UK Minister for the Overseas Territories (OTs), David Rutley arrived in the Territory yesterday, Sunday 4 February for high level meetings with the sitting Government and other relevant stake holders.
“The Commission of Inquiry has identified serious governance and reputational issues, but progress on implementing its recommendations has been too slow, with agreed deadlines missed. That is why I am here: to listen and understand from those working directly on the reforms how they can be delivered quicker so that the people of BVI get the good governance they deserve,” Rutley said.
Out going Governor John Rankin left a final scathing report on the implementation process of the COI, and recommended additional powers for the Governor’s Office.
Ahead of his arrival, Rutley has expressed deep dissatisfaction and disappointment in the lack of progress by the Government to implement the COI Recommendations in a timely manner, and has threatened to take further action if the elected government continues to delay the implementations.
“The UK will provide further technical assistance if required. However, if there continues to be a lack of progress, we will not hesitate to take further action to help deliver the much-needed reforms,” Rutley said in a statement issued by the Governor’s Office on 4 February.
Further in his statement, Minister Rutley emphasized the importance of the Overseas Territories to the UK family and reiterated the UK Government’s commitment to the security, prosperity, and well-being of the people of the British Virgin Islands. He expressed a desire to witness a successful, thriving, and well-governed BVI and pledged continuous support for the governor and the people in achieving that goal.
Governor Daniel Pruce who has only been on the job one week, has said the UK Minister’s visit comes at a crucial time for the BVI, adding that delivering the recommendations of the COI will lead to positive changes in the society.
“Findings from the independent Commission of Inquiry (COI) showed that the people of BVI have long lacked good governance and set out a list of recommendations to be implemented to address the historic failures around honesty, transparency and the rule of law,” Governor Pruce said.
In a meeting held with outgoing Governor in mid January, Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton said that in his pursuit to petition the Governor on the Government’s behalf, he had to ‘back down’, as the Governor presented information and proof of the sitting Government’s lack of will to move the implementations forward and provide good, clean and transparent governance for the Territory. The Opposition Leader also learned of information that should have been presented to the Opposition that was not
Upon Governor Rankin’s departure, he asked the OT Minister for additional powers to see the implementation process through. Premier Wheatley also said he would write to the OT Minister asking him not to grant the additional powers. As this report is released, there has been no decision in the matter by Minister Rutley.