Premier ‘optimistic’ VI will be able to ‘transition past Order in Council’
Initially, the UK had said the Order in Council, which is seen as a colonial act, would be lifted once the reforms recommended by the one-man Commission of Inquiry (CoI) were completed.
This has been done; however, the UK continues to drag its feet while putting forward new criteria.
Four reviews/assessments to be done
According to Premier Wheatley, speaking at a press conference on November 26, 2024, there will now be a self-assessment by the Government of the Virgin Islands, which it is preparing to execute.
Additionally, the Governor will be doing his final review after which the public will be given an opportunity to make its input.
According to Dr Wheatley, Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) officials, including “perhaps” government officials from the United Kingdom, will visit the territory and conduct an assessment.
“We are confident that we have done the work that will be able to justify at that point, transitioning from this previous phase, which is the Order in Council that continues to hang over our heads, to a new phase where we are transitioning, where we are educating the public, where we are ensuring that the reforms are properly implemented, properly understood, and properly mainstreamed into our government processes and procedures and really to internalise this government reform in our everyday culture…in delivering public services,” Dr Wheatley commented.
The Premier added that he is “optimistic” that the VI and its government will be able to transition past the Order in Council and “move on to building a model democracy in partnership with the United Kingdom.”
According to the Premier, the four reviews are expected to be done in the first quarter of 2025.
Until then, the ‘Sword of Damocles’ Order in Council continues to hang over the head of the Virgin Islands.
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