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Governor rules out more powers; Premier eyes end to Order in Council

Governor Daniel Pruce (left) at a press conference on May 9, 2025 and Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) at his separate press conference also held on May 9, 2025. Photo: Facebook
The United Kingdom (UK) put an Order in Council in place in the Virgin Islands in 2022, enabling the UK government to impose direct rule should the reforms fail. Photo: Internet Source
The United Kingdom (UK) put an Order in Council in place in the Virgin Islands in 2022, enabling the UK government to impose direct rule should the reforms fail. Photo: Internet Source
The decision to lift the Order in Council lies with the Minister for the Overseas Territories, Stephen J. Doughty, and the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy. Photo: Internet Source
The decision to lift the Order in Council lies with the Minister for the Overseas Territories, Stephen J. Doughty, and the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Governor of the Virgin Islands (VI) Daniel Pruce and Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) have jointly affirmed their opposition to any further expansion of the powers of the United Kingdom’s resident representative in the Territory.

“I do not judge the additional powers for the Governor. Honestly,” Pruce said, clarifying his position on May 9, 2025, during a press engagement to provide an update on the implementation of the now completed Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

Order in Council

Qualifying his position further,  he posits,  “It's evident from this process that the closer we work together, the more we achieve; A genuine partnership based on trust and mutual understanding is the most effective way of ensuring that the aspirations of the CoI reforms can be achieved.” As it relates to the concentration of additional powers in the Governor’s office, he told media operatives that effective governance is best achieved through collaborative partnership rather than unilateral authority.

Meanwhile, Premier Wheatley, in a separate subsequent press conference, welcomed the Governor’s position and echoed the sentiment that strengthening democracy should be the guiding principle.  “I want to thank the Governor for acknowledging that this entire process has been one that we have fought very hard to keep democratic. We don't think that the Governor having additional powers is consistent with the democratic principles that we champion.”

Gov’t ownership

According to Dr Wheatley, the VI had fulfilled its obligations under the Framework Agreement, and as such called for the lifting of the Order in Council—a controversial legislative instrument enacted in 2022 that enables the UK government to impose direct rule should the reforms fail. 

“We believe that we've done everything we have needed to do to be able to see that Order in Council lifted,” he said. 

Governor Pruce, on the other hand, offered a measured assessment of the territory’s progress, telling media operatives, “Since the CoI Report was published, 18 pieces of legislation relating to the delivery of reforms have passed through the House of Assembly. Thirteen of these were passed between May 2024 and September 2024—an intensive period following my last quarterly review.” He did note, however, that while the legislative framework is in place, much of the heavy lifting remains in the implementation phase.

“The key priority now is the development of comprehensive policies and procedures which align with the legislation. These policies must be accessible to the public and consistently applied. To enable that, resources and training are also needed.” According to the Governor, the reforms were “in their infancy”, and therefore stressed the importance of government ownership of the process. 

Goalpost shifting

Pressed on the UK's decision, Governor Pruce refrained from speculating on whether the Order in Council would be lifted, stating that the decision lies with the Minister for the Overseas Territories, Stephen J. Doughty, and the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy.

Premier Wheatley was nonetheless adamant his government had adhered strictly to the process laid out by the UK. 

“We were asked to do a self-assessment report—we've done that. We had public engagement, which has been done. FCDO officials have visited—that has been done; So we believe that we've done everything required to see that Order in Council lifted.”

To this end, he outright rejected the notion that conditions or expectations should be changed at this stage. “We certainly wouldn't like to hear of the goalpost shifting; History will show that the Government and people of the Virgin Islands seized the opportunity to advance in preparation for greater self-governance.”

7 Responses to “Governor rules out more powers; Premier eyes end to Order in Council”

  • My Honest take.. (10/05/2025, 13:59) Like (20) Dislike (6) Reply
    Truth is an offence but not a Sin...1/. We need the order in council to remain it is what keeping these gangster politicians in order....2/ The Governor manage better than the Premier, the service between Immigration and passport office is night and day, Passport office service excellent, Immigration office very poor like ni one in charge, when go immigration to get information or ask a question you either been brushed off or promised a call you never get. A simple a card printing machine been out of order, not working for so long..Sad.
  • Tafari Zharr (10/05/2025, 15:06) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    OH BERTHA - Ha Ha Ha - Ooh Wee
    by Tafari Zharr


