They don’t trust us! UK’s behaviour ‘threatening’ — Smith-Archer
The Order in Council held in reserve in the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament to ensure the government follows through on implementing the agreed-upon Commission of Inquiry (COI) reforms is an indication that UK officials do not trust the BVI’s leaders.
This was the sentiment expressed by Chairperson of the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) Shaina Smith-Archer when she appeared on the One VI Agenda programme recently.
When the COI report first emerged with its main overarching recommendation for a suspension of the territory’s constitution and a UK takeover, lawmakers negotiated a framework agreement with the UK to implement the remaining 48 recommendations and prevent that suspension from happening.
But Governor John Rankin then announced that an Order in Council was being held in reserve as an enforcement mechanism to ensure the newly assembled Government of National Unity did not renege on agreed timelines for governance reforms.
“It was probably a week later, [Rankin] made the announcement that the Order in Council was still drafted as it relates to [recommendation] A1, and that it only needs to be gazetted. As if to say, we needed to be incentivised in addition to the implementation framework. I see that as a lack of trust,” Smith-Archer said.
Boogeyman out there
Smith-Archer expressed that local leaders understood the seriousness of everything presented in the COI report and called the UK’s behaviour colonial and threatening.
“When we speak about modern partnerships, this is not how you treat your partner,” she added. “If we’re moving towards a place where we are being encouraged or developed to govern ourselves, this is not the right behaviour.”
According to BVICCHA Chair, the UK’s behaviour has resulted in a level of uncertainty in the BVI community, with some questioning whether the BVI can embark on a constitutional review recommended in the COI report under such circumstances.
“So it is almost as if you have a boogeyman out there, about to get you, but then you’re still not sure. ‘Well, should I go forward on the assumption that everything will remain status quo? Or, tomorrow morning, [when you] wake up, life as we know it has completely shifted from under us?” she questioned.
Smith-Archer said she agreed with Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley’s push for a removal of the Order in Council when he meets with officials during a visit to the UK next week, irregardless of what Governor Rankin’s next report says about the BVI’s progress in implementing reforms.
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WE don’t trust us either.
What have we got for the billions of government revenue received since the 1980s? Look around!
Then we get Head Coach and the CoI.
The UK have two Orders of Council sitting waiting to enforce on the BVI if we they not do what the UK wants and how they want it to be done and when they want it done. This is not democracy nor a modern partnership. This is wrong. Our constitution and our financial services should be met with such dictatorship in the 21st century.
Umm
Duh…
Trust and respect are earned. We have forgotten that simple truth.
Enough dictatorship. You have all the below rejecting the UK dictatorship moves especially with the Order in Council for direct rule:
1) The United Nations
2) CARICOM
3) USVI GOVERNOR
4) OECS
If all these were against actions of our public servants, local and Caribbean people and our politicians’ decisions and all of them kept moving forward regardless, the majority of us would have been hitting the ceiling if they failed to listen to them but we want to give the Governor and his UK Officials a free pass. It is time to end dictatorships of any kind. It is time to end colonialism. It is time to end the two orders in council or any order in council and their attempt at direct rule. It is WRONG! It is anti democratic. We have to come together to stop this wicked act.
We don’t trust them neither.
Yes we have our issues and we need to fix them. But the UK are no angels. They are not doing this out of benevolence for the children of slaves. This is more about their interest and dominance than it is about helping us. If they were serious about a proper partnership they would have already sent technical support to work with us in the areas that we are having problems in including the areas under the governor that are not functioning well. Instead they are locking up people without cause to demoralize us and erode our confidence in our ability to govern ourselves. Don’t be fooled. This is the same UK playbook. The governor is acting like a politician. He run the country. Our elected leaders are a side show.
Your post is so ignorant. The COI was a well organized plot and it span governments and people of the BVI for more than 39 years years while exempting the poor and questionable conduct and performance of the Governor and all under them. This clearly shows bias.
Why are people on picture in the local news holding an old type microphone to their face?
(I thought those were gone long time ago.)
Don’t trust the BVI government and politicians. They have a very long record incompetence and corruption.
Sewage system? Incinerator? Roads? education system? NHI contributions?
No s*** Sherlock. They have no reason to trust us. We don’t trust us either. Look at our track record!
Oh please. The UK public officers and politicians make those in the BVI look like choir boys. Everywhere has its issues but the UK trying to make us think that the BVI is worse than any where else and that we have done nothing correct.
