Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley says House of Assembly members are unanimously disappointed by outgoing Governor John Rankin’s intent to seek additional authority from the United Kingdom. Rankin revealed that he intends to seek additional powers for the Governor’s Office to boost the implementation of reforms related to the Commission of Inquiry.
In response, Wheatley said he will write to Overseas Territories Minister David Rutley and urge him not to grant Rankin’s request.
The Premier slammed the Governor’s intentions as an undemocratic move to bypass BVI leaders chosen in the April 2023 election.
Wheatley called Rankin’s constitutional power grab an insult to Virgin Islanders and made clear the government will vigorously oppose it.
He argued there is no justification for empowering the Governor over local matters like immigration and crown lands.
The Premier reflected on progress in modernising the UK-OT relationship and said granting Rankin more powers would severely damage BVI-UK ties and set back democracy in the islands.
