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UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Michael W. Freer on 2-day visit to VI

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Ministry of Justice, Michael W. Freer MP, arrived in the Virgin Islands (VI) on Sunday, November 5, 2023, for a two-day visit. Photo: GIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Ministry of Justice, Michael W. Freer MP, arrived in the Virgin Islands (VI) on Sunday, November 5, 2023, for a two-day visit.

Freer's responsibilities as Parliamentary Under-Secretary include Courts and Legal services, and this includes the Overseas Territories.

According to a press release from Government Information Services (GIS) on November 5, 2023, the purpose of MP Freer's visit is to help the Minister to better understand the legal and justice systems in the VI as well as to identify opportunities to build on UK partnerships and support.

Itinerary

Minister Freer will meet key individuals within the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and at His Majesty’s Prison (HMP), as well as the Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions, and Members of the Judiciary.

His Excellency the Governor, John J. Rankin CMG said: “I am grateful to the Minister for taking the time to visit the BVI. Over the next few days, I hope the Minister will be able to learn more about the judicial system in the BVI and see first-hand the challenges which law enforcement agencies face.”

Minsier Freer's visit comes at a time when both the Governor, Mr Rankin, and the Police Commissioner, Mark M. Collins, are coming under heavy scrutiny from the public.

25 Responses to “UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Michael W. Freer on 2-day visit to VI”

  • pat (06/11/2023, 11:32) Like (12) Dislike (36) Reply
    Once upon a time there was a beautiful, competently governed, safe and well maintained little Island named the BVI. Then a bunch of haters want to take control under the pretense of a bogus coi report with one aim in mind looking to take control ..
    • @ pat (06/11/2023, 12:19) Like (4) Dislike (7) Reply
      An ISLAND named the BVI??? Lol
    • @pat (06/11/2023, 13:12) Like (7) Dislike (13) Reply
      Well said. What is worse is they trying to take us for a#$ by trying to convince the people of the BVI and the world that the COI was independent and transparent. How could this be? They wrote the terms of reference on how the COI should go and what they should do and what they should look into. They hand picked a sole UK Commissioner of the COI without any transparent process or any tender process and paid him themselves all in violation of the BVI legislation of the Commission of Inquiry Act and we all know who pays the piper calls the tune. They hand picked their own UK staff who work in the same UK office as the Governor to assist their hand picked UK Commissioner of the COI. Clearly this allows certain influence on the report. The process and report were culturally bias. The procedures omitted all questionable actions concerning the Governors and their responsibilities. The list of questionable and deceitful actions is long. Their UK COI lawyers practiced law in the BVI illegally and got away with it. The Commissioner seemingly lied to BVI authorities at the airport on the purpose of his trip when he arrived at the airport which is a criminal offense. I said before and I say again if the local politicians did all of this then the BVI haters and the same UK Officials would have deemed the process and report null and void. It is time to challenge these actions in court. This man will do nothing because they do not go against each other even if they see wrong doing. The BVI people are being shafted under the cloak of good governance.
    • We need help. (06/11/2023, 14:21) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
      Hope he come to take over. Save us from ourselves and put us back on track...Our people are so hateful to each other, fighting and bad minding each other. They will respect the white man and we will have a better and more unified land...
  • Obviously (06/11/2023, 12:13) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    this fellow's 'visit' coincides with commencement of the million USD review of the law and enforcement system in the BVI.
  • 911 (06/11/2023, 12:49) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    only 2 day travel from London must be serious mission
  • vg youth (06/11/2023, 13:14) Like (7) Dislike (8) Reply
    I hope he hears our cries to have the post of Governor in the 21st century to be an elected post so they can be accountable to the people of the OTs and not UK senior public officers millions of miles away in the UK.
  • young lady (06/11/2023, 13:17) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    We are in 2023 and up to now the UK has never appointed one black person as a Governor and only lately appointed a woman or two as Governor. This says it all about their oppressive and superior mentality towards us as Caribbean people and as women.
  • HMMM (06/11/2023, 13:19) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    The Governor will only further brainwash him with their one sided bias story to further try to justify what they know they want to do but looking for the most acceptable and justifiable story to sell it.
    • @hmmm (06/11/2023, 13:39) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
      WELL SAID!!! As usual the Governor will only show him all our weaknesses and none of our strengths because in their colonialistict view, we have no strengths.
  • hopefully (06/11/2023, 13:21) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hopefully he calls for an independent review of the Commissioner of Police with the email and the other many concerns that keep arising and are being swept under the rug by the Governor.
