Ministers needed guidelines and limitations — Premier

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has agreed that ministers needed more explicit guidelines and limitations on their power.

A significant aspect of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) findings showed that ministers in the BVI exercised “open-ended discretion” without adequate checks and balances. This lack of proper limitations allowed for potential abuses in various areas, including the issuance of grants and waiving tender processes​.

Premier Wheatley agreed with this sentiment while speaking on May 23 during a one-on-one conversation with Karia Christopher.

“I would have to agree, for a long time, persons have observed that ministers need more guidelines, more limitations to the exercise of their power,” Dr Wheatley stated.

He said this need for more ministerial limits was evident in how ministers handled immigration and Belonger status.

The Premier also emphasised the importance of consistency and suggested that individuals’ connections or social circles should not influence decisions but should be based on established policies that govern the exercise of discretion. He noted, however, that discretion allows for flexibility in dealing with unforeseen situations.

“So there will always be the need for discretion,” Premier Wheatley stated. “But what was identified in the review that was conducted by Ms Anthea Smith is that that discretion should be exercised in keeping with fundamental principles of fairness, of consistency, fundamental principles that would allow the best result to take place after a proper process.”

The Premier’s office is leading efforts to codify these principles into policy to ensure that discretion is used judiciously and transparently. “We’ve asked former Attorney General Baba Aziz to write a policy that will help to provide guidance for ministers in the exercise of their discretion,” Dr Wheatley revealed.

As part of these governance reforms, the Premier acknowledged the role of public officers and the challenges faced during the implementation phase, which includes recovery from hurricanes and the global pandemic. He expressed deep gratitude towards the civil servants for their dedication and resilience during these challenging times.

The reforms also aim to address issues such as conflicts of interest, contract awards, and the granting of residency and Belonger status, all highlighted in the COI report.

The government said it is committed to strengthening the framework for integrity, accountability, and transparency in all areas of governance.