Premier slams proposed Customs and Immigration merger
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has dismissed a proposed merger of the Virgin Islands Customs and Immigration departments, calling it an ill-advised recommendation from the United Kingdom’s second volume of the law enforcement review.
The proposal, part of a broader effort to restructure the territory’s law enforcement agencies, has drawn strong opposition from the Premier, who believes it would further reduce local elected officials’ autonomy.
“It’s my understanding that there’s a recommendation for Immigration and Customs to go under the Governor,” the Premier explained on a recent airing of the Morning Braff show. “That recommendation was made by this independent agency. I have to say to you, that’s a recommendation that I do not agree with.” Dr Wheatley suggested that the recommendation in the yet-to-be-published review would take the territory in the wrong direction and mean less responsibility for locally elected officials.
He urged the public to reject it outright.
“I would just say to the people of the Virgin Islands, wake up. We’ve got to wake up. I’ve been speaking about this colonialism thing for some time. Some people don’t want to hear about it. We are capable, as any people, of being able to manage our own society,” Wheatley insisted.
According to Wheatley, the territory has laws that dictate how the Customs and Immigration departments operate, highlighting that lawmaking still resides with elected officials. “Unless you have an Order in Council enacted, then the legislature still has the responsibility of making laws,” the Premier stressed.
“We have to maintain the ability to make laws for ourselves so we can speak to our own representatives and instruct them as to what we want to see in the Virgin Islands.”
‘This recommendation will be rejected’
The law enforcement review was commissioned following the 2021 Commission of Inquiry (COI) to reform the BVI’s governance structures. However, Wheatley suggested that external recommendations do not always align with the local context.
The Premier’s stance aligns with concerns raised by other government officials, who argue that the UK’s recommendations often overlook progress made by local institutions. A previous volume of the law enforcement review was described as “skewed and demoralising” by Health Minister Vincent Wheatley, who noted that it failed to acknowledge improvements in the territory’s law enforcement agencies.
Despite Governor Daniel Pruce’s assertion that the review is an opportunity to improve governance, Premier Wheatley maintains that any structural changes must be led by those who understand the territory’s unique challenges.
Discussions on the proposed merger remain ongoing, but Dr Wheatley has made it clear that his administration will resist any changes that do not serve the best interests of the BVI.
“I would go as far as to say that particular recommendation will be rejected by this government,” the Premier added.
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Well, how are those 2 departments doing? Has anything funny been going on there?
Get your ducks in a row before you throw the baby out with the bath water.
Premier, I am one of the persons who was waiting for the leader to emerge. I stand with the Premier and his Government on this one, and all BVISLANDERS see this for what it is a power grab and an opportunity to give away more native rights.
So, the only reason to reject this is because this is seen as some form of “colonialism”? In other words, the messenger not the message is the problem? What “unique challenge” is there that makes the proposed merger not worthy of further consideration?
We wouldn’t want a Fair Efficient Honest system very uncaribbean
To bring another retired UK citizen to fill this gap
Because the premier disagrees it probably means it is a good idea for the people of the VI. Just not for corrupt politicians, friends and family.
This isn’t the first time that the Department of Immigration has come within a hair’s breadth of being under the control of the Governor. The previous occasion was in the early 1990’s when I was repeatedly refused permission to enter the BVI.
The story is told in my book “For the Sake of the Children”.
https://www.studiopublications.org/product-page/for-the-sake-of-the-children
Could be a good idea… anything to improve the sclerotic process of entering the territory by air or boat, and. But Police are under the governors purview, and they are a joke.
The Miseducation of the Negro, you have been groomed by an evil system and all that you know is that which you have been fed: power and control, but no independence of self nor thought, no real advancement of territory. Start with God. Basics of Management: Planning, Organising, Leading and Controlling. Put things in their right perspective and greater success will be the territory’s. You have failed miserably, drop some of the problematic roles, reeducate yourself aright and shoulder more as you grow in confidence and competence.
I would tell the Premier that this is a blatant misrepresentation of the truth.
They/Them/He has been instrumental in making this merger happen. Reading this in the news is almost shocking. Why would he say this when that is not the case?
BVI News, please conduct investigative journalism to uncover the real truth. Otherwise, you risk being complicit in spreading misinformation to the general public, just like this article. I’m reslly in aw right now. This has to be a mistake…. bvi news please contact the necessary agencies. Wow smh and wow, wow,wow. Imagine what other opposit of the truth the general public has been fed