Ms.Archer pls.watch your words as someone I was looking up to take us forward I’m loosing confidence.Are you a loose one in this deck.I’m to how you are refered to by some in your circle/profession so believe me alienate yourself if you want to get my vote
Because the CARICOM islands are doing so well, their citizens flock to the British Virgin Islands to make a life for themselves. Think carefully before you spout nonsense. The USVI is a dump, do you really want the BVI to follow down that path?
The BVI government has been corrupt ever since its inception. It began with the very first CM handing out crown land to his family, and it continues to this day. Sure, the UK members of parliament are crooked as anyone, but this is the BVI and we are supposed to be a proud people with a culture built on integrity and hard work….
Seems like the people don’t trust our government as well. And for good reasons.
This whole process is totally unreasonable and set up to make us fail. The time frame for implementation is ridiculous. The BVI can complete and implement every recommendation from that questionable COI process, and it still will never be enough to satisfy the UK Officials. Also, the BVI cannot afford all these new financial commitments and take care of the real needs of the people. Just wait and see. The reality is the UK Officials want to rule all OTs directly especially financial services, so they can give their friends jobs as the economy in the UK is really bad. If we think we have it bad under elected officials, and our current local public officers, then wait until you are ruled directly by Brits Officials. BVI be careful what you are asking for because you will regret it. The Brits Officials must immediately stop this abuse of power officially in public and private and remove the two Orders in Council FORTHWITH!
Trust is sometimes given and at other times it must be earned.
The narrative that is painted on this political tapestry is that the UK is the cruel headmaster because of the Order in Council. And they are not; at least not in the sense that we know it. That said, it was your people that called for the COI and it came at a time to expose and correct the misfeasance., immoral, amoral and other such like practices that have been ongoing whether manifestly or latently for years. Gratefully, there is a cleansing that is ongoing that no system, man, woman, demon or spirits can stop.
Admittedly, and most unfortunately, the occurrences at the Press Conference of the 6th January, 2023 has and does militate against the current premier and that puts things into a very precarious position. Be that as it is, it also highlights that the fact that there is work to be done, there are battles to be fought and victories to be won.
Having said that , I perceive that it is imprudent to push for the removal of the Order in Council yet. Obviously, the Premier can do as he so chooses; but there is an appointed time and that time is not now.
Mrs. Smith Archer, when you say a thing, stand by what you say or remain silent. Further, you and the majority of the people in your district are as oil and water. You are not mixing, please correct that. May God guide you.
Prove to us, the taxpayer, that you are worthy of our trust with good deeds and actions not with your childish behavior and posturing.
Dumb A$$! BVI was not making billions in the 80’s!
“since” not “in”. Its cumulative. That means you add up the annual receipts of government revenue for each year, I’m suggesting since the Offshore industry got going [1984]. I think it easily comes to billions. then look around.
look who crawling out of the woodwork at election time – same old people who got us in trouble already
anyone ask why would the uk want this country ? they best off selling to usa
What I do know I’m 40+ and the record don’t lie.In the BVI last names and popular families runs the government.The BVI is to small for the unfairness,greediness,selfishness and one sidedness.That is why we are in this dam mess right now.
I am from here and I trust you all even less cause I know who the h**l you all are……….
I agree that CARICOM countries have no reason to comment on the BVI giving their records.
However to say that their citizens flock to the BVI is slightly erroneous. Yes, a large part of the BVI demographic comes from CARICOM countries but when you consider that there are over 7 million residents in CARICOM countries, only a very small % are in the BVI (0.02%).
We need to stop this narrative.
I for one welcome our new u.k overlords, it can’t get any worse than a drug dealing premier
And it is why independence would mean a free rein for the few competing elements of that small little community, to control cash and power, with no chance for anyone examining what they do.
We are a village. Not a country.
Understand that this is not really “your” financial services industry. It is an international financial services industry that is located in the BVI. If the BVI doesn’t complete these reforms, that financial industry will be gone to other, safer more stable environs.
No, the USVI is not a dump. It is doing very well. Tourism is at an all time high (including visitors like President Biden). Homes are selling briskly and money is flowing. the BVI could only hope to do as well as the USVI is doing now. The USVI wisely decided several years ago that they were a lot better off staying as part of the US.
Well it’s obvious they are reading from the same script ,or their minds are some place else
Yes. Don’t trust them. Why would anyone. Look at the past record and current state of the place. No we don’t trust them. Only fools would.