    Oh Bertha
    Don’t Gotta Sing You No More
    I know I Been Away Too Long
    Time For Guava Berry And Rum?
    Petitioning For VG Bomba Shack Fun?
    To End COI In Twenty Twenty Five
    To Sighs And Highs
    Ohhh Weee
    To Rusty Old Boots
    To Buyers Beware Coming Out Of COI Blues
    To Bothered, Blotched And Bruised
    To Laid-Off Or Laid-Up
    To About To Be Brought Up Or Booked
    To Friends With Audacity
    To Fake Jacked-Up Camaraderie
    To The Happy Mix To Your Mingle
    To The Jingling Feet Without Defeat
    To Upbeats For The Meritorious
    To Revamping Over Playing Of Hands
    To Moving Up , On, And Coming Out Strong
    To Comebacks Neither Braking Banks Nor Backs
    To Memories, Remedies, Opposition Fracas
    Xenophobia Roasting On Open Floor
    Political Parties Descension and Fire
    To Chapel’s Satire Replay As You Require
    To Grand Encounters & Escapades
    To Perpetual Patience Properly Placed
    To Genuine Compromise & Peace
    To Deciphering The Moral Decay Or Purity
    To Seeking A Meaningful Life Not Its Lure
    To Inwards Outside Of Lux and Lust
    To Penetrations Beyond The Obvious
    To The Incalculable Element In Existence
    To No Shortages Of Touch And Love
    To Justify Kissing-In-The-Wind
    To Live With Laughter And Fulfillment
    To Life & Everything In, Out & Between
    To Unlocking Longing & Grinning
    To Maniacal Egos Ergo The Thera-pute
    To Forced Menus By Abject Attitudes
    Gotta Appreciate VG’s Latitude
    To Celebrating Lil-Willingness
    To Accept Your Actions Over The Caress
    To Tapping Lefthand On Right Shoulder
    Swiping Leftovers
    Here’s A Toast To A Definitive Goodbye
    Not Mired Oversight Wink And Blink To COI
    Or Limping, Lingering, Thrusting On 2025
    To Giving Us What You Think We Need
    Premier The Piano Lesson Is A Must See
    Some Feeling Like A Sucker Again
    “Ha! Ho! Ho!
    Meanwhile VG remains Under Parliament
    Bought And Spent
    For The Power Trip Of Sowande
    Constitutionally Locked In
    Do You Got Him Buying Sh*t Again
    Oh Bertha, Hahaha, Ohh Wee
    In The Words Of Artist Michael Lizzmore
    You Need Us To Hang On A Little Longer
    How Much Longer And Farther
    Just “Promise That You’ll wait?”
    While deep down inside
    You got a poem from a friend
    You Must Love Letters Daddy Again
    It’s been a long way till The End
    Clearer Heads - Light Breathing Again
    Life Under The Stars
    Borderline - Borders Without Bars
    Oh Bertha, Ha Ha Ha, ooh Weee
    Oh Uncle Charles


    Copyright © 2025 By Tafari Zharr. All rights reserved.
  • Senior native citizen of the British Virgin Islands (10/05/2025, 16:01) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    In reference to the topic issue at hand, or on the table, what has been reported by our Premier, in regards to the meeting with governor, Daniel Pruce, true partnership, when needed is the better choice, and better way to bridge the gap between two (2) contrary opinions, but when it comes or refers to our local political leaders, and we the people, their boss, they, the political leaders, our employees, have refused, and continuing to refusing good partnership
    n decision making for the betterment of our interest, but rather they chooses their own plans over ours, and execution of them that benefitted, and continuing benefitting them, their family, their closest political supporters, their friends, and even ours, and theirs frienamies, too.

    Our governor is not the CoI, neither is he the UK'S government. The UK'S government gives him orders that he is been made accountable to them to fulfilled. When we resist, it shift position somewhat to make it appear that we are equal partners, but the truth is that in the UK'S government mindset, we are junior partners. Truly we are, in spite of what our governor's, Hon. Daniel Pruce, and our Premier has said.

    You may or you may not agree with me on this. The government of the UK has the overruled power to forged betterment of representation for almost all of the B.V.I people in a twelve months time period, but as the true saying goes: "Birds of feathers flock together. If that has confused your mind, read on. Wolves food is not wolves meat, but rather sheep, and other animals of flesh.
    In my honest opinion, neither does the UK'S political leaders, our local political leaders cares about good governance representation for the people of the B.V.I, if they did, we wouldn't be in all the filty mess we now are in, in my honest opinion.



  • BuzzBvi (10/05/2025, 21:28) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Oh Boy. Who will save us now?
    Generations of VIslanders will be paying for the money given out to the current political leaders and their elite friends.
    Not a pot hole has been fixed or more than a mile of road paved out of the $100,000.
    How do you all think it is going to go with the $Billion dollar airport.
    You are either in line for the money or you need to stand up and stop what is happening in this nation before it is too late.
  • Rush Hour (10/05/2025, 23:03) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why these man so pressed to remove the order in council

    If all the work done....


    If I finish my homework and teacher punishing those who didn't why should I be worried? I finish it...

    Like something missing from the story man or y'all in a rush to go back doing nonsense
  • pat (11/05/2025, 07:45) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Independence or death
  • Migoman (12/05/2025, 22:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    DONT JUDGE ME, IM JUST ASKING

    ... Why do we address slowande as Dr.?


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