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Ambassador Wheatley blasts PM May

-£14M for Dominica zero for VI
It was on May 24, 2018, that the Virgin Islands (VI) diplomat E. Benito Wheatley (right) told Prime Minister of Great Britain the Rt. Hon. Theresa M. May (left) at Number 10 Downing Street that the “United Kingdom (UK) Government has undermined the partnership between the VI and the UK at a critical time when the islands remain extremely vulnerable and are recovering from two devastating category 5 hurricanes in 2017, while preparing for an active 2018 hurricane season.” Photo: Internet Source/Facebook
The strong language came during a meeting held where the Head of the BVI London Office, Wheatley and other Overseas Territories (OTs) Representatives met with Sir John Randall, Special Advisor on Environment to UK Prime Minister Rt Hon Theresa May. Photo: Londonist
The strong language came during a meeting held where the Head of the BVI London Office, Wheatley and other Overseas Territories (OTs) Representatives met with Sir John Randall, Special Advisor on Environment to UK Prime Minister Rt Hon Theresa May. Photo: Londonist
LONDON, England, UK - It was on May 24, 2018, that the Virgin Islands (VI) diplomat E. Benito Wheatley told Prime Minister of Great Britain the Rt. Hon. Theresa M. May at Number 10 Downing Street that the “United Kingdom (UK) Government has undermined the partnership between the VI and the UK at a critical time when the islands remain extremely vulnerable and are recovering from two devastating category 5 hurricanes in 2017, while preparing for an active 2018 hurricane season.”

The strong language came during a meeting held where the Head of the BVI London Office, Wheatley and other Overseas Territories (OTs) Representatives met with Sir John Randall, Special Advisor on Environment to UK Prime Minister Rt Hon Theresa May.

Ambassador Wheatley who is the Territory’s representative in London and the European Union warned the British that “decision to seek to force public registers of beneficial ownership on the BVI before it is a global standard will negatively impact the jurisdiction’s financial services sector that accounts for more than 60 percent of government revenue which is critical to the islands’ recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria and Government’s efforts to build resiliency to stronger storms and greater rainfall caused by climate change”, according to statements from the BVI London House.  

Money for Dominica zero for OTs

In his strongest language yet the VI man in London Mr Wheatley also reminded Downing Street that “the UK Government provided Dominica with £14 million for climate resilience after Hurricane Maria and that no financial support of this type was given to the BVI as a British Overseas Territory".

According to the press statement issued yesterday Monday, May 28, 2018, the outgoing Ambassador also expressed concerns about the UK Parliament legislating for the Overseas Territories in areas where powers have been devolved to the Territory's government and where there is no international legal obligation upon the UK to intervene in the territories to dispense its sovereign obligations.

"Keep out of VI business where you have no power" - E. Benito Wheatley 

The UK decision to impose public registers on OTs is a departure from this policy as the OT Financial Centres have actually demonstrated excellence in meeting international standards on beneficial ownership set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). This sets a precedent for the UK to legislate for the OTs in other areas devolved to the Territory governments where nothing has been done wrong, Wheatley argued.

The Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 received Royal Assent on 24th May 2018 by Her Majesty the Queen which contains the provision that the Overseas Territories must adopt public registers of beneficial ownership by 31st December 2020.

16 Responses to “Ambassador Wheatley blasts PM May”

  • chad (29/05/2018, 13:40) Like (30) Dislike (5) Reply
    Excellent job Ambassador Wheatley, very interesting to see that our mother country saw it fit to provide $14 million in aid to an independent non-overseas territory of Dominica but did not even attempt to provide a single $ of aid to its own territory. A very sad state of affairs and speak to some underlying ill. Not good at all.
  • 123 (29/05/2018, 13:40) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    yes sock it to them
  • Observer (29/05/2018, 14:52) Like (22) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mr.wheatley,s representation on behalf of the territory was very good. Thank you Mr. Wheatley. Hope this is one example to show the DP that we have good scholars from this territory. Which scholar from outside can know our needs, like our own. Time to use what we have rather than overlooking our own people.
    • @observer (29/05/2018, 15:34) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
      This is not what the DP was talking about. Why are you people like that. There are people in the world who sit down and study world trends, where the world will be in twenty five years etc. and how people can prepare. There are countries who have done this and people who have helped them to do it. That is what the DP was speaking about sourcing, not an ambassador who we would expect to know the information he is providing. He is the ambassador! We must humble ourselves and know when we need help and stop viewing everything from negative lenses.
  • Duuuuude (29/05/2018, 15:49) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Dude she need some sun. Her skin that pale? May Baby come visit the Virgin Islands. Be the First. Drinks at Foxy's and Soggy Dollar.
  • UK students (29/05/2018, 16:09) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ndp and ls must go ben must stay
  • Forgetting Too Soon (29/05/2018, 16:37) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    Hey People!!!

    Go back to the news, of course UK gave NDP government a grant or gift of 11 or 12 million before the loan guarantee of 300 million.

    No surprise if it cannot be accounted for by the NDP government, but let us go back down memory lane, indeed BVI got a grant and don't spread fake report the UK gave Dominica and not BVI

    If they did not give BVI I wonder why?????? Is it a vote of "No confidence and No trusting the bVI Government???" Anyway this is not the case because BVI did get a grant outside of the loan agreement.

    Somebody, please confirm, verify, corroborate, concur. Please set the records straight.
  • Tell your children children (29/05/2018, 17:15) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Great job brother. TIME enough, these people think we are fools. No time to remain silent. Who have the watch knows the time. Keep watch people look to the hills from whence cometh out help. May God help us.
  • Benito Wheatley (29/05/2018, 18:49) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    To be perfectly clear I did not meet Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Theresa May at 10 Downing Street as indicated.
    • @ benito (30/05/2018, 07:20) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
      Well who you met with was represending may so whats the diffrence
    • But did UK give $$? (31/05/2018, 08:37) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      Bonita - did they or didn’t they give gwop to BeWeEye? Seems you missed that comment....conveniently some may say...
  • Pell. (30/05/2018, 04:51) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    England is a female dog
  • Political Observer (PO) (31/05/2018, 14:41) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Benito as the BVI rep in London should have been more involved in the discussions about the amendment to the Sanctions and Anti Money Laundering Bill; perhaps he was. What is Benito’s status anyway? Did he choose not to renew his contract? Was the NDP deliberately dragging its feet to frustrate him enough to move on? If the latter, sad. By the, it was reported that the UK give the VI £10M grant, in addition to the £300M loan guarantee, did it not? Great job Benito.


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