New king in town! Business as usual for BVI
Special Envoy to the Premier, Benito Wheatley has expressed that the UK-BVI relationship will not be directly affected by the ascension of King Charles III to the throne.
King Charles was officially crowned on May 6 and even before that, calls were repeated for him to address some of Britain’s longstanding problems, such as the wealth hidden in the UK’s Overseas Territories (OT) and Crown Dependencies.
But Wheatley said the new monarch is not expected to affect the BVI’s financial services industry. And though the BVI has seen some turbulence in its relationship with the UK in recent years – particularly under the last Andrew Fahie-led administration – Wheatley explained that drastic change in the BVI’s relationship with the UK usually comes through other means.
“An Overseas Territory’s constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom will not be subject to change because a new monarch has ascended the throne. Constitutional change usually comes about as a result of a territory having a constitutional review and then subsequent constitutional negotiation between the UK government and the elected arm of the OT government,” the social commentator told our news centre.
BVI financial services sector unconcerned
CEO of BVI Finance, Elise Donovan shared similar sentiments as Wheatley. She said the BVI’s financial services sector isn’t concerned about the new monarch as he is only a ceremonial head of state.
“There has been no change in the constitutional relationship between the Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom. Consequently, the implications for financial services remain unchanged following the coronation. Similar to the [late] Queen, the King now serves as the head of state,” Donovan stated.
The British monarchy hasn’t enjoyed its usual popularity in recent years. Many Britons and people around the world see the institution as a symbol of privilege and inequality in a country of deepening poverty and fraying social ties. The spat between the royals and Prince Harry’s bi-racial wife hasn’t helped.
In recent years, the calls for the Crown to pay taxes on its wealth have gotten louder as economic conditions around the world worsen. There have also been calls for the Crown to apologize for the transatlantic slave trade and pay reparations to the nations where the descendants of enslaved people live.
The Crown hasn’t made any impactful move on any of the above-mentioned issues. Still, the global cries continue to grow louder.
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Why is this headlines?
How Slow-Andy can know what the new King will or will not affect? Is he so far in the white mans pocket that he knows what they are plotting now???
Why has this person’s views suddenly become so important that every news site has to publish them ?
Do we really care about his opinion ? What is his motive ?
Most of us know that Harry’s wife is not to be held in high esteem. Quit using it as a reason to be upset with the UK.
Martians will not be landing tonight
Pope is a catholic
Bears crap in the woods
Dolly Parton sleeps on her back.
It is time the UK offer all its Overseas Territories independence. They always say they can have independence if they want but under the table they hold them back through questionable actions geared at always putting doubt in the minds of the people in regards to confidence in their leadership when the UK is worse off than all the OTs put together in terms of leadership. Three Prime Ministers in 8 months. Their economy is tanking out with many strikes daily and increasing by Healthcare workers, public officers, plenty questions in the area of integrity and transparency, etc. They are not handling their affairs well and not a good example. The ceremony for the King was over $250 million pounds and counting yet they Claim they do not have money to deal with the infrastructure and social needs of the UK people. We need to move out of this abusive relationship as their own UK residents are suffering and complaining about their poor leadership just watch the news or read what is happening (or more like not happening) in the UK and we will be shocked to know we are handling our affairs better than them.
This is such an asinine comment. A simple read of how the UK is set up will show that the King is a figurehead and has no influence on policy. I really cant believe that this is being touted as some kind of revelation.
King Charles my backside,yall better get real before its to late.
The BVI does Govern itself – it has its own House of Assembly and they make they laws. The UK should get rid of the BVI as its become a petulant child and pain in the neck what with the CoI and the former Premier still waiting to be convicted of racketeering. Let all those who want independence tear up their British passports as a sign of protest and present them to the Governor.