'Reserved' Order to suspend VI Constitution laid before UK parliament
This Order will allow for the suspension of certain provisions of the Constitution of the Virgin Islands, Order 2007, in particular those relating to ministerial Government and the House of Assembly, for a period of 2 years from the date the Order comes into force.
Several offices to become vacant
If enforced, the Order vacates certain offices, including that of the Premier, and dissolves the House of Assembly. Other offices to become vacant will include that of the Deputy Premier, all other Ministers, Leader of the Opposition, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Cabinet Secretary.
This will create a Governor-led administration and give the Governor the power to oversee most of the functions of the offices suspended.
The instrument also makes temporary provisions for the Government of the Virgin Islands, led by the Governor, to consult (except in prescribed circumstances) an Advisory Council and establish a consultative forum.
This Advisory Council will be made up of the Governor, Deputy Governor, Attorney General, Permanent Secretary of Finance, and several other nominated members subject to other requirements.
The Governor will also maintain the power to terminate a member of the Advisory Council at any time.
Two years of rule unless terminated
The Order is to expire two years after commencement unless it is continued in force or is sooner revoked by a further Order in Council.
When laid before the Parliament, the order accompanied a note that an impact assessment has not been produced for the instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the United Kingdom private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.
On June 8, 2022, the Governor announced that while the UK will not suspend the VI’s constitution, to implement CoI recommendations, it has put in place the option of temporary suspension of the House of Assembly and Cabinet.
This option he said will also facilitate a temporary governor-led interim administration, assisted by an Advisory Council to drive forward the implementation of any outstanding recommendations as insurance should the Government of Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) fail to bring reform and implement the CoI recommendations.
It was revealed that the plan was agreed to in a proposal by the Unity Government without the input of the people of the VI and without the public even seeing the final proposal.
Dr Wheatley has said it was done with good intentions and "in the best interest of the VI."
Click link to download 'The Virgin Islands Constitution (Interim Amendment) Order 2022:
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14 Responses to “'Reserved' Order to suspend VI Constitution laid before UK parliament”
Please my people, stop All unhelpful ,and unnecessary provocation against the UK,and the CoI. If we don't quickly, our previledge of internal self governance will be taken away from us swiftly. My dear people, be wise. Forsake ignorance, and embraced sound knowledge, and faultless wisdom.
Ku Klux Klan back agin
Any Government that truly representative a people must first consulted them to properly represent their views
Only a dictatorship government behave that way in my honest opinion. Is there such a thing as unity government that the boss (the people) has no say?
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