Gov’t plans town hall meetings to discuss COI reforms

The government is launching a series of town hall meetings to inform the public about the implementation of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommendations and the broader governance reform efforts.

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley announced the initiative as part of a wider education campaign aimed at increasing public awareness of the changes. He noted that the upcoming town hall meetings with residents are a vital part of his government’s commitment to transparent governance and meaningful public participation.

“The COI reforms are designed to strengthen the foundation of our government, enhance accountability, and empower our people,” the Premier said. “We plan to reach every member of the public and public service by every possible media, including website updates, brochures, flyers/infographics, newsletters, video and audio reports, town hall meetings, departmental training sessions for public officers, emails, WhatsApp messages and SMS texts.”

Governance Reform Education  & Awareness Transition

The town hall meetings will form part of the Governance Reform Education and Awareness Transition (GREAT) campaign. According to the Premier, the government intends to engage the public on key governance changes resulting from the COI reforms, covering what has changed in legislation and policy, how these changes impact daily life, and how the public can access new government services.

“There is a massive amount of education and awareness-building required, both internally to the government and within the wider community, for the value and benefits of the changes coming out of the COI to fully benefit the people of the Virgin Islands,” he explained.

UK assessment of COI reforms

The Premier also provided an update on the United Kingdom’s ongoing assessment of the BVI’s progress in implementing the COI recommendations. British Overseas Territories Minister Stephen Doughty visited the territory in November 2024 to evaluate governance reforms and outlined four key areas that would determine whether the UK lifts the Order in Council that reserves the power to suspend the BVI’s constitution.

“During the visit, the Government presented the Minister and his team with a Governance Reform Transition Plan (GRTP),” Wheatley said. “The plan facilitates the transition from implementing the COI recommendations to ongoing governance reform whereby the Government takes responsibility for continuous improvement.”

The final decision on lifting the Order in Council is expected in early 2025. The process includes a self-assessment by the BVI Government, an independent review by Governor Daniel Pruce, assessments by UK officials, and public feedback submitted to the Governor’s Office.

Participation

The Premier urged residents to actively participate in the upcoming town hall meetings and provide their input on the governance reforms.

“The Governor will soon begin the process of collecting feedback from the public. Details of how this will be undertaken will soon be made available,” he noted.

Since the COI’s findings were published in April 2022, the government has enacted multiple legislative and policy changes, including the Integrity in Public Life Act and the Whistleblower Protection Act. The COI reforms were prompted by allegations of corruption, governance weaknesses, and a lack of transparency in public affairs.