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Has Governor Rankin become the ‘Unwanted Uncle’ @ Thanksgiving Dinner?

Governor John J. Rankin, CMG at the 50th anniversary of the first observance of the British Virgin Islands/United States Virgin Islands Friendship Day celebrations on Saturday, October 22, 2022. Photo: GIS
Governor John J. Rankin, CMG attended the Annual Emancipation Service at Sunday Morning Well on July 31, 2022. Photo: GIS
Governor John J. Rankin, CMG attended the Annual Emancipation Service at Sunday Morning Well on July 31, 2022. Photo: GIS
It is reported Governor John J. Rankin, CMG also showed up, allegedly uninvited, at a science fair hosted by the Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) and injected himself in photos with the school children. Photo: GIS
It is reported Governor John J. Rankin, CMG also showed up, allegedly uninvited, at a science fair hosted by the Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) and injected himself in photos with the school children. Photo: GIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Today, Thursday, November 24, 2022, many in the United States of America are celebrating Thanksgiving.

In the Virgin Islands (VI); however, the buzz on the streets is if Governor John J. Rankin, CMG has become the ‘Unwanted Uncle’ in the room at a Thanksgiving dinner.

While to date the constitution of the Territory has not been officially suspended, many continue to claim that we have indirect rule and the Governor calls the shots in most public sector areas.

It is alleged that no major decisions can be made without the Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) checking in with the Governor.

The Governor is not elected but is simply an appointed senior foreign service civil servant of the United Kingdom (UK) with a lot of local constitutional powers.

In addition, many elected officials, civil servants, and ordinary residents are wondering aloud why Mr Rankin seems to be injecting himself in local events.

Why was he there?

Many were in shock to see him in July of this year at the Emancipation Celebration opening ceremony where he spoke.  This was a local celebration of freedom from the evils and shackles of the slave trade perpetrated by the country Governor Rankin represents, the UK.

It is also alleged that he went to many other local events uninvited. It is the protocol to send His Excellency, the Governor, an invitation to events where it’s appropriate for him to attend.

He was spotted, for example, at the horse races on August Tuesday 2022 at Ellis Thomas Downs, shaking hands like he was an elected politician. 

According to a senior retired civil servant whose last assignment was at the Premier’s Office, “the tradition is Governors are not to hold press conferences, interfere publicly in local politics and be around giving the impression that they were elected,”.

She noted that the previous Governor had also departed from that “unwritten protocol”. 

Those moves have been reserved for the 13 elected officials of the House of Assembly (HoA), the retired civil servant opined.

It is said the Governor also showed up, allegedly uninvited, at a science fair hosted by the Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) and injected himself in photos with the school children.

He forced two nominees on the Territory  

It was very controversial when he also injected himself in the Constitutional Review Commission by nominating two persons, despite the strong objections from Cabinet. Many residents saw this as very inappropriate, as the constitution usually comes from the people and must be in line with their aspirations.

There is nothing to prevent the Governor or any other resident from showing up to any public event; however, tradition dictates that Governors will await for an official invitation, which is never unreasonably withheld.

While we know he has new friends all over the Islands in both the public and private sectors, after the Commission of Inquiry report, with a minority of people telling him the UK should recolonise the VI by suspending the constitution, the majority of residents have rejected the notion that the territory should be run by an unelected Governor.

The only place so far the Governor cannot enter without an invitation is the HoA; however, with many thinking he has all the power, anything remains possible.

41 Responses to “Has Governor Rankin become the ‘Unwanted Uncle’ @ Thanksgiving Dinner?”

  • Just saying (24/11/2022, 12:04) Like (28) Dislike (15) Reply
    Well sah vino you all have me cracking up
  • Common Sense (24/11/2022, 12:22) Like (64) Dislike (14) Reply
    Why does this stupidity continue, as much as the reality might be hard to digest, the BVI is a British territory and everyone lives here at his majesties pleasure, and, that includes the Governor, who, has as much right to live here as anyone else. Change this attitude unless you want direct rule to prove a point.
    • @ Common Sense (24/11/2022, 13:17) Like (15) Dislike (28) Reply
      please stop the propaganda as I read the article it was about protocol and his awaiting an official invitation. You need to sop with the hate for the locals and those who are elected!!!!
      • Common Sense (24/11/2022, 15:46) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
        Are you disputing anything I have stated, it’s the pure facts, you are the one bringing racism into the equation.
    • @common sense (24/11/2022, 13:45) Like (38) Dislike (8) Reply

