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Petition of over 1000 signatures against UK direct rule submitted to VI Governor

- Petition was done physically & online and submitted on May 4, 2022
A petition that appealed to Governor John J. Rankin, CMG and United Kingdom (UK) Overseas Territories Minister Hon Amanda A. Milling to reject the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) recommendation of suspension of the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) constitution and imposition of direct rule from London garnered over 1000 signatures and was submitted to the Governor on May 4, 2022. Photo: VINO/File
The online petition against direct rule on the BVI by the UK has so far accumulated 827 signatures. Photo: change.org
The online petition against direct rule on the BVI by the UK has so far accumulated 827 signatures. Photo: change.org
A number of persons had signed a similar petition during the public demonstration in front of the Office of the Governor on May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
A number of persons had signed a similar petition during the public demonstration in front of the Office of the Governor on May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- A petition that appealed to Governor John J. Rankin, CMG and United Kingdom (UK) Overseas Territories Minister Hon Amanda A. Milling to reject the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) recommendation of suspension of the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) constitution and imposition of direct rule from London garnered over 1000 signatures and was submitted to the Governor on May 4, 2022.

The petition was circulated physically and also online on change.org.

According to the online petition started on May 1, 2022, by a ‘Camroy P’, it was to ‘refute’ Recommendation A1 of the Commission of Inquiry Report by Commissioner, The Rt Honourable Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom.

What does the petition say?

“WE THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS MAKE THIS PETITION IN RESPONSE to the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendation that the Constitution of the Virgin Islands be partially suspended, that the House of Assembly be dissolved and that there be no ministerial government for a period of at least two years.

WHEREAS the said recommendation violates the bedrock of Virgin Islands society and the core tenets of our Constitution which recognises:

That the people of the Virgin Islands have a free and independent spirit, and have developed themselves and their country based on qualities of honesty, integrity, mutual respect, self-reliance and the ownership of the land engendering a strong sense of belonging to and kinship with those Islands”; and accepts “that the Virgin Islands should be governed based on adherence to well-established democratic principles and institutions”.

WE THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DEMAND that there be no suspension of any kind to our Constitution or democracy as such an action not only violates our CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS but our rights under international law by virtue of the Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (which applies in the Virgin Islands):

“(a) To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives;

(b) To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors;”.

WE FURTHER DEMAND that no changes be made to our Constitution unless such changes are initiated by the People of the Virgin Islands,” the petition states.

Over 1000 signatures received

The online petition had garnered 827 signatures.

Virgin Islands News Online was told the online petition and the one circulated physically accumulated more than 1000 signatures and were submitted on May 4, 2022.

A number of persons had signed the petition during the public demonstration in front of the Office of the Governor on May 2, 2022.

It appears that a large majority of Virgin Islanders are against direct rule by the UK, although they welcome the UK to work along with its government to improve good governance.

CARICOM, the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), The University of the West Indies (UWI) and the US Virgin Islands (USVI) have also called on the UK to not impose colonial rule in the [British] Virgin Islands.

Further, in efforts to stave off direct rule, the government and opposition united to form a coalition government, which has since been sworn in by Governor John J. Rankin, CMG.

Click link to access online petition against UK direct rule on the [British] Virgin Islands

39 Responses to “Petition of over 1000 signatures against UK direct rule submitted to VI Governor”

  • lol (10/05/2022, 10:42) Like (75) Dislike (5) Reply
    Where are the petitions to solve murders in the BVI or for stiffer sentence for gun and ammo possession??
  • wondering (10/05/2022, 10:45) Like (76) Dislike (4) Reply
    So, is this like a referendum, to let the people chose? Where is petition for people in favor of Britain to take over?
    • @Wondering (10/05/2022, 13:50) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
      If you are so keen why don't you get one organised? Or do you just like to sit at the keyboard and chat s**t?
    • Rubber Duck (10/05/2022, 15:33) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
      So 3 % of the population. . Wow, impressive.

