BVI News

A return from UK takeover will be hard without constitutional reform

If the UK was to take over, a return to ministerial government and the House of Assembly (HOA) after the proposed two-year period would be “challenging“ without constitutional reform being established.

This is according to Sir Gary Hickinbottom who — after presiding over a year-long Commission of Inquiry (COI) exercise in the BVI — recommended in his follow-up report that the territory’s ministerial government be halted for at least two years and for the governor to lead the BVI with the support of an Advisory Council in the interim.

Considering the challenge he anticipates when the ministerial government is handed back the reins, Sir Gary proposed that work on the constitutional review begin urgently and be concluded promptly.

“Whilst I know that such reviews often take longer, I propose that the constitutional review commences as soon as possible and concludes its business within a year, with the Governor having the ability to extend that time by no longer than six months,“ Sir Gary said.

In his report, Sir Gary further said this early and speedy review would be to ensure that abuses such as the ones he identified did not recur.

He further recommended that the constitution should enable the people of the BVI to meet their aspirations, including those concerning self-government within the context of modern democracy.

“That will require a constitution that is sufficiently robust to ensure adherence to the principles of good governance within government, but also enables the progressive development of the BVI‘s own political institutions,“ Sir Gary said.

The last constitutional review was held in 2006 and led to the 2007 constitution being implemented.

According to Sir Gary, the COI has demonstrated that the current constitution cannot take the weight it has to bear.

He said that even though there may have been significant differences in the reasons for this, no one has suggested that the current constitution is working.

The UK is yet to decide on whether to follow Sir Gary’s recommendation of imposing temporary direct rule over the BVI. The Dr Natalio Wheatley-led National Unity Government — a cross-partisan administration formed to placate the UK — has since submitted an alternative proposal to direct rule. Britain is currently considering it.

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43 Comments

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  1. Asura says:

    These racist need to stop looking,in to invade the bvi

    Like 14
    Dislike 127
  2. islandguy says:

    Stability leads to investment, and investment leads to better jobs, infrastructure, and education. I’m just not sure how a two year reset can be considered racist. The democratically elected officials, working under the current structure, demonstrated that corruption can easily percolate to the very head of government. I would consider this a gift on behalf of the British government.

    Like 61
    Dislike 3
    • To Island Guy says:

      It seems to me that corruption has percolated down from the very Head (aka Head Coach) of Government.

  3. BOT says:

    While the BVI is being reorganized by the UK the Foreign Office should reorganize the administration of the 8 BOT’s that support a civil service employment system. The FO’s antiquated system of isolating each BOT’s civil servants from each other should end now to be replaced with a rotation system so that BOT civil servants spend part of their careers working in the 8 other BOT’s for at least half of their civil service careers. The governors are rotated every 3 to 4 years so why not the civil servants?

    Like 22
    Dislike 3
    • Rubber Duck says:

      Seems a good idea.problem is in BVI and foreigner of any race is Immediately frozen out.

      Like 19
      Dislike 1
      • Unless says:

        80% of the BVI’s future civil service is composed of persons from Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman, Falklands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Turks & Caicos.

        Like 5
        Dislike 2
        • Jim says:

          But… the present civil service sector, representing 30% of the work force of the population, is majority belonger.

          So you want to furlough or fire all of those locals? That’s going to be popular….

          • Wrong says:

            No furlough or firing. The 80% of the BVI civil servants in the middle of their careers would be working in Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman, Falklands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Turks & Caicos. All the BOT civil servants are employed continuously for 20-25 years just not on the same island BOT. Each civil servant would rotate to other BOT’s throughout their careers and the ethical, morale persons would finish their careers as a senior manager on their home island for 4-5 years and then retire at home.

  4. @ ASS ura says:

    ITS OBVIOUS YOU ARE SOME PLACE ELSE / SO WHY DON’T YOU GET CSC / D BISHOP/ THOSE HYPOCRITES WHO SAT IN THE STREET AND THE OTHER PASTOR WHO IS MORE QUIETER THAN A CHURCH ? AND MARCH BACK TO AFRICA ,THIS IS THE ( BRITISH ) VIRGIN ISLAND , NOT OURS (. AND WITH ALL THOSE HOLY MEN , AM SURE YOU ALL CAN WALK ON WATER

    Like 10
    Dislike 1
    • Jim says:

      It’s all good. These religious “leaders” are protecting you from the evil of sorcery and witchcraft… sigh

      They trap you in fear of something you cannot see, have no control over, and mold your minds in the name of something better.

      These people should be charged as criminals for taking your money in the name of a scam.

      Open your eyes.

  5. @ @ aSS -URa says:

    OR PART THE SEA LIKE MOSES ? SO THEY CAN ALL EVADE OR ESCAPE FROM THE INVADERS ? ? ? ? Q
    P

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  6. What? says:

    What the hell is this being reported? IF suspending the constitution to allow UK Direct Rule would lead to challenges for a return to ministerial government and the House of Assembly (HOA) after the proposed two-year period, WHAT WHAT WHAT is the purpose of UK Direct Rule? WHAT WHAT WHAT is the purpose of UK Direct Rule?

