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Proposed deadlines by Gov’t for reforms ‘not sufficiently ambitious’- Gov Rankin
The implementation of the recommendations has been forced upon the Virgin Islands by colonial masters UK, with the threat of direct rule if the VI resists. This would give Governor Rankin almost sole authority over the territory.
While the Virgin Islands government and people agree that there is need for reform in the territory, some of the recommendations made by the one-man Commissioner of the CoI, a UK national, needs time and consultation with the people.
UK Minister for the Overseas Territories, Lord Goldsmith recently gave a revised deadline of May 2024 for the CoI Recommendations to be implemented.
Governor still not pleased with pace of CoI implementation
But according to Governor Rankin in his Third Quarterly Review, which covers up to May 2023, he has “some concerns that the proposed deadlines which have been compiled by the Government are not sufficiently ambitious and indeed could result in bottlenecks towards the end of 2023 and early in 2024.”
The Governor, in the report released to the media today, June 9, 2023, said he has been working with the Premier over the past few weeks to ensure that the deadlines associated with the Framework Agreement are both achievable and realistic.
He said it is vital that the pace of reform increases to compensate for delays to date, and that action is not left until the last minute.
“It is also vital that the focus of work moves forward from process to actual substantive delivery of practical reforms. The need, as set out in the letter from Lord Goldsmith, is to ensure that the reforms have “taken root” no later than May 2024. If it looks as though this will not be the case, additional action will be required,” Mr Rankin wrote.
Meanwhile, Governor Rankin will be holding a press conference at 2:00 PM today in relation to his Third Quarterly Review.
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34 Responses to “Proposed deadlines by Gov’t for reforms ‘not sufficiently ambitious’- Gov Rankin”
SO STOP WITH THE COLONIALISM BLAMING AND LET US GET OUR ACT TOGETHER SO ALL OUR PEOPLE CAN HAVE A BETTER CHANCE AT A COMFORTABLE LIFE AND NOT JUST A SELECT FEW.
Do everything else expect those visas. Gay marriage don’t bother me because it won’t be in my face or space. I think that will happen at the resorts. Not our churches. It better not happen in our churches . That is where I will have to say no no no no. If man want to marry man and woman marry woman. God will deal with them. It’s not for me to judge.
You talking about where is the input from the people of the BVI. Question to you, are the people allowed to give their input or given a chance to give their input? Did they listen to the people when they give their input as to why the free concert was not necessary at this time when there are more pressing issues that needs to be addressed? Simply shut the @#$& up, PLEASE AND THANK YOU!!!!!.
Gov John Rankin, CMG, probably is never going to be satisfied with the pace. This whole thing is as f’c&ed up as Hogan’s goat. What is the genesis of recommendations? A handpicked , single member, one-sided controversial retired judge Gary Hickinbottom was appointed to conduct a Commission of Inquiry (CoI). The process was not fair. Functions under the purview of local government was examined from top to bottom, left to right and in and out. Whereas , functions falling under the purview of the Governor, a fellow Brit, got the air brushed treatment , if any examination at all. It seems to have a case Colonialism at work, ie, exclusionary, special privileged, racial superiority,etc. The colonialists look out for and favor other colonialists and Brits. The Colonialists at Mount Olympus and sambo sympathizers may decry the foregoing. But however, it is twisted the outcome will be the same—REAL.
Moreover, the government under duress may have errored in setting or agreeing to the implementing timeline. I understand the pressure that the local government was under, trying to avoid the constitution being suspended as recommended by the one -sided and controversial lone commissioner. Despite the effort by government, the constitution was still suspended anyway by an order in council and is being held in abeyance and dangling like the Sword of Damocles over the VI and its people. The Governor hold power to suspend the constitution at any time and for any reason. This power equates to that of a plantation owner over slaves. As the slaves had no recourse to redress how they were being abused , so too local government has no meaningful means of redressing issues. Do what I say or else. Clearly, there was not trust in the so called negotiations. There was no negotiation in earnest, for the Brits got want they wanted; in fact, they got a better deal. If the constitution had been suspended and the UK taken over and things went south they would have gotten the blame perhaps. On other hand, now that the local government is charge, somewhat ( I say somewhat because the Governor has unilateral power) but if things headed south now the blame falls on the local government. Further, some of the recommendations are low hanging fruit and can be done quickly. Others are higher climb up hill and takes time, ie, they have to evaluated, determined a best course of action. But what is happening now is doing things that a lone commissioner determines should be done whether it is good for the VI or not. In making some of these decisions, the decision should not be just based for today that is pleasing to the colonialists but rather what is better/best for the BVI for the long-term. For the best results, laws may need to be change, constitution amended, etc. Now we marching to the beat of Massa doing what he wants. The self/governing thing is a farce.
Moreover, here is a news flash. All of our problems are not engineered by the colonialists. We engineered some of them ourselves. So we must look in the mirror and take our blows. We need to pursue the self-determination process, ie, free association, independence, integration, etc.
Especially when it comes to labor and immigration and belongership, Fix your constitution to what you want then make sure you follow it. Don't rush into anything the governor want you to do then government can not reverse.
We are 2 different cultures.. We are sustain by different things The people of the BVI need to stand for what they want it is their place. No to corruption but allow them to have a say in what they want its their country!!