The United Kingdom’s threat of direct rule over the Virgin Islands remains in place after London missed its long-anticipated aim of settling the contentious matter by the end of June.
UK leaders previously said they would decide before this month whether to lift the order in council that allows them to implement direct rule if the VI government doesn’t complete the recommendations outlined in the 2022 Commission of Inquiry report.
But that timeframe has come and gone, and with Governor Daniel Pruce away from the territory until Aug. 2, any movement appears to remain weeks away at the earliest.
On Friday, however, Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley insisted that his government has completed its COI obligations, and he announced that he is travelling to London this week to meet with Overseas Territories Minister Stephen Doughty and other UK officials.
“I’m confident that we have done everything that we have been asked to do,” he told a Friday press conference ahead of the trip. “My meeting in London forms part of the comprehensive assessment process. I am confident that these elements taken together will affirm our government’s belief the VI has fulfilled the spirit, intent and letter of the [COI] framework agreement.
Therefore, it will be just for the order in council to be lifted, restoring full democratic governance to our people.”
Waiting for Doughty
When delivering his final COI report on May 9, Mr. Pruce said he did not see the need for London to give the governor extra powers at that time, but he added that the decision lay with Mr. Doughty.
The OT minister, who visited the territory last November, previously indicated that he would announce by the end of June whether the UK would lift the order in council.
However, it is considered unlikely that such a statement would be made while the governor is overseas.
Mr. Pruce announced a lengthy absence from the territory on his Facebook page last month.
He posted that he was in the UK attending an annual conference of governors, ambassadors and high commissioners before undergoing surgery on his shoulder.
May reports
The countdown towards the order in council decision included the governor’s final COI report, the VI government’s assessment of the situation, and feedback from a public consultation that drew input from some 600 people.
All three elements were delivered in May.
Mr. Doughty was then due to receive analysis on the matter from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office before reaching a final decision in consultation with Foreign Secretary David Lammy by the end of June.
Question for the UK
Asked about the delay in the expected announcement, Mr. Wheatley told the Beacon, “This is a question for the governor and minister.”
The Governor’s Office, meanwhile, told the Beacon that the May report was the governor’s “final report” on the COI matter.
“It’s now for Minister Doughty and the foreign secretary to consider and decide next steps,” the office stated without providing any update on the expected timeline.
‘Colonial-era power grab’
Mr. Wheatley has repeatedly attacked the order in council, which he has described as a “colonial-era power grab.”
The governor’s May report found that 43 of the 48 COI reforms had been completed, and progress was being made on the remaining five.
The FCDO did not respond to a request for comment by Beacon press time.
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