Only 5% of recommendations need further review, says Governor

Governor Daniel Pruce says the United Kingdom is weighing the final outcome of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) reforms, while a small set of separate law enforcement recommendations still requires additional work with the local government.

Pruce outlined the UK process that followed submissions earlier this year, including his final review, the government’s self-assessment and public feedback.

“That process in the United Kingdom of consideration of that body of information, which is quite extensive, there’s a lot of it, and discussion with colleagues and also with the Foreign Secretary is moving ahead… I hope that we will hear something soon. But I’m not in a position to give you a specific timeline for that,” he said.

He said discussions with Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley will focus on a limited subset of items arising from the Law Enforcement Review by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire & Rescue Services.

“We’ve boiled it down across both partners to a relatively small number of recommendations, probably around 5% of the total, probably 5% of that 375, which do need further consideration. And I look forward to taking those discussions forward with the Premier in the coming days,” he said.

The Governor stressed collaboration as the guiding approach.

“Guiding principle in all of this is that obviously we work better together,” he said. He added that the shared outcome is “a safe, secure and prosperous Virgin Islands.”

The government has said it completed all 48 COI recommendations and sent a self-assessment to the UK earlier this year for a final decision. Ministers in London will determine whether to lift the Order in Council that was kept as a backstop during the reform period.

The Law Enforcement Review, which sits alongside the COI reforms, includes recommendations for the police, customs, immigration and prison services. Agencies have begun implementation, with the Governor urging steady delivery of practical changes.

Pruce said the territory should continue turning expert findings into action.

“It’s on using the value and the benefit of the insights that we’ve received,” he said.

Officials now aim to resolve the outstanding items and close out the UK process. Pruce said he will meet the Premier to agree next steps and timescales once London concludes its consideration. He did not give a date for the decision but said it remains a priority for both sides.