UK should abandon concept of suspending constitutions
A forceful condemnation of the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) ability to suspend the BVI’s constitution has been issued by the territory’s leader, who also called for the practice to be abolished.
“Let me just speak about the the whole concept of suspending someone’s constitution. I don’t agree with it in any way, shape, or form,” Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said at a recent press conference. “I do not agree with the United Kingdom or any other government suspending another group’s constitution. It’s fundamentally undemocratic.”
Dr Wheatley was at the time responding to questions surrounding a recent progress report issued by Governor John Rankin and whether he saw evidence from concerns raised in the report that the territory’s constitution is likely to be suspended.
The Premier argued, among other things, that democracy cannot be imposed on a nation and said even if the UK were to suspend the BVI’s constitution, people still have to live here and deal with their own affairs.
“Suspending a constitution is a flawed concept that the United Kingdom, in my view, should abandon,” Premier Wheatley argued.
The Premier pointed out that residents will have a right at some point to elect a government, just in the same way as the Turks and Caicos Islands when their constitution was suspended.
He said this government will then have the power to make and to amend laws and will have to do so in collaboration with the people who have elected them. “When you suspend the constitution, at some point you’ll have to implement a constitution and you still have to deal with the people,” Dr Wheatley reasoned.
BVI should send a message
In the meantime, the premier argued that the BVI should send a precise signal about its feelings on the dynamics of the territory’s relationship with the UK.
“The United Kingdom has the authority under the laws and our constitution and the laws of the United Kingdom to suspend our constitution. They have the power to do that. Whether we have a draft Order in Council or not, they have the power to do it. And I believe that we have to move away from a relationship where any government or any group of people can put another group of people in that position,” the premier said.
“We’re going through a constitutional review process and I think it’s a wonderful time for us to get together and send a very clear message that we do not want to have a relationship with those type of colonial practices, where you take away our House of Assembly and you take away Cabinet and you put all the power; all executive and legislature … in one man’s hands who’s not elected. For me that’s unacceptable,” Dr Wheatley said.
Background
Following a months-long Commission of Inquiry (COI) on governance in the BVI, a damning report was issued at the end of April 2022 which recommended, among other things, that the BVI’s constitution be suspended for at least two years in the first instance. The COI report proposed that an interim government — led by the governor and supported by an advisory council — be set up to rule in the elected government’s place during that time.
However, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government, led by Dr Wheatley, accepted members of the political Opposition into its fold while shifting other elected members around as part of steps it took to avert that suspension. The government then agreed to a framework to implement the COI’s proposed nearly-50 recommendations over that two-year period.
As a measure of enforcement, UK legislators placed a draft Order in Council in the UK parliament which is set to be triggered once the BVI runs afoul of its commitment to implement the agreed-upon reforms in the framework document.
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When you were signing off on everything like an uncle tom how come you did not say that?
I like how they poking at UK, as if anything they say will stop the inevitable.
Agree with Premier. There’s a myriad of other less draconian measures which could have been pursued for the improvement of governance and rooting out corruption. Indeed, several are currently underway and I do hope they achieve the desired result. In my view, this is 2022 and only anarchy would justify suspending the parts of a country’s constitution which allows for a democratically elected Government and for the elected government to exercise executive powers. That said it is, of course, also up to all of us in the BVI to govern ourselves in a way that makes this issue moot.
should abandon the concept of this Unity government accomplishing any of the CoI reforms in the next 2 years. The sole purpose of the 12 member HOA and speaker is to protect their jobs for as many years as possible!
… You busy hustling to UK to secure your job, along with all the Unified A**Clowns; instead of calling elections. He only now realized what he signed. F@ck&ng I***t!
When you were busy signing off on everything to get their blessings to replace Andrew you didn’t have any mouth. Now you got what you wanted and you see the snake head you’re making noise. Just call elections please let us get the rid of this *** man we have for a Premier.
Now the Premier is tracking back on the agreement with the British Government to implement the COI recommendations.
What is Premier Wheatley afraid of?
Either Implement them, Resign or Call Elections.
This government and the previous governments suspended the Constitution when they ignored it. Why should the UK not do the same with you ignoring what you agreed to do on our behalf?
Sorry Sl**ande it’s comming soon. Can’t wait 🙂
When your premier and the head of ports are in prison for drug running and the people who aided them are still running the place are still at large, I’d say that is anarchy and thank God we have the UK.
Maybe he should take up mushroom farming he’s got all the right skills.
What happened to Government Official #1 and those Hezbollah folks the DEA were meeting with in the BVI who introduced them to The Ports Lady and Drew? hmmmmmm and all the corrupt officials and police discussed in the affidavit that arrested Drew?
Nothing is happening in the BVI, to those Premier’s office workers that were sent home with pay. Nothing atol is coming of any of the known corruption in our country.
Just when the little people had hopes of their country being cleaned up, now utter disappointment.
Sit down, and forget about justice. Corruption reigns in the BVI and we have many to blame. Am I wrong?
hardly any sensible comments. fix things yes but suspending a constitution, no. The constitution is the legal identity of the people.
I don’t want to see it happen but we cant continue spending public funds like we crazy with no value for money and the place still don’t progress in no way shape or form. Not only we not progressing but we going backwards cause everything running down still; and we not maintaining anything but high salaries and perks and for people who don’t do nothing.
– Premier of the BVI
– Head of Customs of the BVI
– Head of Ports Authority of the BVI
– Head of Post office of the BVI
– Head of Child Services of the BVI
No one wants oversight..
Everybody want to talk about the BVI right to self determination… Why nobody want to talk about what’s being done to make sure we don’t go through another 2 decades of corruption and stagnation.
At least 12 criminal investigations are on going. Be patient.
The Uk could have suspended our constitution already they didn’t need permission… we say we capable of carrying out the reforms ourself and form this unity government… months later we successfully miss every deadline we agreed to on top of barely reforming anything it’s same waving of tender process no public register of interests, no freedom of information act,still can’t access documents important to determining if anything getting do at all, still paying somebody to represent district 1 who can’t represent district 1 right now or for the foreseeable future, still with the vote buying through contracts for things government workers should be doing like bush cutting etc… still no plan for how we advancing in any of our economic pillars no plan for how we can reduce cost of living no plan or timeline for how government can stop paying so much money in rent, healthcare/nhi is crap, infrastructure is crap, no plan or timeline for nothing… we just drifting aimlessly yet up in arms over things like gay marriage and belonger status and talking about self determination and independence while watching our bvi turn into the ghetto out of greed and self interest.
COI investigation uncovered (or rather confirmed) serious dishonesty and corruption throughout the government.
The UK should have taken over at that point.
Rather diplomatically, agreed to implement a system allowing BVI politicians to clean up their mess.
Step up or step out. Simple.
We need to abandon the concept of wanting to be under the UK and still have everything our way with nobody to tell us our backward way of doing things and shady deals are unacceptable.
Mr Wheatley, did you actually say that? Are we proud to be the kakocracy we currently are?
We can just keep on supporting the opaque and outlandish tender waivers that see us paying twice the lowest bid and fund it by refusing to maintain and closing down more schools every year. I guess you think our kids deserve half an education just so democracy isn’t thrust upon us.