      Thank you so very much for your comment, I am 100% in agreement with you. The stupidity shall continue. There is no reason for the constant disrespect. Perhaps it is not the right thing to say but, the UK should distance itself from the BVI, cut them off from everything and leave them all floating on a life preserve in the middle of the harbor, who survive, survive, who don’t, don’t. Let them eat and kill each other for survival since they are not understanding or want to understand the UK is the ruler of the Territory.Keep @#$%&* around and the UK will enforce direct rule.

      • @@ (24/11/2022, 13:52) Like (9) Dislike (10) Reply
        Ruler you say slavery is over boss man
      • Common Sense (24/11/2022, 16:10) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
        The majority of local people are decent individuals who do not deserve to be cast adrift and left to the mercy of the greedy and corrupt. They are all British subjects and the UK has an obligation to protect their interests, something casting them adrift would not do.
    • To Common sense (24/11/2022, 16:41) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      At His Majesty’s pleasure you say….lol
    • @common sense (25/11/2022, 00:01) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      You know that the majority is lacking basic common sense.
  • Rubber Duck (24/11/2022, 12:38) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    The man run things blame your own showda who signed off
  • lol (24/11/2022, 13:10) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    look jokes
  • Lawdy oh yooo (24/11/2022, 13:22) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Vino you not easy.
  • The Real Truth (24/11/2022, 13:32) Like (31) Dislike (6) Reply
    Come on team, this is a non story! The BVI always welcomes everyone to its celebrations, that is one of the great things about this place and its people. Must be a slow news day!
    • @ the real truth (24/11/2022, 13:50) Like (12) Dislike (3) Reply
      I read the article three times never saw where they said he was not welcomed.
  • 911 (24/11/2022, 13:54) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    If he running the country he must get around the question is who sell us to the modern slave master
  • Loose mouth (24/11/2022, 13:58) Like (23) Dislike (2) Reply
    When will we "emancipate ourselves from mental slavery"? There are a lot of countries around the world that were colonized by the British and others but have moved on and have become thriving nations. The way that we act here in the BVI one could swear that we are the only Island that was ever colonized. We blamed slavery for everything, for diabetes, high blood pressure, when we disciple our children we are told that it came from slavery..everyhing is about slavery. Look at what we have become! Look at what we have achieved! look at who we are despite the whip and shackles ,! I am no longer a slave. I am free! The UK can no longer enslave me! My fight is with those who are trying to keep me chained to my past. Those who are sowing seeds of hatred in the field of my mind.Those who reaping the evil fruit that only hatred could produce then using it to promote their own political and personal gain.
    • Well said (24/11/2022, 18:05) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Could not have said it better. I a. A free man. Go where I please, when I please. Free to eat when.,where and what I want. Invest in whichever business I 89want. Enough of this slavery blame game.
  • Hmmm. (24/11/2022, 14:33) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    Those corrupt official must see him as an unwanted uncle..That's expected. But for most of his he is a VIP guest at our thanks giving dinner.. #corruptionmuststop.
  • @ loose mouth (24/11/2022, 14:45) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    Vino why you all continue to allow these anti democratic fools to blog hate on your site and trying to rewrite history? The question should be why in 2022 is the bvi still coilinized?
    • @@loose mouth (24/11/2022, 16:53) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      Rewrite history? Who is trying to do so? Hatred? You are so consumed with it that you did not understand what was written. Continue to walk around clanking your chains and shackles. Obviously, others are moving on. I am proud of who I am..what our people have achieved in the face of adversity.
  • Reparations pls (24/11/2022, 14:49) Like (19) Dislike (7) Reply
    Put the fire on his Behind. They don't want to address Reparations.but speaking about suspending our constitution.
    • @Reparation pls (24/11/2022, 17:01) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      I do not want Reparation to give that to the first people of these Islands who were murdered and their lands Stolen by the Europeans. Return the Islands to them. I am looking for repatriation to the land of my ancestors. Now none of us want that.
      • The TRUTH (25/11/2022, 04:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        lol STFU
