A November visit by Britain’s new overseas territories minister will be a crunch moment in the ongoing effort to get London to lift its threat to impose temporary direct rule in the territory, according to Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley.
In a wide-ranging press conference held Monday after a five-day trip to London, the premier said his 45-minute meeting with recently installed Overseas Territories Minister Stephen Doughty had been productive.
But he also acknowledged that the UK did not agree to remove the order in council that allows the governor to implement direct rule even though the Virgin Islands government has completed all but one of the 48 governance reforms recommended by the 2022 Commission of Inquiry report.
“I made it clear from the very beginning that we would like to see the order in council lifted,” Dr. Wheatley said. “We welcome the overseas territories minister coming to the territory to assess progress for himself. We have a good story to tell.”
In the meantime, he asked the territory for patience.
“I would say to the public don’t be discouraged,” he said. “This is a process, and part of the minister’s process is coming to the territory.”
Dr. Wheatley added that the visit could be a pivotal moment in broader VI-UK relations.
“When the minister comes here in November, we believe that we would be in a position to advocate very strongly for the lifting of the order,” he said.
The premier also reiterated his previous calls for a new and improved partnership with London under the UK’s new Labour government.
Asked about the lack of progress on the order in council, which he called a “coercive colonial” tool, the premier said he doesn’t consider it a failure.
“I think to say that we failed, in some ways, is almost a victim blaming,” he said. “If we want to build a modern relationship, it’s not in keeping with the principles and the values espoused by the UK government.”
Dr. Wheatley said the talks in London had also covered the territory’s financial services sector and the need for more help to battle the climate crisis.
BVIHSA leadership
The premier added that the one remaining COI initiative that needs to be passed by the House of Assembly relates to reforms to statutory boards such
as the BVI Health Services Authority and the BVI Ports Authority.
Asked about controversy at the BVIHSA after Chairman Ron Potter said this month that Health and Social Development Minister Vincent Wheatley had asked him to resign his post, the premier denied that his administration inappropriately pressures statutory boards.
“We have great appreciation for all members who agree to serve on boards, but depending on the legislation, depending on the protocols which we have passed, members of boards can be removed under certain circumstances,” he said.
He stopped short of providing further details.
“I wouldn’t want to pre-empt any decision that Cabinet may make, because, of course, Cabinet may have to consider that issue very shortly,” he said.
Dr. Wheatley noted, however, that board members have been removed in the past.
“There is precedent in recent history for the removal of the chair of the Health Services Authority board before their term comes to completion,” he said, adding, “I haven’t seen any instance of anybody being victimised for their political affiliation, and that’s something I certainly wouldn’t tolerate.”
Previous chairman
Mr. Potter was appointed in March 2023 after Cabinet decided to remove his predecessor, Moleto Smith Jr., a St. Thomas resident who in July 2021 had been appointed chairman for a three-year period. At the time of his removal, Mr. Smith questioned the legality of the move, claiming he was told in a letter from then-HSD Minister Marlon Penn simply that his performance had “fallen short” of expectations.
Mr. Smith noted that the provided reason was not among the list of reasons for which the minister is authorised to remove a board member under the BVIHSA Act, 2004. Those reasons include missing meetings; bankruptcy; being of unsound mind; being convicted of an indictable offence; being “unable or unfit” to discharge board functions; or breaching any condition of appointment.
“While I’m not doing any kind of public challenge around what happened, I think it is in violation of the law,” Mr. Smith told the Beacon at the time. “I do believe it is rooted in something other than what is statutorily provided under the act. And the documentation that would support any of that action, I feel, is non-existent.”
Mr. Potter did not immediately respond to messages this week.
$100m loan
Also on Monday, the premier provided a brief update on his government’s efforts to secure a $100 million loan for the territory’s infrastructure needs.
The loan, which is currently on the HOA’s order paper, has been sourced from CIBC Caribbean and is in its final stages, he said.