What you dont seem to realise is that its our cheese they are eating
You don’t trust the govt, we don’t use trust the Govt. We don’t trust each other so why should the governor and Britain trust us…It starts with us. We are the problem not the governor, not Britain.
There are truth and Trust issues in the relationship between the United Kingdom and the Virgin Islands. Truth is.. direct or indirect rule should have been abandoned on 1st August 1834. I’ll just rest this here.
The BVI should not be trusted at all by any other reputable government. With the wholesale corruption, drug smuggling enterprises, people smuggling, racist and biased laws and overall 3rd world education levels of the population, the territory is a rogue criminal breeding ground of epic proportions. The lack of infrastructure in the territory (a direct result of mismanagement and corruption) makes it a miracle it functions at all. Direct rule would be the best option to get the country back on track along with positive affirmative action to level human rights to all who reside! The BVI is a mixture of Apartheid and African corruption levels which the local population benefit from, whilst the vast majority of residents live in restricted and oppressed subjugated existence. Bring back direct rule to sort out the mess and dissolve the constitution along with the government!
Shaina Smith-Archer, After all the UK know about the different governments of the BVI you really think they should trust us. Shaina you can agree Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley all you want but the UK is not going to remove The Order in Council. I wish the UK will just take over and shut all of you down, you all want the government to be wrong and strong find something else to campaign on.
@Enoug Who gives a shit about what these countries think, some of them are just as bad or worse than the BVI 1) The United Nations
2) CARICOM
3) USVI GOVERNOR
4) OECS
Our government put us in this position we have no other to blame but our own people.
@@Enough a small percent to you but at least 30 percent to the BVI.
Hey Dumb A$$
He/She said since the 1980s, not in the 1980s, and it is a true statement. The BVI has made billions since the 1980s. And look around … do we see that money in our infrastructure? I believe his or her point is that we do not. This money has been squandered by corruption and incompetence. Imagine the BVI if all of this money had been better spent … sigh …
CORRUPTION IS ANTI DEMOCRATIC.
So we put our trust in the people who enslaved us. We are sick in the head. All of you who posted this nonsense about the UK taking over and praising them should be ashamed of yourselves.
People of the BVI and elected officials please please please get up and fight for your people. There was a time in America & USA when it was the law that black people could not go certain places in the country and when they were finally allowed to go, there were assigned places for them like in the back of the bus or at the back of the restaurant in a corner. Failure to adhere to these laws they were arrested. This was against the law the whites in authority implemented but it was a crime against mankind & against true democracy. Although some of these laws has changed, the tactics and mentality remains the same but are administered in a modern way that makes it seem as good trying to stomp out bad. The question is who determines what is bad and is the bad for all sides being sought out. In those days there were blacks telling other blacks not to argue just adhere to the law. Some even said to each other that they (the blacks) caused it on themselves. The Order in Council by the UK Offficials who happen to be all caucasians is saying that no matter what your judiciary, policies, or Constitution says, the UK Officuals has the right to get rid of them and rule the entire country through their Governor in the way they see best by them and claim it is in the best interest of the people but really is in the best interest of them while they attempt to cover up their failures and try to highlight those of everyone else. Just like in the days of old with slavery and segregation, it is legal but against human rights and not democratic. The problem is that they also determine what is democracy and how it should be administered. We agree that there needs to be improvements at all levels but not through dictatorship and fear and the fulfillment of an agenda at the expense of true democracy and the people that can never be in the best interest of the people they want to enslave. As a matter of fact, history has showed that the slave masters were never satisfied with anything those enslaved did as it is hard and down right impossible to negotiate with devil like mentality persons who feel that they are angels and saviors and more superior than others.
Any country that has any leader above the law and instead have them being the law is a country under a dictatorship. Currently the President of America and former President have to answer questions about concerns raised about their questionable actions. The system and not “a one man” or “a small group of senior public Officers” will determine the process and outcome. However in the 21st century the Governor of the UK is above the law and will become the law by suspending a constitution and run a country how they see fit through two orders in council. This is dictatorship. In the 21st century when the Governor alone can call a COI & determine the terms of reference and the Commissioner for the COI and the staff is dictatorship. To add insult to injury that no one can call a COI on him or have him looked into as he alone is over the police force and audit and he alone can call a COI. THIS IS DICTATORSHIP!!! In the 21st century when a Governor can fail the police force especially in terms of development of the human capital & fail the public service but have these and more failures and questionable actions covered up by high handed actions geared at showing the apparent failure of others is not democracy but dictatorship. If the president of the USA is allowed to be held accountable by the law and the people then so can the Governor and the those UK senior public Officials over the Governor. Let us stop letting them play games with our minds and our future. It is time for balance. It is time for fairness. It is time to eliminate this kind of double standards. There should not be any discrepancy between how leaders are handled by the law and the judiciary and audit and the overall system.