      I think we know that the other 97% want these crooks thrown out and a new constitution that prevents them from robbing us in the future.
  • "Parliament of Law" (10/05/2022, 10:52) Like (26) Dislike (0) Reply
    THE CONSTITUTION OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS 2007: An excerpt of the [Preamble]:-
    ["Noting that the (UNITED KINGDOM-UK, the ADMINISTERING POWER"] for the ["TIME BEING"] has ARTICULATED a [DESIRE] to enter into a [MODERN PARTNERSHIP] with the BVI, based on the [principles] of [mutual] respect and self-determination"].
    Oath of office by members of the House of Assembly:-
    "! member of the H.o.A do swear that I will well and truly ["serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second AND the the PEOPLE of the BVI"] in the office of "PREMIER, etal, etc..-SO HELP ME GOD"].
    Instead the Director of Public Prosecutions (the DPP) [in a press conference] (in the Public's Interest) commence criminal prosecution on [indictment] in the High Court of Justice],without involving police criminal investigators, you people with your [locally-born-here] foolishness, talking about signing petition? Let UK rule the BVI!
    I will sign the petition for ALL the elected members on the VIP side to RESIGN FORTHWITH!
    They condoned the wrong in public offices, now that UK has invoked the provisions of the [preamble] to the BVI Constitution, which clearly expressed:-["NOTING that the UNITED KINGDOM the ADMINISTER POWER FOR THE TIME BEING"]....
  • lol (10/05/2022, 10:54) Like (40) Dislike (3) Reply
    Let the petition speak!!! Over 1k out of over 20k persons in the BVI. 1k is a joke.
    • Really??? (10/05/2022, 15:37) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
      Because how many signatures did you get when Myron built the wall?
      How many signatures did you get when Bishop Crime denied the Hospital staff their increase?
      How many signatures did you get every time F*T A****T wrote a new tender-waiver contract?
      From a population so willing to put up all that (and all the rest) and say nothing, 1,000 signatures are significant.
  • use your head (10/05/2022, 11:06) Like (52) Dislike (2) Reply
    Please go sit down with that 1,000 signatures out of 35,000 people in this Territory.

    So unrealistic.
  • petition (10/05/2022, 11:14) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ye let them do a petition online like this news site so we won’t get victimized by them. They have to monitor it too cause the news site will still out votes like in elections
  • Really (10/05/2022, 11:22) Like (15) Dislike (5) Reply
    You all need to understand that the UK owns Tortola British Virgin islands. They call then all the shots now. How many time the government got money from the UK? This government doesn't have money to run an island. How much money they owe social security? People use common sense instead of being sheeps. All your doing is creating a history that was planned and playing out in front us. No one knows any history of Tortola,all America and made history. You have no prove from your family about tolas history only books the elites gave us. Everything dumb teaching is Africa like people really can sail a boat with mo engine across the country. Go do it now amd prove it to me if you believe the trash teaching. Get on a boat no compass,no engine, no peddles just a dingy and go to Africa and come back the same way and tell me your story. It dumb teaching. Its funny how people believe everything they hear they don't even do research or any critical thinking. Get ready for China's way of living because its going to be worldwide so that the second beast can worship the first. For you to understand that you need to think hard and see what's going on in China right now
  • Star (10/05/2022, 11:34) Like (38) Dislike (2) Reply
    I WILL NOT BE MARCHING, now they want "island people" to come out. WOW!
    • Peonia (10/05/2022, 12:16) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
      This down island lady will not be marching or voting here again..
    • @Star (10/05/2022, 12:25) Like (22) Dislike (1) Reply
      They want to use the down Island people as they love to call them for the numbers. Now they want the down Island people to help them when the gun is down their throats. Don’t let them use you.
      • fromafar (10/05/2022, 13:11) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
        that's what this is about divide us , shame shame , get direct rule for your countries.
      • @@Star (10/05/2022, 18:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        I totally agree with you, They are looking for numbers.You people from other Caribbean Islands that they always look down on, I agree, don’t allow them to use you like that.But at the end of the day it is your decision if you choose to join the protest or not.
  • Analysis (10/05/2022, 11:37) Like (35) Dislike (0) Reply
    1. What evidence has been presented that the petition was signed by verified BVI voters?
    2. Assuming all 1000 signatories are BVI voters, this hardly likely to be a majority of the BVI electorate.
    3. How many BVI voters have been asked to sign a petition for the UK to take over?
    4. If you don’t want the UK to take over, then who is going to run the place without it being the same old same old?
  • All Love (10/05/2022, 11:50) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    Come out from Among them, I will not be marching with the people who have been raping the country ALL these Years!!!
    • @ All Love (10/05/2022, 14:36) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      Nor sitting on the ground with them like the elected representatives did in the last protest.

  • Who is world watching now?? (10/05/2022, 12:00) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    And no one in government knew what was going on at any point in criminal time. Haha. How does that work. As we can see, you all working together and no one is complicit, no one knows anything, no documentation, no data. Check out the Beacon today. Can you read that? This is beyond crazy. Yes, now the world is reading “the comments” closely. Now they are seeing some ignorant stuff. Keep it up.
  • plain and simple (10/05/2022, 12:09) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    They have there rights to protest and sign as much petitions as they like. They are just protesting because their backs is against the wall and some people is involved in these protests and marches for their own selfish means. The BVI is looking down the barrel of a double gauge shot gun. I choose not to attend, my reason? I will not stand and protest with criminals or people that is using this protest for their own personal agendas.
    • Really??? (10/05/2022, 13:53) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
      I stand and protest as an individual. If a criminal MS shows up and stands beside me that has nothing to do with me.
      • @ Really??? (10/05/2022, 14:39) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
        You got two feet...walk away!!!!

        Some of them sat down when they could have shown what they really stand for (no pun intended), STAND UP, AND WALK AWAY!