    Black people always cleaning W people $h1t! Same thing in the workplace – they come in don’t know the work, make a — of it and when done the employer expecting you to fix the matter in less time than it took to create it.

    “If the UK was to take over, a return to ministerial government and the House of Assembly (HOA) after the proposed two-year period would be “challenging“ without constitutional reform being established.”

    “Considering the challenge he anticipates when the ministerial government is handed back the reins, Sir Gary proposed that work on the constitutional review begin urgently and be concluded promptly.”

    Please post my blog – thank you!

    Like 6
    Dislike 38
    • Popeye says:

      You can’t blame others for the mistakes that the prior generation of leaders have made here. They only proved that we were incapable of governing ourselves. The UK didn’t create the narco state. They UK didn’t squander hundreds of millions of dollars on Airlines, school walls, pier parks. They UK didn’t let the fires at our dump burn out of control.

      We need a plan. We need to hire and elect leaders capable of pursuing the plan. We need to review their success annually and reward them or fire them for not achieving steps forward with the plan.

      Everyone in the country needs to understand what the plan is and to strive themselves to make our islands better. We can do this by understanding what our goals our and working together to achieve them.

    • Jim says:

      So you’re saying there are no black U.K. government officials.

      Get real.

      Racist

      Like 1
      Dislike 1
  7. To Asura says:

    They are, in a very snakish and sly fox way, hinting to us who are aware, that the return to full colonial oppression in favor of their interest, while putting us aback and disadvantaged is clear.

    The words cannot be any more clearer. Recolonialization of the country and BLK people here will permanent.

    Lord, just when we began to reap some fruits from our ancestral hard, hard work, here comes the monster again to take it all away, and we have absolutely no say in and no control over our economic existence and what kind of future we will eventually be living.

    As, the snake has not evolved none since its earthly existence and the shark appear hungrier than ever.

    It is with profound regret that our people had become complacent with materialism and money greed and had become politically asleep.

    Meanwhile, the monster was no sleeping. He was looking and watching. Then as soon as that GDP began to grow, well his natural instincts kicked in.

    And when it grew to the thousands of millions, well, they put their planning into place..

    What most to all Black people fail to begin to know or acknowledge is the white is a long, highly organized and strategic planner.

    If we don’t begin learning his ways and take concrete actions to work together for our prosperous future, we will have no prospeity of futuer.

    Like 6
    Dislike 37
    • Resident says:

      Another retarded fantasy along the same lines, and with the same weight, as the idea that the UK is desperate to get the BVI’s pot fish.

      The UK has been driven to mount the CoI by the US who are fed up with all the coke arriving via the BVI. It’s been made harder for the UK to take only limited action by Fahie’s alleged decision to go to Florida with the Director of Ports (nothing untoward about that is there?) to negotiate a drug deal with the Feds, right as the CoI report comes out. The fact that people in high places seem to set significant store by Obeah when deciding what to do, probably hasn’t helped either.

      The idea the UK wants to have to deal with this mess is completely wrong. The UK has been negligent, but is now being dragged in by the systemic corruption and incompetence, seemingly at many levels of government. Self government has clearly completely failed unfortunately. We need to try again after some serious re-structuring, or Haiti here we come!

      Like 18
      Dislike 6
    • do the maths says:

      The BVI GDP is no more than 0.05% of that of the UK. Doesn’t seem worth the hassle. Like Bezos picking up a penny.

      Like 11
      Dislike 3
    • Hammi says:

      I heard when the U.K. takes over, the ferries will take all black people back to Africa.

      I’m leaving now

  8. Anonymous says:

    BVINews one thing I must say ayo will squeeze every drop from the COI until everything covered. There will be no slow news days until all 1000 pages covered. I could see 2024 the final article being published.

    Like 16
    Dislike 3
    • ? says:

      It is their journalistic duty to inform the people. Based on the rubbish being spewed on social media, it is obvious that people won’t seek knowledge for themselves so I am okay with BVINews giving small bits to feed the people. No matter how long it takes, people must be aware.

      Like 20
      • Anonymous says:

        People should go to the sources directly for the best results. Most times the news sites choose the juiciest part of the story and ignore the rest. The COI investigation wasn’t 100% negative. There are hours of videos that showed that. They know that negativity is more popular so they highlight those instances and ignore the rest unattractive stories.

        Like 4
        Dislike 1
    • @Anonymous says:

      You’re so right. There appears to be nothing else news worthy at the moment!

      Like 4
      Dislike 2
  9. Moses says:

    We all accept “self-governance within the context of a modern democracy” as our goal. And we also accept the compelling need to move beyond the narco state and unacceptable incompetence of the last generation of leaders: (Pier Park, Airlines, School fence, incinerator, unreliable utilities, slow and expensive internet, infrastructure, etc).

