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Governor Rankin currently dictating & controlling VI– Julio S. Henry

- Shares frustration that Governor & UK have not held open discussions with people of VI on roll-out of CoI reforms
Social Commentator Julio S. Henry aka ‘Sam’ says the current state of Virgin Islands Leadership is one where people and the territory’s leaders and now powerless and the Governor is calling the shots. Photo: VINO/File
Speaking on the roll-out of the Commission of Inquiry reforms in the VI, Mr Julio S. Henry said Governor John J. Rankin (CMG) is yet to keep dialogue with the people of the VI. Photo: GIS/Facebook
Speaking on the roll-out of the Commission of Inquiry reforms in the VI, Mr Julio S. Henry said Governor John J. Rankin (CMG) is yet to keep dialogue with the people of the VI. Photo: GIS/Facebook
FAT HOGS BAY, Tortola, VI - Social Commentator Julio S. Henry aka ‘Sam’ says the current state of Virgin Islands leadership is one where people and the territory’s leaders are now powerless and the Governor is calling the shots.

“We do not have control, much of what’s being happening right now, what’s been done in this county, whether it’s the ministries doing it or whether it's the politicians doing it, are being directed by John Rankin, the Governor of the Virgin Islands," he said.

Mr Henry was at the time speaking as a telephone guest on the Monday, October 10, 2022, edition of ‘Da Morning Braff’ radio show on Tola Radio 100.5 FM with host Dameon Percival.

No dialogue from Governor on plans- Henry  

Speaking on the roll-out of the Commission of Inquiry reforms in the VI, Mr Henry said Governor John J. Rankin, CMG, is yet to keep dialogue with the people of the VI. 

“To this day, [neither] John Rankin nor the United Kingdom has not come to us the people to lay out the plan that he keeps saying, that this recommendation is to help improve the governance for us,” he added. 

Henry accused the Governor of not wanting an open discussion with the people of the VI on the UK's plan and the way forward. 

“We have not seen anything yet… we are complaining and highlighting some of the challenges and we only could blame ourselves, [but] why do we continue to blame ourselves?” he questioned.

Dialogue with VI people needed - Premier 

Currently, Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has raised frustrations that his Unity Government cannot continue to make decisions under UK pressure without continued dialogue with the people.

Speaking during an October 7, 2022, press conference, he said: “Going through reform for me is not a challenge, is not a problem. I think it's the appropriate thing to do to reform, but we must reform based on what the people want to see, and of course, we have to educate people.

“We have to allow persons the opportunity to have a dialogue, we have to give them the information and trust them to make the right choice and to communicate that to their representatives,” the Premier added.

Unity Government legislator Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) had previously stated in the House of Assembly that the Governor was the one in charge and the current Cabinet Ministers were mere puppets, a statement he subsequently withdrew.

