Governor rules out more powers; Premier eyes end to Order in Council
“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.”
_Skip_the_Ferry_copy_(2).jpg)
Follow Us On
7 Responses to “Governor rules out more powers; Premier eyes end to Order in Council”
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.
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.
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.
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
... Why do we address slowande as Dr.?