Dr Wheatley hails Order in Council lifting as ‘national victory’
The BVI Flag being flown half mast.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has described the lifting of the United Kingdom’s Order in Council as a “national victory” for the BVI, saying the move marks a defining moment for the territory’s democracy after nearly four years of constitutional uncertainty.
Speaking in a national address last Friday, Dr Wheatley said the revocation of the 2022 Order in Council signalled the end of a period during which the territory faced the possibility of direct rule by the UK government.
“Today is a day that will long be remembered in the annals of Virgin Islands history,” Dr Wheatley stated. “Today is the day that what has been known as the Order in Council is lifted. And our hopes, dreams, and aspirations are lifted along with it.”
The Order in Council was drafted in 2022 following the publication of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report into governance in the Territory. The UK government placed the order in reserve while the BVI implemented reforms recommended by the inquiry.
If enacted, the order would have suspended significant portions of the Virgin Islands Constitution and transferred governing authority to the governor.
“In response to this threat to democracy, the Government of National Unity was formed,” he said, noting that leaders from different political backgrounds joined together “for one purpose: to protect the Virgin Islands from direct rule and to preserve our democracy.”
According to the Premier, the territory undertook an extensive reform programme to address the COI’s recommendations and strengthen public institutions. Public officers and government officials worked under pressure to modernise governance systems and improve accountability, he said.
The Premier explained that the government reported substantial progress to UK officials in 2024. “In September of 2024, I reported to OT Minister Stephen Doughty that we had substantially implemented the 48 key recommendations of the COI,” Dr Wheatley said.
The UK government ultimately decided to revoke the draft Order in Council. The decision was made in September 2025 by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, acting on advice from Overseas Territories Minister Stephen Doughty.
The revocation was formalised earlier this year when the Virgin Islands Constitution (Interim Amendment) (Revocation) Order 2026 was laid before the UK Parliament and took effect on March 13.
“This is not merely a procedural development. This is a national achievement. This is a national victory,” Dr Wheatley said. “And it belongs to every single one of you.”
Premier Wheatley said the lifting of the order affirms the territory’s ability to govern itself. “Today, the Virgin Islands stands tall. Our Constitution stands firm. Our democracy remains intact,” he stated.
However, he stressed that governance reform would continue. The Premier said the government remains committed to strengthening institutions and maintaining high standards in public life through its Governance Reform Transition Programme.
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Hon. Premier, people that cannot bathe at nights and can barely afford a loaf of bread do not give a f**k about you and your brother’s little school boy fantasies. The Territory is at a stand still, you have not accomplished anything noteworthy in this current term and here you are grandstanding. I don’t agree with the ALL13 nonsense but this is one of the 13 that we definitely need to get rid of and fast.
The public’s skepticism about the motives and sincerity of those who pushed hardest for the COI is easy to understand. Before the inquiry began, we were repeatedly told that it would uncover sweeping, systemic corruption. And the same voices insisted the process would be fair, objective, and above reproach.
But when the COI didn’t produce the kind of rampant corruption that had been loudly predicted, something interesting happened. Instead of acknowledging that the situation might have been exaggerated, many of those same advocates suddenly shifted their position.The goalposts moved.
The very process they had previously praised as the gold standard of fairness and credibility was now quietly sidelined—because it didn’t deliver the outcome they had wanted/expected. And that kind of hypocrisy is exactly why people begin to question the real motives behind the entire exercise.
Its time to shed the Party Premier Playboy image and do some serious work on improving the living condition of VI residents. Use some of the Loan to do some urgent infrastructure work and for god sake do something about the dolly house bulls**t at Hodges Creek to Paraquita Bay. Everybody is tired of this s**t its going to make you loose re election. Sea Cows Bay is the same c**p these projects should have been long completed and we move on to other important areas of development your government is moving much too slow for the…. Boss pick up the pace like you running a race time is crucial so move in a haste….action not ah bag ah mouth.
That’s why he done start doing froth by hiring Special Advisors and envoy and not wanting to disclose their salaries. He has learned NOTHING from this so mind we don’t end up in the same place again. Sigh!
The poli*icians/gov**nment created a mess, were caught, and cleaned up their mess.
That’s all.