British Virgin Islands Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has thanked the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) for supporting the territory in its continued fight against the United Kingdom’s threat to impose the direct rule of the territory if key governance reforms are not implemented.
Speaking at the opening of the 36th OECS/Pooled Procurement Service (PPS) Policy Board Meeting and Ninth OECS Council of Health Ministers on Monday night, Wheatley said Virgin Islanders are grateful that members did not neglect their struggle and have used their voices on international platforms to highlight the looming threat on their democracy.
“The OECS and individual states have stood in defence of democracy and the human rights of the Virgin Islands people in the face of threats to suspend our Constitution through an Order in Council of the United Kingdom Parliament and to re-impose direct rule by the UK,” he said
“These threats, if they materialise, will undo generations of struggle and hard work by the Virgin Islands people to achieve self-determination as advocated for in international human rights conventions and international law; can threaten Virgin Islanders’ ancestral ownership of our islands; and can pose a serious risk to erasing our unique culture, heritage and identity.”
He continued: “The OECS as a body and individual states have been very outspoken at every available opportunity to highlight our concerns to the international organisations and the global audience. For this, we are very grateful, and our brother and sister states in the Caribbean can always be assured of the BVI’s support in your times of need.”
Wheatley said the advocacy of OECS members and non-member states is a clear example of what can be achieved when nations work together.
The UK currently has an Order In Council that the Foreign Secretary can use to dissolve the BVI’s parliament and exercise direct rule from London, via the Governor’s Office.
Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss sought the order from the Privy Council last year when she was Foreign Secretary as an assurance that governance reforms, which retired British Judge Sir Gary Hickinbottom recommended in his Commission of Inquiry (COI) report, were implemented.
The 900-page COI report found that corrupt elements have been able to find a foothold in many of the government agencies on the BVI.
Wheatley and his team have met with subsequent Foreign and Overseas Secretaries to lobby for the order to be removed but their appeals were denied.