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Governor Rankin shares joke about being 'appointed' to govern

-Comments could spark a fresh set of anti-colonialism discussions over removal of Governor's Office
Governor of the Virgin Islands, H.E. John J. Rankin, CMG has admitted that he was never elected to govern in the VI, rather he was selected to take up the Office of Governor and appointed by the late Queen, Elizabeth II. Photo: GIS/Facebook
Early in 2022, one social commentator, Clause O. Skelton-Cline had called for the Office of the Governor as well as the associated Speech from the Throne to be dismantled and removed from the VI. Photo: VINO/File
Early in 2022, one social commentator, Clause O. Skelton-Cline had called for the Office of the Governor as well as the associated Speech from the Throne to be dismantled and removed from the VI. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Governor of the Virgin Islands (VI), H.E. John J. Rankin, CMG has admitted that he was never elected to govern the VI, rather he was selected to take up the seat of Governor and appointed by the late Queen, Elizabeth II.

Speaking at today’s October 22, 2022, Friendship Day Celebration between the VI and the USVI, the Governor casually mentioned that during a breakfast with USVI Governor, Albert Bryan Jr, he was asked about how he came to get the post of Governor. 

“I said well, I wasn’t elected… and he said how do you get to be Governor of the Virgin Islands? I said well I was appointed by the Queen to which he said that sounds pretty good to me,” Governor Rankin detailed.  

While some may see the supposed humour of the statements, for others, the Governor’s boasting of being selected for a top office in a democratic society could spark a fresh set of anti-colonialism discussions over the Governor’s seat and what exactly the office represents as a relic of slavery.

Calls for Speech from the Throne to end 

Early in 2022, one social commentator, Claude O. Skelton-Cline had called for the Office of the Governor as well as the associated Speech from the Throne to be dismantled and removed from the VI.

“The UK still has a grip on this country constitutionally, a grip on our minds, and it is this kind of institutionalized speech that reinforces the position of the coloniser to those who have been colonised,” he said on the Tuesday, Jan 18, 2022, edition of his radio show, Honestly Speaking.

“I for one want us to rid ourselves of these kinds of relics,’ he added while revealing that his goal for himself and the territory is to be a part of a free and independent country.

“I am not at all happy and I not at all will participate in anything that attempts to affirm, reaffirm, celebrates all of these colonial-type relics,” Skelton-Cline detailed.

29 Responses to “Governor Rankin shares joke about being 'appointed' to govern”

  • Monarchy (22/10/2022, 18:59) Like (49) Dislike (8) Reply
    It is a pity that we do not understand how a monarchy functions. This is blatant ignorance. No one elects the monarch, who as the head of the Territory, appoints their representative. We are not a Republic. We are not an independent nation. It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
    • @Monarch (23/10/2022, 10:52) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Thank you for an intelligent comment. You must read. Can you also explain to the BVISLANDER THAT THE BVI is not nearly a democracy either. What? BVI has never experienced democracy. Get real and wake up BVI. It is done and you will follow the world as it moves NOW NOW NOW. And it is not the UK you should be worried about. You cannot see beyond BVI island to know who really runs the world.
  • petty nonsense (22/10/2022, 19:07) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    some still into petty things and might be forgetting as a developing country we bigger fish to fry. Stop being distracted by simple stuff and try to recall our forefathers we actually beaten
  • :) (22/10/2022, 19:17) Like (8) Dislike (12) Reply
    The UK should allow us to vote for our governor. It doesn’t have to be a local but we should have these candidates campaign on issues and let us choose our representative.
    • :) (23/10/2022, 10:56) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      You should wake up quickly. You will see who is coming. It well written in hundreds of document around the world. So much opinion and not nearly enough knowledge that your present government of black citizens have not informed you about. Shocking result about for all citizens
  • jack (22/10/2022, 19:27) Like (13) Dislike (27) Reply
    He has too much power and not elected he must go!
  • YO! RANKS! (22/10/2022, 19:28) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    Liz dead....bounce.
    • unvaxx 4ever (23/10/2022, 09:58) Like (3) Dislike (7) Reply
      He sharing jokes but i am ready for my Reparation
    • A YO-YO RANKS (23/10/2022, 12:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      A yo-yo is a great label for you. What kind of human are you? Your remarks are no cool. I hope you don’t wear dread locks as well. You must love a circus. Keep up the circus in your head. You have said way too much. Be careful because God is with you too. Good luck with the crap that comes from your mouth. Hope you had fun sharing your comment.
    • @ Yo! RANKS! (23/10/2022, 16:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The King is in….learn sense!
  • resident (22/10/2022, 20:13) Like (26) Dislike (19) Reply
    How is the BVI a democratic society when most of the tax payers who actually pay tax don’t get to vote?
    • #resident (22/10/2022, 23:58) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
      Any where in the world you work you will have to pay taxes. Paying taxes do not give you the right to vote.
    • @resident (23/10/2022, 07:06) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
      @Resident, you are experiencing a dystopian fancy. No where in the world do people get the right to vote because they pay taxes. It does not happen in your homeland. The right and ability is a function of being a citizen and meeting the other established requirements. Countries collect taxes and fees to deliver services, ie, roads, schools, healthcare, garbage services, police protection, etc. And each resident is expected to pay a commensurate share of the cost of providing non-rival and non-excluding services. The BVI is not doing anything differently from what is done in your homeland.
      • BuzzBvi (24/10/2022, 06:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        The BVI is doing it differently!!!! It is taking taxes from both the represented and non represented adn not delivering roads, schools, healthcare, garbage services or pretty much anything needed to be a properly functioning nation.
    • resident (23/10/2022, 08:57) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      The UK rules to vote from the UK House of Commons library:
      Qualifying Commonwealth citizens who are resident in the UK are eligible to register for, and vote in, all elections in the UK.
      A qualifying Commonwealth citizen is someone who is resident in the UK and who has leave to remain in the UK or does not require leave to remain.