  • Anegada youth (06/11/2023, 13:24) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    The judiciary and law enforcement should be independent of all political and Governor interference. This is where the abuse is taking place of the people especially by the Governor. They are using these to unjustifiablly weaponize the people of the BVI.
  • Real good governance (06/11/2023, 13:29) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    I have absolutely no problem with improving and implementing policies and laws to hold public officers and elected officials accountable and to keep them within good governance. However, these same laws must be applicable to the Governor, Commissioner of Police, and all areas under the Governor's responsibility. The people should have a local avenue by law to launch complaints and highlight apparent wrong doing on their part. Reporting to them to look into themselves is not good governance. No one should be above the law like it currently is with the Governor and all under his responsibility. This is wrong in a modern day world. This creates dictatorship and is a slap in the face of democracy.
    • To: Real good governance (06/11/2023, 14:04) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Every correspondence the Governor write about or on behalf of the BVI to his UK bosses including his weekly reports should be made public like the actions of any government can be made public if requested by the House of Assembly. This is necessary because it is becoming clearer they are not be factual nor fair by design so their intended mission can seem justified. The Governor needs more accountability measures put in place to mandate he be accountable to the people of the BVI in a transparent way rather than trying to brainwash us with fancy well articulated speeches telling us only what he feels we should know.
  • facts (06/11/2023, 13:35) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    The Governor and UK can look into anyone anything in the BVI and Overseas Territory but the people cannot look into him and them. This is one of many reasons why there is no modern day justification for an order in council to suspend any country's constitution. It is wrong. It represents modern day slavery as it is a modern day slavery whip. It does not represent a modern partnership nor does it represent democracy. If he wants to do anything then have this process eliminated from the UK law immediately.
  • Amazing (06/11/2023, 13:45) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    The UK cannot handle their affairs but trying to dictate to others how to handle theirs. In the UK crime is increasing especially serious gun and drug crimes. Government Corruption is on the rise but is often times swept under the rug. Protesting by the UK residents is on the rise as they are fed up of the lack of proper representation and high cost if living. All this and more you can see on the news or you can research it for yourself. The BVI has its issues but is doing significantly better than them and most other countries although the UK is desperately trying to portray otherwise. All of this makes no sense to the common man in BVI.
  • here we go again (06/11/2023, 13:48) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
    The UK setting up to bring a report done by them to come to tell us what is best for us as they always know what is best for us as if we can never know what is best for ourselves. They are going to pretend like they care about us when in fact they only care about putting in measures to aid in their unjustifiable take over plan.
  • NDP supporter (06/11/2023, 13:51) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    Look modern day slavery tactics in front of our very eyes cloaked as good governance.
  • Simply put (06/11/2023, 13:54) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is an exercise on how to justify laws to allow them to more easily investigate us, how to violate our rights, how to eliminate us, how to put us in jail, and how to keep us in jail. It is as simple as that.
  • History (06/11/2023, 14:10) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    History shows the conclusion of these UK reports are known before the process starts.THEY WANT TOTAL CONTROL OF THE JUDICIARY. With control of the judiciary, all law enforcement agencies, the crown lands, and the finances including financial services then they have full unchallenged control of the country. This is what it is all about. I am sure they did not tender the million dollar review by design.
  • independence (06/11/2023, 14:14) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I hope he gives a clear and transparent process to apply and follow for any Overseas territory to read and follow who may want to apply for independence. Enough of telling grown educated people if you want independence then just ask. A clear process for this also falls under good governance.
  • Blame Game. (06/11/2023, 14:18) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    White people are not killing each other in the BVI. White men are not shooting black men in the BVI..White people are not robbing and abusing and misusing our treasury, all these are done by us. Our colour, our own people. So those who are comforted by blaming the UK are fake and dishonest people.
    • @Blame Game. (06/11/2023, 18:11) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      There is where you clearly misunderstanding the issue. No one is blaming the UK for nothing except for being dictatorial in actions. There is the same killing each other at a higher rate in the UK by UK people. They are robbing each other in the UK and robbing their treasury worse than what they claim is happening in BVI. However no one can take them over to straighten them out. No one can hold them accountable. All the BVI people are saying both sides need to be held accountable by the laws. Failure to do so allows dictatorship and modern day slavery which is what is happening by the Governor and UK. This is wrong.


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