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BVI Special Envoy thanks region for support amid threat of UK rule

Benito Wheatley

Speaking at the United Nations Pacific Regional Seminar on Decolonization held in St Lucia recently, Special Envoy for the Premier’s Office, Benito Wheatley, expressed gratitude to various regional governments and organisations for their support amid the impending threat of direct United Kingdom (UK) rule over the Virgin Islands.

In the recently released, Commission of Inquiry (COI) report, Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom recommended for the territory’s governor to effectively replace the elected government for at least the next two years. Several entities in the region have rebuked the UK for seeking to employ that approach.

“On behalf of Premier [Dr Natalio] Wheatley, I would like to thank the UN Special Committee on Decolonization for their interests in our current circumstances. I also want to thank CARICOM, OECS, the Caribbean Territories, the University of the West Indies, the Government of Saint Lucia, and Governments across the region for their expressions of support and offers of assistance to help us strengthen our institutions and systems of Government,” Wheatley said.

The Special Envoy also expressed his gratitude towards the Chair of the Special Committee on Decolonization, Keisha McGuire for what he described as sustained and continued support for Non-Self-Governing Territories.

“Madam Chair, as I close, permit me to congratulate you, the Bureau, and the wider committee for the important work that you continue to do to assist the Non-Self-Governing Territories in moving closer to achieving a full measure of self-government. The British Virgin Islands will remain engaged with the committee on the available options sanctioned by the UN,” Wheatley said.

“I ask that a recent self-governance assessment of the territory completed by independent governance expert Dr Carlyle Corbin is placed on the record of this regional seminar. The UN has been an excellent partner of the British Virgin Islands and we look forward to continuing our good cooperation with the respective UN bodies and agencies with whom we are engaged on sustainable development and other matters,” he added.

Wheatley also mentioned he was grateful for the opportunity to provide the region with an update on the situation in the BVI.

While giving his address, the Special Envoy condemned the alleged actions of disgraced former Premier, Andrew Fahie and highlighted how that placed the country in a precarious position.

“The past 14 days have been a rollercoaster ride for the people of the British Virgin Islands. We were shocked by the arrest of the former Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew Fahie on 28th April in Miami, Florida in the United States. We are highly disappointed and embarrassed by his actions and the very disturbing things he has been involved in that were revealed in the affidavit filed in the United States (US) courts. We condemn his behaviour and believe the US court system should be left to take its course,” Wheatley said.

He noted Fahie’s arrest led to Governor John Rankin publishing the COI report before its scheduled June release. While Wheatley acknowledged Rankin’s rationale was to make clear the report and the arrest were not linked’, he pointed out that the report’s premature release had the opposite effect.

“The effect of releasing the report so quickly after former Premier Fahie was detained threw an already reeling society into a tailspin. It also strengthened calls for direct rule to be imposed on the people of the British Virgin Islands, as recommended by Sir Gary Hickinbottom in the report. This in turn has increased pressure on the UK Government to take that undesirable course of action,” the Special Envoy said.

Wheatley mentioned he was hopeful the UK government would accept the proposal sent to them by the Virgin Islands government on how to implement the recommendations without compromising the democracy of the territory.

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17 Comments

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  1. Business as usual says:

    Has the public seen the proposal ?
    What is your definition of transparency?

    Like 23
    • Well done … says:

      .. good work, which can only serve the Territory well and may keep the threat of direct rule at arm’s length. Keep it up, Benito.

      Dislike 18
  2. He's Special says:

    The UK should deport this mouthpiece to the BVI to stand trial for impersonating a diplomat.

    Like 21
    Dislike 5
  3. Shine light says:

    Same region that is so rife with corruption, commess and bobol that it could well stand a Commission of Inquiry or fifty. smh

    Same region where one man dissolve the parliament rather than face a vote of no confidence, where Jamaicans polled said they would like to return to colonialism because of all the mess, where wives and children serving in the government as if it’s a dynasty, where people keep asking where the CBI monies going because everything getting worse, etc

    Like 11
  4. Stick and lick says:

    This guy just covering his brother’s a** which is in the wind and lacks any integrity and transparency. As for the CARICOM politicians, they just are all covering for each other’s bad behavior.

    Like 20
    Dislike 1
  5. Jimmy Jamm says:

    This other Wheatley need to sit down just like his brother Sowande. Look what we working with…they are all trash and need to get thrown out

    Like 16
    • conflict of interest says:

      How could a brother of a minister be given a job like that?

      Like 21
      Dislike 4
      • @conflict of interest says:

        Business as usual. I don’t think this ‘Unity Government’ could do more to make a case FOR direct rule if they tried.

    • Too low says:

      Don’t go low. Criticize but don’t refer to God’s creation as trash, no matter how much you disagree with them. Take the high road my friend.

      Like 1
      Dislike 1
      • @too low ? says:

        I agree that as a human being a person is not trash I am referring to them as politicians and representatives. As politicians and representatives, they are trash. Stink bags that are piled high. That’s a fair assessment

  6. Popeye says:

    Fahie’s arrest and the COI report have documented that this generation of leaders were incapable of leading us in an honest way. They have set us back two generations. Accept our mistakes and let’s move forward with a revised constitution and a new generation of leaders.

    Like 14
  7. TurtleDove says:

    I would say the way we have ben governing ourselves is just as egregious as what the Premier did.

    We need a break and a fresh start.

    Let some procedures get in place …….balances and checks that the public have access to. If you don’t follow the rules you get exposed, loose your job or go to jail….

    These are not bad decisions this is people getting kickbacks and taking care of who hey know.

    Like 12
  8. heckler says:

    This is a conflict of interest because his brother is the now Premier, HE NEED TO STEP ASIDE!

    Like 18
    Dislike 3
  9. Only Britain Can . says:

    Jump high, Jump low Britain rule is the way to go. Stamp out corruption prosecute the criminals, Britain is the way to…

    Like 18
    Dislike 3
  10. Threat? says:

    Sure, I will buy that direct rule may be a threat to those who themselves or have family members with something to hide- but we should ask the contractor who, one day at the grocery store about 5 months ago, stepped out of line to read a text and then, with TEARS in his eyes said ‘I just can’t get a contract; this is my tenth bid and every one goes to the same man’. I doubt the idea of direct rule would be a threat to that contractor- it’s probably a relief.

  11. Rex FeRaL says:

    Direct Rule shouñd have ended in 1834 on 1st August. We cannot accept this presumption from the UnKingdom

    Like 1
    Dislike 4
  12. Good diplomat says:

    Benito has an excellent track record across four Administrations. He has worked tirelessly as a diplomat for Territory. Keep doing your thing Mr. Wheatley.

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