      One is eligible for leave to remain in the UK after 4 years I believe.
  • bvibuzz (22/10/2022, 20:27) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    The governor should be ashamed in 2022 to say that when we are to promote democracy all over the world
    • @BviBuzz (23/10/2022, 06:49) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
      @BVIBUZZ, colonialism has never been about promoting democracy. It has and is about exploitation, brutality, abuse of power, racial supremacy, hypocrisy, etc. It is undemocratic. It is the will of a stronger country with unearned power disadvantaging a weaker country and its people. It is an extractive institution and vicious circle. Dressing up the pig in pink ribbon is not going to clean up atrocities and autocratic behaviors.
      • @BVI BUZZ (23/10/2022, 10:59) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        You are as stupid as a rock. Trying to dumb down the citizens further than sleep has?
    • @bvi buzzy (23/10/2022, 10:44) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Nothing but ignorance pouring from an uneducated brain. You ought to be ashamed of spreading disinformation. I’m ashamed of you
  • Real Sambo (22/10/2022, 22:29) Like (3) Dislike (7) Reply
    A weak play on humor to distract from the current colonial plan to undermine and reduce democratic gains fought for and attain by the BVI, the hypocrisy on full display in the BVI with one set of rules for UK nationals and another for local Virgin Islanders, bringing to the fore the autocratic core of colonialism, etc. Is the Governor conscious that his role and responsibility as governor is to represent the crown, not Virgin Islanders and that he was not democratically selected and that the people he supposedly represents had no say in his selection.
    • @real sambo (23/10/2022, 10:39) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Just the kind of human Satan loves to bring to hell. Haven’t read a thing, just spewing for you own life
  • GOVERNOR (23/10/2022, 00:22) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    In the Islands, of St Lucia ,Jamaica, SVG, Barbados, Dominica, T&T, St Kitts & Nevis , (etc) who elect or appoints the Governor.?
    • The governor (23/10/2022, 11:02) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Are you for real with your comparison. Ohhhhhh you show the world sever ignorance and disability
  • jack (23/10/2022, 09:21) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    We need independence to be free from an unelected white governor who does not care about our people
    • jack (23/10/2022, 11:01) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      You and your politicians don’t care about YOUR people or we wouldn’t be here
      • Citizen (23/10/2022, 14:15) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply

        Well you must be Jesus. Get your @*$$ to your native country where there is worse political corruption.

  • To CSC (23/10/2022, 10:36) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    No need to worry or continue your conversation. Soon, very soon you will be part of a kingdom with blockchain weeding the corrupt population out, white, black and in between. Your speeches are so weak next to what is coming. You my dear are just what God is waiting for.
  • james (23/10/2022, 20:53) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The OT are still colonized.
  • StClair (24/10/2022, 09:49) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need 4 governors for the Virgin Islands. One for VG, JVD,Anagada and Tortola. NOW


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