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Governor Daniel Pruce has identified a “critical implementation failure” in the Virgin Islands’ integrity reforms, finding that legislation has yet to translate into functioning institutions capable of receiving complaints and carrying out their statutory duties.
In his first assessment of governance reform progress, the Governor highlighted the continued absence of an operational Integrity Commission and Parliamentary Commission for Standards, despite the laws establishing both bodies being in place.
His findings underline the need to move beyond the passage of legislation and complete the appointments, staffing and administrative arrangements required to make the reforms work.
The Integrity in Public Life Act came into force on February 7, 2024. However, more than two and a half years later, the Integrity Commission had still not secured office space or recruited its secretary.
The Governor acknowledged recent movement, noting that an advertisement for the secretary had been published and contracts for office accommodation were being prepared. Nevertheless, essential arrangements remained unfinished at the time of the review.
Progress on the Parliamentary Commission for Standards was even less advanced.
Although the commission was established on a legislative footing in March 2025, its commissioners had not been appointed, despite recruitment having begun more than a year earlier.
According to the report, the Government had intended to have commissioners appointed and administrative support secured when the law came into force. That intention had not been realised.
Funding has since been secured, and House of Assembly members have received training on the commission’s role and the Code of Conduct. The Government also reported preparing a simple public guide and a draft complaints process.
However, the Governor found that published material still did not explain how members of the public could submit complaints. The relevant complaint forms had also not been published.
These gaps leave the public without a clear, accessible route to use a central part of the new integrity framework.
“Legislation underpinning the integrity framework is in place. However, the Integrity Commission and Parliamentary Commission for Standards are not yet operational,” the report states.
The Governor concluded that the central institutional architecture envisaged under the reforms remained incomplete, describing the situation as “a critical implementation failure requiring urgent resolution.”
He identified the immediate priority as completing appointments, recruitment, accommodation and practical arrangements so both commissions can receive complaints and exercise their legal powers.
The assessment places the focus firmly on implementation: the integrity framework must now deliver functioning oversight and a usable complaints system if the legislation is to achieve its intended purpose.
In his first assessment of governance reform progress, the Governor highlighted the continued absence of an operational Integrity Commission and Parliamentary Commission for Standards, despite the laws establishing both bodies being in place.
His findings underline the need to move beyond the passage of legislation and complete the appointments, staffing and administrative arrangements required to make the reforms work.
The Integrity in Public Life Act came into force on February 7, 2024. However, more than two and a half years later, the Integrity Commission had still not secured office space or recruited its secretary.
The Governor acknowledged recent movement, noting that an advertisement for the secretary had been published and contracts for office accommodation were being prepared. Nevertheless, essential arrangements remained unfinished at the time of the review.
Progress on the Parliamentary Commission for Standards was even less advanced.
Although the commission was established on a legislative footing in March 2025, its commissioners had not been appointed, despite recruitment having begun more than a year earlier.
According to the report, the Government had intended to have commissioners appointed and administrative support secured when the law came into force. That intention had not been realised.
Funding has since been secured, and House of Assembly members have received training on the commission’s role and the Code of Conduct. The Government also reported preparing a simple public guide and a draft complaints process.
However, the Governor found that published material still did not explain how members of the public could submit complaints. The relevant complaint forms had also not been published.
These gaps leave the public without a clear, accessible route to use a central part of the new integrity framework.
“Legislation underpinning the integrity framework is in place. However, the Integrity Commission and Parliamentary Commission for Standards are not yet operational,” the report states.
The Governor concluded that the central institutional architecture envisaged under the reforms remained incomplete, describing the situation as “a critical implementation failure requiring urgent resolution.”
He identified the immediate priority as completing appointments, recruitment, accommodation and practical arrangements so both commissions can receive complaints and exercise their legal powers.
The assessment places the focus firmly on implementation: the integrity framework must now deliver functioning oversight and a usable complaints system if the legislation is to achieve its intended purpose.
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