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 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

“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 sealed 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, he 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.”