More Confidence Needed Before Order In Council Removal Discussion

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Sonjé Greendige/ BVI Platinum News

(PLTM) - Premier and Minster of Finance Dr. Natalio Wheatley confirmed that there has been no attempt to remove the existing instrument entitled the “Virgin Islands Constitution (Interim Amendment) Order 2022”, which was designed by the United Kingdom (UK) Government.

The provisions of this Order in Council allow for Governor John Rankin to suspend the constitution according to this discretion, if the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) recommendations are ineffectively implemented.

Following his recent official visit to the United Kingdom (UK), Premier Wheatley explained that while there were no ongoing negotiations on this matter, it will feature as a point of discussion, in the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial conference scheduled for November 2022.

He also noted that “We had some very open discussions, and considering that where we are in the process, I think that we will have to build some more confidence in the United Kingdom, that we are going through follow through on our commitments.”

Premier Wheatley added, “I made it very clear that we were resolute, and that we will go ahead with the reform program, but I felt as thought it was necessary to build up confidence in the United Kingdom (UK) government and in the people of the Virgin Islands that we are serious about following through.”

This Order in Council has been a source of concern for several persons as expressed by Members of the House, including Hon. Mark Vanterpool who recently stated that Government is operating under duress.

The Heads of Government of the regional entity CARICOM have echoed these sentiments by reiterating that the threat of direct rule by the United Kingdom through the partial and temporary suspension of the constitution for an initial period for two years, is highly concerning.

According to a June 2022 statement by Governor John Rankin, “The UK Government has put in place the framework to do this through an Order in Council. This is the procedural Order put before the Privy Council of the UK which is required in order to make changes to the Constitution of the BVI. This will allow the Foreign Secretary to swiftly provide me with the powers needed to take corrective action if progress against the milestones is unsatisfactory.”

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