Governor wants substantive reforms by end of summer
Governor John Rankin has frowned on what he described as a lack of ambition in the deadlines being met by the government in the implementation of Commission of Inquiry (COI) reforms.
“I recognise that some of the initial deadlines in the framework agreement proved unrealistic and have had to be revised. But the deadlines need to remain ambitious. And we can’t leave delivery to the last minute,” Governor Rankin said at a press conference this week.
When pressed by reporters on what he meant by this, Governor Rankin expounded to say that reforms need to be established and to “take root”.
He said while it is understood that the government wants to have the United Kingdom Order in Council lifted, Lord Goldsmith made clear during his visit here that once sufficient reform can be achieved in time, then that would allow the Order in Council to be lifted by May of next year.
However, Governor Rankin said if reforms are left for the last minute, they’re going to create a bottleneck with a lot of legislation and change coming in at the last moment. He added that if it is just legislation being passed and not the implementation, then that in itself is not what full reform looks like.
“So what we need over the next few months, is actually changes being brought in — legislative changes being made, you know, this autumn, by the end of this summer, so they begin to be established and begin to be operated so that ‘taking root’ could have taken place by May of next year,” Governor Rankin said.
In the meantime, Governor Rankin declined to give an indication of the number of reforms that may need to be implemented to allow the Order in Council to be lifted.
“I’m not going to give you a precise figure in that regard,” he said. As an example, the governor added that a number of the recommendations in the Commission Inquiry report that “have, technically, been achieved”, are simply investigations that are underway or audits that were carried out. But Governor Rankin indicated that he instead wanted to see the quality of substantive implementation coming from those reforms.
“I understand the question, but with respect, I think that’s a matter for judgement at the time,” Rankin further said. “But I will continue to communicate clearly with the Premier and the government in a constructive way to try to get that quality of reform embedded.”
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This Government is only concerned about themselves, giving free parties and flying first class. They got voted back in and think everything is back to normal and continue with the reckless spending.
I dont care what the people of the BVI say but the governor is right in his request. VIP think that we playing dolly house with people’s lively hood and future. Let the govenor show them who has the belt of correction! The result of a boy in a man’s position! Straight up!
The COI found so many irregularities but NO REAL CHANGE has happened. Where are the indictments/charges for the criminal behavior? Why are some perpetrators/politicians and worthless consultants walking around, making talk show comments etc without accountability? The COI has NO TEETH – a laughing stock!
The politicians and senior civil servants are dragging their feet in the hope that the outrage generated by the COI will fade away and become a distant memory…as they continue to do the very same things that sparked the COI in the first place. Meanwhile, the administration will keep pressing for Independence so that they can continue dipping into the Treasury at will like all the other Independent Caribbean countries. If people wanted change, change would come.
Gov, just end it now.
What about the Register of Interests? When is the UK going to take over? How long did it take them with T&C?
Shabba Rankin Cousin looking serious. I wonder if he and his colleagues using the Fahie trail and the belongers fast tracking as pressure for this administration to get this done. Touché
has been the normal term for past BVI Governors appointed by the Foreign Office. Accordingly most residents expect a new Governor to arrive to the BVI in early 2025. However the slow process of implementing CoI recommendations made public in May 2022 could extend this Governor’s appointment indefinitely as well as the Order in Council.