    We welcome the guidance towards establishing a more sustainable form of democracy that will enable our children to become better educated and our families free from incompetence.

    Most of all we welcome the opportunity to live in a safe and happy place surrounded by the best natural resources in the world – the sun and the clean sea.

    Like 10
  10. @ WHAT & A** UR says:

    U JOKERS NEED TO CLEANSE YOUR DIRTY MINDS FROM THOSE EVIL THOUGHTS, OR HAVE YOU SOLD YOUR SOUL TO THE DEVIL ? ? ❓

    Like 2
    Dislike 3
  11. A very nice read..Give Britain a try . says:

    This is informative and educational..Keeping it real.. This a very good read..

    Like 4
    Dislike 2
  12. lillian says:

    i never se in a place so many racist like this black people in tortola !! wicked too

    Like 4
    Dislike 4
  13. Licker and Sticker says:

    What is holding up the constitutional review? Is it UK or us? When last I heard it was us. The administration stop and start the committee how many times? Our leadership just failing us. All we have is trash politicians in this place

    Like 6
    Dislike 1
  14. rastarite says:

    The UK government will have to take over in a shared arrangement with BVI advisors (ie new interim gov).
    Several representatives and at large ministers are under investigation and some will be charged for criminal offences. there will be appeals and eventual prosecutions – it will take months if not years but new elections will likely take place within 2 years and a new government formed whilst the constitution will have had major amendments and new protocols put in place to safeguard the public purse and to hope for reliable and honest government.

  15. Demands for London says:

    – We demand to be ruled by people we know and who we trust to use government and civil service to share monies among us.
    – And we further demand that our leaders make decisions for the territory based not on what is best for all the people of the territory, but what is best for us, our family/friends and anyone in the district who can keep them in power.
    – We want million dollar walls!
    – More raw sewage in Road Town, now!
    – We demand no concern at all for education of our children. None!
    – Potholes are good! Dangerous roads show how independent we are from things other people care about.
    – More power to those in power!
    – Remember, God first, family second, friends third but, above it all, CASH AND COUNTRY!
    – We demand more fast boats and less nighttime oversight.
    – Decisions MUST be made by ministers or heads of department DEPENDING ON THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE APPLICANT AND/OR FINANCIAL COMPENSATION OFFERED. Say No! to neutral rules that treat all people fair.
    – Sidewalks to nowhere, now!
    – More free money for consultants and pastors!
    – Keep unsolved murders unsolved! Say ‘No’ to nosey law enforcement.
    – We want poor medical facilities and a short-termist healthcare system to benefit the Club, now!
    – Belongership must only be granted to those resident here for AT LEAST 300 YEARS. Thereafter applications must be made in person and considered on a melanin-measured and Benjamins-offered basis.
    – As long as we rule the BVI, we must be free to let the cartels rule the BVI!
    Reduce standards across the board, now!

    If you disagree with any of this you are an outsider or an agent of racist colonialists who want to restart slavery and take away everything we’ve worked so hard to distort. Go home and only come back if you want a vacation in our beautiful paradise, with Anegada lobster, 100s of impounded charter boats and, of course, our world famous BVI Love.

    Like 10
    Dislike 6
    • You says:

      need mental healing. May the ancestors healing energy come to your rescue.

      Like 1
      Dislike 1
    • ... says:

      What I dont find funny is that some of you come on here and try to dismiss & belittle slavery, the consequences of slavery, and make it seem to be funny or a joke.

      All this ‘racist talk’ coming from belongers blowing back in your faces is merely ONE of the consequences of slavery.

      If it offends you suck it up, you still have generational wealth and centuries year old ancestral lands to go back to.

      Many From North America to Europe have lavish estates to this day due to the profits of slavery.

      Meanwhile Virgin Islanders are lucky to have ended up owning their former plantation’s land in the VI.

      Persons on other islands were not as fortunate & left severely disadvantaged.

      Its no coincidence Haiti is in the state its in today, its the dirty legacy of colonialism & racism. Divide, stir up trouble, give them weapons, blame them.

      Your condescending attitude is due to a lack of education.

  16. perfection says:

    When the UK finish cleaning up the BVI, it will be as perfect as London no pedifiles,no deportation of long time residents no drug trade, no homeless people, no abuse of power at all levels of Government,no corruption, no crimes.

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  17. OUTSIDE THE BOX says:

    How come if I break into your house and commit atrocities I am tried and convicted for crime but those who invaded indigenous peoples and cultures are suddenly the owners in Jesus name. All who talking from this paradigm are the real criminals. Haul your mother sk..t with your f..k. Talk to all your educated brainwashed objects.

  18. Hypocracy says:

    Them a**es deal more drugs than any other people. The masters of the game scorning others for doing what is normal practice for them. Do as I say not as I do.

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