        ELECTED REPS HAD NOT CALL THEIR IN THE FIRST PLACE INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR THE MEETING WITH THE UK REP!!
  • check it (10/05/2022, 13:49) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    Has anyone checked the signatures? Are we likely to find out that half of those on there are either dead or non-existent. I wouldn’t put it past them.
  • um? (10/05/2022, 14:39) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    1000 our of 30,000? 3%?
    • Calculator (10/05/2022, 17:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Did you need a calculator??? Sorry just kidding. Couldn’t help it. Fahie the math teaser used one for his 10% cut of 78 million which came to 7.8 million. :o)
  • Really (10/05/2022, 15:14) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    You all are protesting so the next generation can see this plandemic on tv. Every where in this world protect. You all better understand that that means it's uprising all over the world since this mRNA crispr technology Vaccine popped up over a year ago. Protesting will not stop AGENDA 2030 you will own nothing and be happy brought to you by the Elites bloodline and all their freemason puppets. War, feminine, uprising, earthquake, witchcraft, Sodom and Gomorrah,the mark of the beast. Revelation times playing in Real time. Research your life depends on it
  • This is like a guilty plea. (10/05/2022, 17:00) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    This This will help make Britain case to come in and take over..17000 voters less than 2000 signature... Hope they didn't send this foolishness to the Governor. Anything less than 4000 signatures. Will make Britain laugh like it's a big Joke..
  • Be careful what you wish for... (10/05/2022, 17:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What's the betting that Minister Milling arrived with the latest draft of the "British Virgin Islands Independence Act, 202X" so that the Governor could have it on hand for dating and signing as soon as we asked for it? Until then, we shouldn't bleat about rights under Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights unless we ready to take on the responsibilities........
  • "Parliament of Law" (10/05/2022, 19:15) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Registration of Interest[The Virgin Islands Constitution] Section 112:-

    (2)"It [shall be the duty] of any person to whom this section applies to [declare] to the Registrar, for the entry in the [Register of Interest],such interests, assets, income and [LIABILITIES] of that person, or of any other person connected with him or her, as maybe prescribed by law:-

    (3) This section applies to ALL members of the House of Assembly (except the Governor) as may be prescribed by LAW".
    We heard our elected members of the HoA and the[?] confessed under Oath, that ["they did NOT declare their interest].
    Subsection (5) of 112 of the constitution expressed that the penalties for not declaring interest, includes ["Suspension of a member of the House of Assembly from sitting and voting in the House, for such period as may be prescribed in such law"].
    The Governor should dissolve the House of Assembly, and [LET UK TAKE DIRECT RULE]
  • Andrew help me with my math (10/05/2022, 19:44) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    “Over 1000 signatures received…….. It appears that a large majority of Virgin Islanders are against direct rule by the UK”

    Since when is 1000 a large majority of 17000?

    Andrew lend me your calculator
  • Kick rocks (10/05/2022, 20:03) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    You all treated us the Expats worse than dogs and now you all want us to walk with you all for numbers.Don’t walk with them, they don’t give a s**t about us. We Expats is going to be just fine. We did not do anything that cause the uproar in the territory. This is a agenda by certain people and I refuse and will not be a part of it.
  • lol (10/05/2022, 20:58) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Marching in support of the political plunderdemic
  • Madea (10/05/2022, 22:25) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    How many times did the 50 protestors I saw at the demonstration sign? 1000? Even if this is true there are over 30k people in the BVI -and not sure how may of them can vote though because the belongers don't want people who have been here years and paid they dues to have the right to vote. As this is BVI I would check every single name and ask for ID and check they alive!
  • 1000 Clowns (11/05/2022, 08:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well ain’t that embarrassing. I mean who really submitted that pathetic piece of paper, clearly not persons with a brain. The UK probably shaking their heads at all the idiotic attempts of the local government and their supporters.

    I mean it’s so obvious that the majority of the population wants the UK to takeover it's annoying to see that rapists in the government still try their hardest to retain their power. No one wants incompetent retards running and ruining their lives for another 30-40 decades. You individuals in Government lack a considerable amount of knowledge to run a country.


    The evidence and the outcries so overwhelming it’s inane to think the UK will let these idiots continue to run THEIR country. I have ZERO sympathy for those clowns. “You ain’t from here” is the product of the BVI Government’s decades of dedicated work an the idiots that constantly repeat that nonsense. You would swear they own the place.
  • Same Same (11/05/2022, 10:18) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    We BVIslanders are so full of f***!!!
    People out there marching for our democracy – but a whole year-long examination of our government, and all the known drugs activities that dominate our islands, all shows us that we don't even have a democracy. It's called a KLEPTOCRACY. And smart, dirty people out there manipulating good people with simple minds to demand we keep it?
    People saying the UK can't take away our rights - what rights we had all this 70 years? The right to ask your uncle to give you a contract? The rights to share the cookies with our cousin? The rights to let FA, Bevis, Butthead and their friends to do what they please all over these islands with no one to check them?
    Can the UK take away our rights? The bigger question is, can the UK take away our WRONGS?
    For the sake of our children and their children, I hope so.


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