      • lol (25/11/2022, 08:56) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Instead of reparation indeed I agree. It should be repatriation. These fools want payment for their ancestors being slaves. Forgetting that after slavery was abolished our ancestors could return or stay to work. And many became landowners. And slavemasters themselves. Today in this day and age watch a man or woman of colour and see how they treat their employees. In the BVI. Then talk about slavery and oppression.
  • Youth (24/11/2022, 15:27) Like (14) Dislike (6) Reply
    He has modernized slavery.
  • King Charles I (24/11/2022, 16:34) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hilarious headline…
  • WELCOME (24/11/2022, 16:35) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
    The Governor is more welcome than most of these politrickians
  • only a matter of time (24/11/2022, 18:18) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    It is only a matter of time before the UK impose direct rule.I don’t see the people in the USVI displaying the lack of respect and talking down the people of the US mainland that is in charge. The USVI will never allow their butter to melt or their cheese to go moldy like you ungrateful fools in the BVI.
    • @ only a matter of time (24/11/2022, 23:30) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
      Hush you should be shame that the bvi in 2022 is still not independent shame shame on the bvi . Plus the bvi gets zero in financing from the UK unlike the usvi that gets millions in aid
  • Fix Yourself (24/11/2022, 18:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How did we get here.
  • Oh yeah (24/11/2022, 19:42) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    THE GOVERNOR RUN THINGS ,THINGS DONT RUN HE.
    OH YEAH BABY !
  • Top rankin (24/11/2022, 21:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is he skankin????
  • C’Mon (25/11/2022, 00:09) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    The man is rocking his Virgin Islands shirt, what is the problem…..
  • Interested (25/11/2022, 01:04) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    It is a free country. All residents of the BVI including the Governor are free to attend whatever public events they choose
  • Real Sambo (25/11/2022, 06:01) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    It is an open secret that tge unelected Governor has unilateral power provided under the constitution.. As other commentator have noted the constitution is a dependency model document with many undemocratic provision. Furthermore, colonialism is about unilateral power, control, and exclusion, along with exploitation. The UN appointed civil servants sent out to rule in the colonies don’t see and cannot bring themselves working shoulder to shoulder to blacks. Instead, they see themselves as superior to blacks, operating a big fish in a small pond. The air of superiority and unilateral power propel their superiority with attitude if you don’t like my behavior do something about it but you have no power so just suck it up. Jaspert was a pompous, arrogrant, blow hard media whore and Rankin is behaving in a similar manner. The BVI people is divided and engaged in self hatred and self discrimination that they do not know up from down, behaving embarrassingly and sickeningly like Herschel Walker, the Georgia state mummy handpicked by Donald Trump and a bootlicking token to run for the US Senate. BVI people fix yourself and stop being a laughing stock. Look in the mirror and believe the reflection. Stop the stepin and fetchin. It makes want to puke.
  • bvi (25/11/2022, 09:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Stop it mon, its call the British Virgin Island
  • RealPol (25/11/2022, 09:28) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Appointed or not, Rankins is Governor of the BVI and de facto head of state. Therefore, as a resident, it is responsible to expect that he as any other resident has the right to partake in community activities. If he were to boycott local events, we would be complaining about that too. Nonetheless, the BVI people should have a say in who is despatch to the BVI as governor. The Foreign Secretary (at least the former one) in diplomat speak espoused that the U.K. and territories are one family. If this is real talk, Virgin Islanders should have the opportunity to serve as governor of their own homeland. If no, what a bs farce. This is an issue the CRC should address. For me the CRC is timid and will not touch the dufficult issues and will work to keep the U.K. happy instead of working like hell for BVI people. The reality is there are lots of issues we should come together and agitate and advocate for . Focusing on where the governor goes is petty nonsense. Keep it real by wirking together or else we should just stay in chains as we have been for the last 400 years. Put up or shut up or more targetly stfu.
  • mumu (25/11/2022, 09:39) Like (1) Dislike (8) Reply
    Guv Rankin, continue to rule with an iron fist and go where you want, crashing the parties, and leave the BVI mumus alone. They still behaving as birds in a bird sanctuaries abd that is an insult to birds. The more educated they got the dumber they got. No wonder the Governor of the Leeward Island fud not want to waste a money on education for the mumus, the crabs. They behave more like crabs than birds.


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