads slamming how the inquiry was established without consultation with the elected Government.
“Why are the UK Officials the only persons afforded the opportunity to review the report before our elected officials and us the public? If any aspect of the report is changed or amended, who would know? Does the Governor get to amend the interpretation of his testimony so that he is satisfied with how it is recorded in the report?” the circular details.
Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) in a press conference yesterday, April 22, 2021, said the entire CoI could have been dealt with in a much more respectable manner, “I would say that this one here is one that… I’m just mystified and it is regrettable how some of this has been handled,” he added.
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17 Responses to “Circular questions why ‘Governor’ only reviewed VI CoI report”
They dont have to advise us, the place belongs to them
the governance of this territory is an issue and must be correct for the benefit of our grandchildren
It is hard to know what exactly you mean here. But it reads as though you think the UK are the sovereign power here in the Virgin Islands because of something to do with the UN. That is not so. The UK's sovereignty here has nothing to do with the UN. The UN did not award the Virgin Islands tot he UK or something like that.
The recommendations were no sent to the politicians. They were sent to the Governor.
Because of what many and I can see, our politicians, especially those that are now in power, are behaving like caged rats, after pretending that they are innocent of wrong doings.
Simply put, the Governor will recommend to us the CoI report without our negotiation input. And we will have to comply with same. Believe it or not, the strongest wins over the weakest every time.
One thinks for sure, all wrong done in earnest will sooner or later be exposed by light, only a matter of time..
Fear not Governor John J. Rankin, Execute your duty well, in the face of deceptive, and crooked oppositions that are against the best interest of the BVI people, that you were appointed to do.
The orthodoxy of slavery was justified by a belief in social and natural ordering, race ranking of humanity, etc. Further, slavery was justified by the divine beliefs, convenient sacred text from the Bible(curse of Ham), presumed laws of nature, etc. Every microsecond of slaves’ miserable life was controlled through fear, brutality, exploitation, dehumanization, rape, deprivation of basic rights and freedoms, etc. Slaves had no rights, no freedom, living a tortuous existence. The purpose of slavery is clear; it was to build the UK’s economy and create individual wealth; it did both. A supposed observation by a Judge Ruffin about conditions in the Deep South in US in Caste by Isabel Wilkerson: “The slave is doomed to toil, that others may reap wealth.” Slavery also created both a race and class system. Whites was atop the food chain deeming themselves superior endowed with special privileges, entitlements, etc. Slaves/Blacks were at bottom of the ladder. “Lowest white man count more or superior to the highest Black.” (Caste Isabel Wilkerson). Slavery institution collapsed, ie, lost profitability, most of the planter class bolted from the VI for the UK, leaving the VI as the poor house of the West Indies, a bird sanctuary, a little sleepy hollow, etc. However, the UK still controlled the VI. Fast forwarding, in the late 60s, it was granted a small measure of self-governing. Today, with some additional constitutional adjustments, it is listed as self-governing; however, that is a mirage, for the UK can still exercise unilateral control over its governing ability. The pathogen of superiority still exists. The UK and its civil servants sent out to territory see themselves as lords over the VI and its people, not as equal governing partners. This attitude is indicative of the superiority orthodoxy. He/she who wears the crown makes the golden rule. The VI internalized the awkward, unacceptable and uncomfortable as merely just an inconvenience.
In regards to the CoI being released now the public, it should, for it was conducted in public supposedly for the public good; therefore, its findings and recommendations should be released to the public soonest for the public good. Things should not be done conveniently for the public good. Decisions have consequences. In earnest, in the spirit of governing partnership, the findings and recommendations should have been with government before submission to Governor. But who has POWER and COnTROL. CoIs have value if done for a virtuous purpose.
These are some of the powerful pearls from the theory of the case for the current situation in the BVI as laid out by E. Leonard. To me, it is master piece and an insightful read. As an add on and an editorial, I add and ask if anyone can seriously doubt the horrific nature, dehumanization, brutality, exploitation, etc, of slavery? If no shamelessly grab something and wave. Nonetheless, representatives of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II are have been/ being despatched to the Caribbean/West Indies(Belize, Jamaica, Bahamas, SVG, Grenada (trip cancelled) and Antigua and Barbuda) to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee (70 years on the throne), ie, Prince Charles (eminent heir to the throne/King in waiting), Prince William (2nd in line to the throne), Prince Edward, etc. Nonetheless, they all bowing to public pressure find a few empty words to say that slavery was wrong, yet they cowardly or deliberately tow the party line and could not part their lips to issue even a simple apology, even they didn’t mean it. Lest we forget, former controversial governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert refused to apologize for his insensitive and disrespectful comments about reparations for slave descendants. It is a plan; they are sticking to the talking points. Here is a news flash. Caribbean people no longer wants to pretend or force to be but lice on the edge of the monarch’s blanket. They need respect, fairness, and equity.