UK’s stance unchanged on BVI’s constitutional relationship
The United Kingdom has confirmed that its position on the constitutional relationship with the Virgin Islands remains unchanged, according to a letter sent to Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley by Stephen Doughty, Minister responsible for Overseas Territories.
Doughty’s letter, dispatched earlier this week, followed recent discussions in London on the implementation of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommendations, governance reforms, and wider security issues.
On the subject of the territory’s constitutional future, Doughty addressed recent speculation in both the UK and Virgin Islands media.
“There is no change to the UK’s long-standing position in this regard,” he stated. “The Virgin Islands are a valued part of our global British family, and we are committed to working with you in a mutually respectful relationship based on our respective responsibilities.”
The minister confirmed that, based on advice he provided, the Foreign Secretary had instructed that the draft Order in Council allowing for an Interim Administration would be revoked. However, he stressed that the process would take several months to complete and that ongoing monitoring would remain in place.
“To that end, I have instructed the Governor to establish a monitoring mechanism, consisting of the publication of six-monthly reviews of good governance, in line with the quarterly reviews conducted since 2022,” Doughty explained.
He noted that while progress had been made by the government and public service, fundamental changes in political and administrative culture were still needed.
“You have agreed with me in our many conversations that implementing the key COI recommendations in the formal sense will alone not be good enough,” Doughty stated. He added, “Fundamental and sustained change in the spirit and practice of governance, public and political life and administration in the Virgin Islands, will be the only true safeguard against backsliding.”
The minister also emphasised concerns over policing and customs, highlighting the need for urgent vetting processes and better funding for law enforcement agencies. He warned that addressing organised crime remained a shared priority between the territory and the UK.
Doughty further noted that tackling illicit finance and improving financial transparency would require urgent progress ahead of future meetings.
He concluded by expressing hope that the relationship between the Virgin Islands and the UK was entering “a new chapter” while reaffirming Britain’s right to act if necessary to uphold good governance, security, and the rule of law.
The letter comes as debates over constitutional reform continue in the territory, with calls from some leaders for greater autonomy, while the UK maintains oversight responsibilities under the existing framework.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
“Fundamental and sustained change in the spirit and practice of governance, public and political life and administration in the Virgin Islands, will be the only true safeguard” against Britian’s quest for control, is by usurping the invisible nooose and chains around the Black peoople oof these islands politically and publicly, and claim the human right to free and independent existence away from colonial rule.
The UK is still dubbling down even after the world’s condemnation of its initial push to fully take over the territorie’s political, financial and public instruments of the people.
The freedom of the Black people here is not of any concern to them. Yet, it should. This ultimately must be the ultra goal of the UK’s empire and the Black people’s governance apperatuses of this nation.
Of course, those still with enslaver colonial mentality and the desire to steal these islands away from the Black people will continue to object to the peoples’ freedom, both here and in the UK, by continuing to defer the universal rights of the Black nation of these islands with anti political and public freedom rhetoric and thumbs down emojes.
Yet, many yearn to be free! The ones who are vocally against our freedoom are not the only and most important voices on this issue of Virgin Islands freedom.
And many of them probably do nøt even have deep and extensive roots and navel strings buried here, or can trace the connections back to enslavement, bondage, emancipation to present..
You really are the lowest of the low, not everything is black versus white but you want to bring the argument to that level. Whats needed is the best for all of us which I think is saving us from the corruption of the past governments and ensuring that the wealth that our little island generates is fairly shared by all and not the 12 families who seemingly will do anything to hold onto power.
Crawl back under your rock and take your racist attitude with you.
So saith the albino demon. Crawl back in your cave.
@@In short:
It appears that each time a Black person post of its people and their existence, they are always accused of creating Black/white rancor. BS!
And, there are always some other folks who seem to think that they do not have the right or privilege to advocate for themselves. oor their race.
That view point is wrong, racist and unhuman.
The Virgin Islands are majority Black. Get use to it or move back to the UK, EU or US..
That sounds clear.
UK will take over and save us if it proves necessary.
Real hange is expected and is being looked for. Not just the box ticking Natalio has been engaged in.
UK can bring a new Order in Council at any time.
Let’s hope Natalio joins with the UK building a better future for us all not just for himself and his band of brothers and family.
UK can’t even save themselves, is we them going save?
You British Virgin Islanders are stupid people.
Choose Integration or Free Association for all British Virgin Islanders in the British Virgin Islands. I want to hold on to my British Birth Certificate and my British Passport until the day that I die.
There is no place called British Virgin Islands. So who is the stupid one?
The UK has been explicit time and time again. Integration and Free Association are not options for the BVI.
The Virgin Islands have the ultimate to chose if and when they so chose.
The oolonialist nor its attached mentality cannot and will not defer a people from making their choice for freedom when the time coømes.
Many, with some modifictioons, could agree
with Integration or Free Association, the latter being more palatable..
@Anonymous you are the STUPID one there is some place called the BRITCH VIRGIN ISLANDS you don’t even know where you live
The country that we live in is called the Virgin Islands.
The British Virgin Islands is better off with North America Free Trade Association which mean the BVI has to remain with the United Kingdom and Canada and North America Free Trade Association and most likely this would include Mexico, Central America and South America in terms of sustainable economy especially fishing, agriculture, livestock and tourism and service industry.