27 Responses to “Governor Rankin currently dictating & controlling VI– Julio S. Henry”

  • WOWO (11/10/2022, 09:47) Like (9) Dislike (13) Reply
    did you not know he is Governor and King of these VIs and all his decrees need to be followed without question.
  • 911 (11/10/2022, 09:50) Like (8) Dislike (18) Reply
    Thats how the white man operate
  • justin (11/10/2022, 09:52) Like (9) Dislike (17) Reply
    mordern day slavery-in the past it was cutting sugar cane and cotton picking. today it is all about the cash flow and the UK simply curious as to where the money coming from and UK simply wants their peace of the pie(hands on the pocket book…….
    • how? (11/10/2022, 10:31) Like (17) Dislike (4) Reply
      Justin: How do you figure UK wants a piece of the action? BVIs has no fiscal or tax obligation to the UK beyond perhaps paying for monies borrowed.
  • resident (11/10/2022, 09:59) Like (30) Dislike (1) Reply
    This ignores the fact that the representatives of the people (those with a vote anyway) i.e the Unity Govenment are meeting with the Governor regularly. That's how a representative democracy works. It's up to the Unity Government to canvass the views of the electorate/residents, not up to the Governor. If the Governor did it, it would side line the elected representatives and be unconstituional.
  • Yep! (11/10/2022, 10:00) Like (9) Dislike (29) Reply
    Rankin must go.. PERIOD!
  • FROM THE WOODWORKS (11/10/2022, 10:00) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    WELL LOOK WHO SHOWED UP ???? ECEN THE LEADERS NEVER EVER MADE AN EFFORT TO HAVE ANY DIALOGUE WITH OUR OWN PEOPLE WHO GAVE THEM THE POWER THAT THEY CRAVED FOR ONLY TO USE IT AS A WAY TO MANIPULATE US BY USING PROPAGANDA TO DECIEVE THE PEOPLE YMTO GET THEIR VOTE , WE ALL KNOW THAT NOW , UNLESS YOU WANT TO CONTINUE FOOLING YOURSELF
  • Phil McCracken (11/10/2022, 10:24) Like (35) Dislike (5) Reply
    Ayo had your chance to run your country and look what happened? Corruption is rife, locals still smuggling coke around the place, civil servants being arrested and more being investigated, former premier locked up. Take a good hard look in the mirror and see where all the trouble is coming from. Such a shame.
    • Really? (11/10/2022, 10:57) Like (7) Dislike (13) Reply
      Only locals still smuggling coke? Lots of non-locals with big summer and winter mansions, boats, hand in the throat and posteria of locals still smuggling coke. Check for yourself and be honest.
  • Hmm (11/10/2022, 10:29) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    They’re only powerless because they can’t transport goods to market like they used to.
  • jeez (11/10/2022, 10:45) Like (24) Dislike (2) Reply
    Why are we always trying to throw the blame elsewhere? The CoI Report was submitted with recommendations and OUR Government agreed to carry out every ALL! So what are we blaming the Governor for?? He is doing his job to ensure OUR Government stick in practice to what THEY submitted as THEIR proposal on paper. We want someone to blame blame OUR Government!
    • Doing your job... (11/10/2022, 10:59) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      ...is not necessarily hurting others. This man is ridiculous but time is longer than twine. This too shall pass.
  • Slower than Slowonde! (11/10/2022, 11:30) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    If you're only now realizing that, you are slower than slowonde.
  • Yo Ain No (11/10/2022, 12:09) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yo only see fowl botty when wind blow. Since Irma every thing expose.
  • A better way. (11/10/2022, 12:20) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    It's these kind of angry, no respect, no diplomacy that bringing down the BVI..
  • Jennings (11/10/2022, 12:54) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Don't know if he dictating and he controlling but why not. Tis his to control and dictate, it is his territory. He's got more rights here than you. The VI local elected not up to par,no question soooo he hands on and micro managing. He would be amiss to do otherwise
  • SB (11/10/2022, 15:22) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    When Black people keep looking for respect from White people it makes me laugh they don't even respect themselves nature biology etc. who is us?
  • Sam (11/10/2022, 16:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    please be quiet
    • Sam (11/10/2022, 16:45) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      That dragging complaining voice of his always trying to stir up confusion
  • Sambo (11/10/2022, 18:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The BVI constitution, the order in council, etc are all democratic deficient. What is happening in the BVI is more autocratic than democratic. But colonialism has never been a democratic process. It was always a one-sided affair with the colonialists holding the true power. Guv John Rankins, CMG, holds the title of governor of the BVI, enjoys the benefits and priviledges, and wields unilateral authority. But he represents represents the interest of the crown, not the interest of the BVI people though BVI taxpayers fund for the most part his abode in the BVI. The BVI constitution was suspended by an order in council and is held in abeyance. Yet the Guv unsurprisingly is running things. The Guv does not feel he has to talk to the people for who are they but peons. Is it above the Guv to talk down to the people?
  • uncle SAM (11/10/2022, 18:55) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    SO YOU RESURFACE , PURE NOISE AND SAYING NOTHING , JUST LIKE CSC YAP YAP YAP , JUST TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT , KEEP YOUR NONSENSE FOR YOURSELF , WE NEED REAL SOLUTIONS AND THE PEOPLE WITH INTEGRITY TO LEAD THE COUNTRY OUT OF ALL THE CORRUPTION THAT YOUR FRIENDS HAS BEEN GETTING AWAY WITH FOR YEARS , THAT HAS PUT US IN THIS SH*T , AND YOU HERE POINTING ???? IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AS USUAL
  • Quit (11/10/2022, 22:16) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Everything for you is about black and white.....So dummyyyy
  • musa (12/10/2022, 05:25) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    The governor doing his job and our primer smell what cooking . Very soon he will be looking a job.
  • Shem (12/10/2022, 07:00) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Give ayo a chance to manage effectively ayo cant .is thief alone ayo just thief government money and the rest if people suffer .UK should take direct role. Case close


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