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UK Order in Council important to UK/VI 'agreement'– Governor Rankin

- Hints that Order may not be removed until CoI recommendations implemented in VI
Governor of the Virgin Islands (VI) H.E. John J. Rankin, CMG has hinted that the UK Order in Council to suspend the VI constitution may not be removed given its importance as it relates to UK leverage for the VI to implement all the CoI recommendations with the exception of suspension of the local constitution. Photo: GIS
Premier Wheatley has indicated that he believes that the order should be withdrawn and that he intends to start a discussion on the subject with the UK on the removal of the order. Photo: GIS
Premier Wheatley has indicated that he believes that the order should be withdrawn and that he intends to start a discussion on the subject with the UK on the removal of the order. Photo: GIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Governor of the Virgin Islands (VI) H.E. John J. Rankin, CMG has hinted that the UK Order in Council to suspend the VI constitution may not be removed given its importance as it relates to the United Kingdom's leverage for the VI to implement all the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) recommendations with the exception of suspension of the local constitution.

The Governor was at the time speaking during an August 10, 2022, press conference alongside Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7). 

“The Order in Council is of course in place. It was important in reaching the agreement that the final 49th recommendation of the Commissioner was not brought into effect. And so the government made a commitment to implement the other 48 out of 49 recommendations and, of course, the objective is that they should succeed,” he said. 

He said the objective is for the VI government to work constructively with the Governor's team to implement all of the recommendations in the framework document so that the Order in Council will not be required. 

Order should be withdrawn- Premier Wheatley 

Premier Wheatley has indicated that he believes that the Order should be withdrawn and that he intends to start a discussion on the subject with the UK.

Meanwhile, the Governor reiterated that the objective is that the recommendations are properly implemented and that good governance and reforms are brought into effect to help improve governance for the people of the VI.

The Governor indicated; however, that he is open to discussions on the subject with the Premier and UK government.

“If it's something that the Premier does wish to raise with me and with UK Ministers, then of course we could have discussions on that issue. But let me repeat, the objective here is to succeed in the implementation programme, not to implement the Order in Council but to have success in what we are trying to achieve,” he said.

Many have said the Order in Council is like holding a gun to the VI's head, arguing that it is not reflective of a true partnership.

14 Responses to “UK Order in Council important to UK/VI 'agreement'– Governor Rankin”

  • WOWO (15/08/2022, 13:24) Like (2) Dislike (17) Reply
    the ability to bully the BVI is important to the UK
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (15/08/2022, 13:37) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    I do understand the UK's position, but also I do understand your position, Hon. Premier Natalio Sajande Wheatley. But because of our many years of political mismanagement of our (the people) finances, I have to agree, and yes I do, that the pressure to comply fullywith the CoI recommendations should be kept on place to its fulfilment.
  • Sadly & Regretfully agree. (15/08/2022, 14:00) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Governor Just like all of us Ain seeing no meaningful changes as recommended, Immigration still breaking the law Labour customs, ports, survey still operating the same way..It will take a complete take over to bring about the needed changes .Sad to say, but we can't continue the old way, Yet Kie calling for more boards when we ain fix the old ones as yet.
  • lol (15/08/2022, 14:36) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thats a short leash
  • asura (15/08/2022, 14:40) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
    just a way to keep to gun to our heads
  • the gov and his pup (15/08/2022, 14:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    LAP-DANCING
  • josiah'sbay (15/08/2022, 22:08) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
    The "Order in Council" must be rescinded in order to maintain the Constitutional relationship with the UK. Without the Order we have a pretext constitutional document of which we can use as a guidance to self determination. Without it we're thrown into a state of direct colonial rule. If we can't resolve our misgivings under the rules laid out by the Constitution or make changes to adapt to needed situations, then the Constitution is useless. It's a waste of time to appeal to the UK for any redress on our argument. Our argument should be taken to the UN and the international audience.
    • Common Sense (16/08/2022, 00:05) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Sorry, but, when the head of the territory’s government, and, a senior official
      along with her son are held in Miami on drug and money laundry charges, the BVI has no credibility. Additionally, with all the drug busts and murders there is zero trust or hope of the territory straightening itself out.
  • 999 (16/08/2022, 03:34) Like (0) Dislike (9) Reply
    our people needs to be more focused and stop talking so much bull against each other

    our forefathers was in a similar situation and together they overcame history says we were labeled a bird sanctuary but our people, yes the former slaves built this place

    2022 we are right back in the fingers of those same depressors from the slavery days . Will we ever learn, stop talking so much ignorance about your own people
    • @999 (16/08/2022, 17:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      you could not be more disrespectful to ou forefathers - they were not at all in the place that the governments of the last 40 years have put us - we'd have been better off under Bates than Lake & Co. He was trying to steal less.

      If today's BVI is genuinely bothered at all about slavery, we wouldn't be people smuggling and putting people in indentured labour.
  • josiah'sbay (16/08/2022, 08:11) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    @Common Sense: You are missing a keyword "former" they are not in those titles anymore. Beside it's a different issue when you misstep it doesn't mean that you loose the spirit of the UN's mandate for self-determination or the ability to fight against human rights issues. Once we have to go up against the UK we fold before we make the challenge. I guess it's a carry over from the master and slave era. If we think that the UK is good for us why don't we just integrate and be done with it. The other two options may require that we put up some kind of a fight. If we submit and integrate I guarantee that we will be at the bottom of the British Virgin Island's hierarchy.
  • Yes to UK (16/08/2022, 10:45) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    @josiah'sbay, No one can point out anything to you because you have a stupid one track mind.
  • Yes to UK (16/08/2022, 11:03) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    @josiah'sbay, You are talking about self determination just take a look at how many people we have living in the BVI from independent islands we won't be better off than them. Most of the people in the BVI don't want Independence, the high taxes will kill us, the trust companies will be gone, crime will increase and we will have no one to turn to.


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