Hogwash! UK won’t prevent BVI’s elections — Governor
Governor John Rankin has attempted to put to bed swirling rumours that the United Kingdom (UK) will prevent the BVI from holding its upcoming general elections which are due by May 2023.
Several lawmakers have claimed for months that the BVI’s constitution will be suspended and its general elections denied in the wake of last year’s damning Commission of Inquiry (COI) report on governance in the territory.
The claims have continued to fuel speculation among residents that they will not have an opportunity to elect leaders at the upcoming polls, but Rankin said those claims have no basis.
“I have seen the speculation that, somehow or another, elections will be prevented by myself or by the United Kingdom government. Nothing could be further from the truth,” the governor told reporters at a press conference yesterday. “And that speculation, as far as I’m concerned, has no basis whatsoever.”
Since the release of the COI report, the UK has held an Order in Council in its parliament that would trigger a suspension of the BVI’s constitutional order and threatens to implement direct rule if the territory does not enact agreed governance reforms.
Some lawmakers have seized upon this and insisted that the Order in Council needs to be lifted or the threat of direct UK rule will be implemented whether those reforms are carried out or not.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley had also engaged in talks with UK Minister for Overseas Territories Lord Zac Goldsmith over the issue, urging that the Order in Council be lifted ahead of the implementation of the reforms.
But Governor Rankin assured residents yesterday that when Lord Goldsmith visited the BVI recently, he made it clear that the UK’s position was that more work needs to be done on the reforms before the Order in Council can be lifted.
“There was no suggestion from [Lord Goldsmith] of an intention to trigger the Order in Council at this point, which would lead to a partial suspension of the Constitution,” Governor Rankin said.
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The lies. The lies. The lies.
The BVI like to sit and throw blame at the UK and call things on themselves. Be careful what you wish for you might get it. Sometimes there’s too much said.
A wise man does more thinking and less talking. The leaders here need to spend more time on correcting the wrong that was done and focus on a straight path going forward then they wont be worrying about the UK coming at you. Like it or not its the reality.
Look how Smurf and slow man l**d to us looking power
As for power hungry Mitch he could never ever get my vote again
@LB don’t vote for Mitch. He is very pompous!
The adoption but non use of the order in council serves no useful purpose other than to be a stick to bully the BVI. If the UK wanted to suspend the constitution (which it clearly does not), it could draft an order in council and have it adopted in a matter of minutes. It has taken the step of drafting but not implementing the order in council so that it can wave it and try to intimidate the BVI – and it is working.
The Commissioner recommended that the constitution be suspended (which is what Governor Gus asked him to do) but his recommendation was treated with horror in the UK – because notwithstanding what you think in the BVI, the UK Govt does not want to suspend the constitution and have all the international criticism that goes with a suspension. Instead, in an unprecedented manner, the UK refused to follow the clear primary recommendation of the Commissioner (whom is furious because it makes him look stupid), quietly moved Gus out of the UK public service, and just made threats to the BVI Govt that it does not want to act upon.
Notwithstanding the completely unfair way the CoI was conducted, many of its recommendations (which were possibly written before any of the evidence was heard) are sensible.
The recommendations should be implemented but it may be maybe time for the BVI to call the UK’s bluff on the Order in Council.
When they were racing to the UK and when they all decided to form this so called coalition of Unified A**Clowns: all 13 of them were all concerned about saving their jobs. They all need to go. Clean slate new ppl (as opposed to what we have now, with some semblance of a competent brain between them and modicum of caring for the ppl) from the first district to the ninth and all at large.
1. Political Parties are not seeking candidates based on integrity, knowledge or love of country, but picking persons who thy assume will win.
2. Going into an election without having a census. Not knowing how many persons we are dealing with.
3. It seems that as long as you have a big mouth, you are considered the ideal candidate. A dog with lots of bark, but no bite.
it’s not the BVI ( it’s an idiot that can’t stand not having his own way , and has become bitter after being bodyslamed by the new kid on the block , from the JOA , so he flexing himself with one of his many temper TANTRUMS ,or his EGO gorne wild again
13? Me thinks 12. Ayo forget Head Coach living in Brazil now….I mean on bail house arrest in Miami.
Mika Barry what you say? Where is the Brown Bomber?
@Joker – Thanks for the correction. 12 A**