The upcoming series of town hall meetings under the Governance, Reform, Education and Awareness Transformation (G.R.E.A.T) Virgin Islands (VI)— G.R.E.A.T VI—initiative, is perhaps the most important aspect of the processes involved in reshaping governance in the Virgin Islands, according to Mr Kedrick E. Malone, the Governance Reform Delivery Manager. Photo: GIS/Facebook

Schedule of upcoming town hall meetings. The G.R.E.A.T VI campaign is designed to bridge that gap by educating the public on governance reforms, ensuring transparency, and promoting accountability. Photo: GIS

As such, he is of the view that public engagement forums—set to begin on Sunday February 2, 2025— is the cornerstone of the reforms recommended by the Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

G.R.E.A.T VI

Speaking during a Government Information Service (GIS) interview with Communications Officer Ms Sonjè Greenidge, Mr Malone asserted, “This is the most important part of the CoI, because all of the reports, policies, and legislation mean nothing if the people don’t understand what has changed, if they don’t feel this is a positive change, and if they don’t see the benefits.”

The G.R.E.A.T VI campaign, as such, is designed to bridge that gap by educating the public on governance reforms, ensuring transparency, and promoting accountability.

The recently completed CoI, led by Sir Gary Hickinbottom, he recalled, investigated allegations of corruption, misuse of power, and victimisation within the Virgin Islands.

According to Mr Malone, “Having gone through the process, we recognise that the fundamental issue is really the lack of governance, or the breakdown of governance structures.”

For Malone, the success of the town hall meetings hinges on the extent to which citizens grasp the reforms and witness tangible improvements in public service.

Public Participation & Accountability

Qualifying this position, he said: “We will judge success by the extent that people understand what has changed in the areas where the Commission of Inquiry had implementations.”

The goal, he said, is for the public to perceive enhanced transparency, increased governmental accountability, and a stronger society that avoids repeating past mistakes. A vital aspect of the campaign is fostering public participation, which Mr Malone identified as a key component of governmental accountability.

“Ministers of Government will speak about their areas of responsibility that have changed, and Permanent Secretaries will provide technical details and answer public questions,” he explained.

Moreover, the Governor, under the directive of the Overseas Territories Minister, will conduct surveys to measure public understanding of and satisfaction with the CoI outcomes.

According to Mr Malone, “When people feel it was a good thing or a bad thing, are they happy with the outcome, do they understand the outcomes – that feedback is essential.”

Key Reforms

The town hall meetings, he indicated, will centre around the 48 recommendations emanating from the CoI, covering critical areas of governance, among the most impactful of which, is the overhaul of immigration policies, with amendments to the Immigration and Passport Act, clarifying the processes of work permits, residency and belongership status.

“That’s a very big issue in the Virgin Islands, as we depend on persons coming to the territory for work to support the economy,” Malone remarked, explaining that the new policies aim to streamline these processes, providing clarity and consistency aligned with legal frameworks.

Another of the reform targets he identified is that of the public assistance system pointing out that previously, funds for community support were distributed through members of the House of Assembly—a process now deemed non-transparent and discontinued.

Malone elucidated further saying, “...The Public Assistance Act makes provision for transparency through social development, though it’s not yet in force due to the regulatory groundwork that still needs to be done.”

Additionally, he pointed to the Crown Lands Management Act, introducing a more structured and transparent approach to managing such lands— a particularly sensitive issue in the territory.

“Land is a blood issue in the BVI,” Malone emphasised, pointing to areas like Anegada, where Crown land disputes are prevalent.

Reforms also extend to the public service, with the Public Service Management Act revamping relationships among ministers, permanent secretaries, and department heads, introducing training provisions, clarifies roles, and improves accountability and efficiency within the civil service.

Schedule of meetings

The Governance Reform Education & Awareness Transformation of the Virgin Islands (GREAT VI) town hall meetings and discussion forums will take place on the following dates:

• Anegada: Sunday, February 2, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Emile Dunlop Community Centre
• Tortola & Jost Van Dyke: Tuesday, February 4, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Maria's by the Sea
(Ferry and taxi transportation will be provided for Jost Van Dykes residents)
• Virgin Gorda: Thursday, February 6, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Community Centre, Valley (Taxi transportation will be available for North Sound residents)