Should Foreign Office take direct control of BVI? – UK MP Chris J. Bryant asks
“Surely following the arrest of its Premier, the FCDO should now take direct control of the British Virgin Islands pending a further investigation into corruption and money laundering?,” the Labour MP asked on Twitter, yesterday, April 29, 2022.
Mr Bryant, who is the MP for Rhondda, South Wales, and has been an MP continuously since June 7, 2001, has asked his question ahead of Queen’s representative, John J. Rankin, CMG, stating the CoI Report recommended that the VI be ruled through ‘Direct Rule’.
The Governor said the report has concluded there may have been instances of corruption by successive governments and that the CoI Commissioner Sir Gary R. Hickenbottom made several recommendations, including direct rule; speedy review of the VI Constitution; curtailment of 'open-ended discretionary powers' held by public officials, including Cabinet; and a series of audits, which may lead to criminal investigations.
A return to colonialism?
Meanwhile, Bryant’s tweet which has since started trending under the topic of BVI on Twitter was met with some condemnation and responses such as ‘the solution to corruption is to return to colonialism,” according to one Twitter user.
Another replied, ‘Perhaps we could send a small armada & properly colonize the islands, civilizing the natives? I hear we’re quite good at that, having had much practice in that region of the world.”
The Governor in a late morning press conference yesterday, April 29, 2022, said the UK Minister for Overseas Territories Rt Hon Amanda A. Milling MP will arrive in the territory in the new week to hold discussions on the report.
She is expected to meet with the government and Members of the House of Assembly on the findings and recommendations of the CoI high on the agenda.
Local Civil Society members including Bishop John I. Cline and talk show host, Rosemary ‘Cindy’ Rosan-Jones have previously said direct rule in not an option on the books for the BVI on the way forward.
41 Responses to “Should Foreign Office take direct control of BVI? – UK MP Chris J. Bryant asks ”
This has been going on for too long. Time to stop it right there. No elections until proven capable of treating the citizens daily. Pension for the seniors, help for the homeless, rights for the people who been working hard to keep the economy alive , British overseas territory citizens are who we are. As long as you are Naturalized in a country you can vote. Do away with Belonger nonsense and get the country advancing to new heights. Let the place look like a developing country, and mark you am from the BVI. My parents had to do 35 yrs before Belonger was given to them. Absurd!
We shall be one under God and the UK flag
Praise the Lord.
No more Obeah leaders sending our money to Senegalés.
Know what you saying b4 talking
Who are the BVIslanders that are different, that shun corruption and truly welcome open, trasparent, accountable Governance and will not hand everything to friends or cronies. Who are they that can lead us down a different path that could lead to Independence? Can we get a list together?
Make more money.. come on guys.. stop running the island like those fossils who don’t want to retire.. send their backsides home to rest
A blind donkey with wooden glasses could see what the next steps for the UK are.
Developers will come. Make the place a smal Dubai !
do you remember the days of slavery old slavery days
black man will never know himself until they back against the wall
where is our premier and for what(who to blame
i listened as zan asked the governor about corruption in police department and the governor sidestepped that question
the political leadership comes under commission of inquiry and branded as incompetent
lots of unsolved murder and no commission of inquiry into the incompetence of RVIP
A fleet of warships.
A large force or group.