Premier on UK trip: We didn’t fail

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has refused to categorise his recent trip to the United Kingdom (UK), where he met with Overseas Territories Minister Stephen Doughty and other UK officials, as a failure.

The Premier’s trip was seen as an opportunity to reassure the UK government of the BVI’s commitment to the reforms and to seek the removal of the Order in Council that threatened a UK takeover. However, the UK government indicated that it would not lift the Order until it was satisfied that the reforms had been fully implemented.

The Order in Council was held in reserve in the UK Parliament in April 2022 following the publication of the COI report and its recommendations. The COI report found widespread corruption and mismanagement in the territory’s government. The Order gives the UK the power to suspend the BVI’s constitution and impose direct rule if it is not satisfied with the progress of the reforms.

The Premier’s trip to the UK was part of a wider delegation that included Deputy Premier Lorna Smith and other officials. The delegation met with various UK government officials and parliamentarians to discuss issues such as climate change, financial services, and the progress of the COI reforms.