UK will still suspend BVI’s constitution, Malone predicts
Territorial At-Large Representative Carvin Malone said he believes that the United Kingdom (UK) will still have to suspend the BVI’s constitution in order to implement certain Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommendations.
This is despite an assurance by Governor John Rankin that the BVI’s constitution will not be temporarily and partially suspended once COI recommendations are carried out over the next two years, according to a proposal made by the current unity government.
However, the governor did note that an Order in Council will be held in reserve in the UK to facilitate that suspension, should the BVI renege on its commitment to implement the agreed-upon recommendations or if he assesses that progress on their implementation is being frustrated in any way.
“This is the procedural order put before the Privy Council of the UK which is required to make changes to the Constitution of the BVI. This will allow the Foreign Secretary to swiftly provide me with the powers needed to take corrective action if progress against the milestones is unsatisfactory,” Rankin said previously of the Order in Council.
In the meantime, Malone said regardless of the BVI’s efforts, its constitution will still be met with a suspension.
“They will have to, in my view – this is solely my view – no matter what we do; they will have to suspend the constitution, [even] if for a day, to get into the constitution certain aspects of those recommendations,” Malone argued.
Malone said this was because there are other areas of concern held by the British, apart from the more than 40 recommendations put forward in the COI report regarding the BVI’s poor governance record.
According to Malone, when the recommendations come to the House of Assembly (HOA), “they may well face debates as to exactly what is best for the Virgin Islands”.
Malone also questioned whether people were truly satisfied with the government’s level of interaction with residents leading to the finalisation of proposals sent by the BVI government to the UK.
The first-term legislator had repeatedly called for dialogue with residents on the proposals ahead of their submission to the UK Overseas Territories Minister Amanda Milling.
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As the Unity Government has already fallen apart there is no longer a Unity Government. The UK needs to reassess. This place needs fixing.
We need guidance. We are incapable of 40+ COI recommendations. Please Governor, help us find the way.
Probably right because these bozos are incapable of organising anything, never mind meeting targets.
Unless there is money in it for them, they dint want to know.
It would seems to me that your move has now made that a distinct possibility when we were trying to ensure that it remained a distant one.
so thanks for helping!
This man should have resigned rather than cross the floor causing more uncertainty. Clearly very bitter at the new premier
After constructing a $ 900,000 elevator for 2 floors it is business as usual so will not be surprised.
I said this to a few people when the report was made public. The UK is going to suspend the constitution in about a years time. Reason being that there is a tactic employees by the British for centuries where they tell the locals that we are willing to work with you on legislation so go ahead. They will do this to appease the population and then at privy council and foreign Commonwealth office they continue drafting their plans despite what is said prior. It has happened in numerous cases in Anguilla, Turks, Cayman and Bermuda over the past few decades and I see no reason to stop now.
If you assessed that what a child did was wrong and have the child instructions to correct the behavior and the child says it’s ok I’ll make the necessary changes on my own. You don’t need to worry about it. What would you do as a parent or teacher of that child?
Don’t just suspend it, trash it and start over.