Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) said his government wishes to work constructively alongside the UK Government and Governor, in a modern partnership, to drive progress but will not compromise on democratic and constitutional rights. Photo: YouTube

A Review of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Bodies in the British Virgin Islands Volume 2 – a road map for 2025 to 2035 has been slammed by all legislators in the House of Assembly. It was even described as a racist document by Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL). Photo: Internet Source

The recently published Law Enforcement Review, Volume II was done by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), Sir Andrew J. Cooke. Photo: HMICFRS

This is according to the Premier of the Virgin Islands, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), who, on behalf of the Virgin Islands administration, firmly rejected several key elements of the report in a strongly worded statement issued on April 14, 2025.

Qualifying this considered position, Premier Wheatley—in the public missive—adumbrated that the Government of the Virgin Islands (VI), had approached the inspection process with “collaboration and co-operation” and had given the report the serious attention it merited, including a detailed review within the House of Assembly.

Reject mischaracterisation!

He noted; however, that the report includes elements that “must be rejected categorically; (and) while there are practical recommendations in the report, it must be rejected.”

He was adamant, “The Government of the Virgin Islands cannot accept its mischaracterisation of the situation on island, nor the characterisation of our citizens’ talents and capability.”

Premier Wheatley also took particular issue with what he described as a failure by the author of the report to acknowledge the Territory’s significant recent achievements in reform and crime prevention, particularly in relation to financial crime and governance.

“There is a lack of recognition for the dramatic progress the Territory has made to strengthen its governance and institutions, especially since the fieldwork for this report was undertaken in 2023; We have already taken significant steps forward in our ability to tackle crime, including financial crime, as part of the radical range of reforms we have undertaken at considerable cost.”

Constitutional encroachment

He also rejected the report’s implied call for greater United Kingdom control over the Territory’s security and governance structures, labelling it an affront to the VI’s hard-won democratic principles and constitutional rights.

“Neither can it accept the overarching premise that we must cede more power to the UK Government, eroding our self-governance; The Governor already has constitutional responsibility for the security of the Territory, which is the subject of criticism in this report.”

He suggested that “to accept this premise would also represent submitting to colonial overreach, and represent a retrograde step for democracy in the British Virgin Islands; We cannot compromise on our democratic and constitutional rights.”

Systematic assessment

With this in mind, Dr Wheatley did intimate, “We wish to work constructively alongside the UK Government and Governor, in a modern partnership, to drive progress but we cannot compromise on our democratic and constitutional rights.”

To this end, the Premier said, the Government, alongside the House of Assembly, will embark on a systematic assessment of the report’s recommendations to distinguish which are in the best interest of the Territory and which should be formally rejected.

“As a united House of Assembly, we will systematically assess the recommendations with due rigour, to determine which we will take forward to the benefit of the British Virgin Islands, and which we formally reject; We will be making this position clear in our response to the Governor and the UK Government,” Premier Wheatley stated.