@resident – You are making it sound as if during that entire time from the 80’s the BVI did not progress which is not a correct narrative. Our growth and progress were hindered by the political representation of 1999 forward with gross project overrun et al. No clear plan for moving forward.
Of course they not trusting us. Why would they?
We run by tieves crooks drug dealers people traffic.
Yes Dumb A$$! Did our growth and planned progress stop from the 80’s? NO! We lost sight of what was important to this Territory and its people from 1999 come forward. Look at the political class of 1999 (Andrew, Kedrick, Mark, Fraser just to name a few) and ask yourself what have they done PROPERLY AND POSITIVELY PROGRESSIVE in 20 years? Look at each individual district; ALL are run down and dilapidated!
They didn’t enslave us. Are you that stupid?
Nobody here is enslaved and nobody in
Britain is an enslaver. It’s over. Get over it.
The brits aren’t bitching about the Romans
enslaving then so
why would we keep vexing about stuff that
finished centuries ago?
The difference is that here nobody has done anything about corruption even when exposed and the laws are very ineffective.
In Britain, corruption exists as it does everywhere but is often exposed and the consequences are huge for those caught.
Would it kill you to punctuate?
Enough of this BS!
Most of our politicians are those who feel the need to carry on the class/master & slave mentality. They believe they deserve to shaft all of us because they are better than us yet USE race baiting rhetoric to convince the sleepy that they have the best interests of the citizens at heart.
We have nothing to offer the UK except a weight around their necks- they want us GONE- but we have to be capable of self governing before they can cut us loose.
They CAN’T cut us loose until we stop believing the very people who have lined their pockets and their family pockets with the money that should have been invested in our infrastructure for DECADES.
WAKE UP!
Get over it??! Reparations to slave masters paid up as recently as 2018! So descendents of slaves must get over it? GTFOH!!!
I don’t blame them – I don’t trust the BVI’s political leaders either.
When was the last time an elected politician in the UK was detained in the US on money laundering charges? When was the last time 2 metric tons of Columbian products were found in a UK policeman’s shed? When was the last time a public works project in the UK in the $ 50 million range ran up double costs to reach 95% completion with missing $ 10 million cash without any consequence to the MD who was sacked, sued to get his job baxk, and did? There is no equivalency between the UK and the BVIs. Sure, there are criminals and corruption in both places. The difference is that proportionally there are more here, many feel fine with the millions made in drug transportation, and here we don’t do well at all in the accountability department, even in the presence of incontrovertible evidence. DEA made a very good case for extradition of BVIslanders after a one year + investigation some years ago. What did we do? Suffice it to say that at least one of those involved
the boogie man is not the UK..it the black Massas who’s greed put us in the present predicament.
Let’s not ignore the elephant in the room. Our former Premier sits in an apartment in Miami on drug running, money laundering, and racketeering charges. The indictment lays out a criminal enterprise involving “government officials”, and gun runners linked to Terrorist organizations. The Port director and her son sit in US prison and we wait patiently to see who else was involved in this web of mess. This the kind of nonsense that gets countries invaded using military force by the West.
Let’s also not ignore the mess of corruption, nepotism, and victimization and misuse of public funds…allegedly.
Please get real..we are getting off lightly with an order in Council that they hopefully will not have to use if we stop moaning and get our act together.
the boogie man is not the UK..it the black Massas who’s greed put us in the present predicament.
Let’s not ignore the elephant in the room. Our former Premier sits in an apartment in Miami on drug running, money laundering, and racketeering charges. The indictment lays out a criminal enterprise involving “government officials”, and gun runners linked to Terrorist organizations. The Port director and her son sit in US prison and we wait patiently to see who else was involved in this web of mess. This the kind of nonsense that gets countries invaded using military force by the West.
Let’s also not ignore the mess of corruption, nepotism, and victimization and misuse of public funds…allegedly.
Please get real..we are getting off lightly with an order in Council that they hopefully will not have to use if we stop moaning and get our act together.
Trust is earned! Let’s also not ignore the decades of corruption, nepotism, victimization and misuse of public funds. Have mercy, we currently have ex-top government officials under indictment in the USA.