Elected leaders must control all areas of governance — Premier

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has emphasised the need for elected officials to take control of all areas of governance, arguing that full authority is necessary for effective leadership and decision-making in the territory.

Speaking in the House of Assembly recently, Dr Wheatley outlined the historical progress made in self-governance but stressed that the current constitutional framework still leaves key areas outside of the elected government’s control.

“We, as a people, must aspire to have control of these remaining areas of governance that are presently not in our hands,” he stated. “We must believe and demonstrate to ourselves that we can effectively manage these subjects.”

The Premier pointed to the existing division of power between elected officials and the governor, who retains oversight of several key areas, including security and external affairs.

“Despite this progress in self-governance, the governor still retained control of the public finances,” Dr Wheatley said, referencing past constitutional developments that transferred authority from colonial administrators to elected leaders.

The issue of self-governance has been a recurring topic in BVI politics. A United Nations visiting mission in 2024 examined the territory’s status as a non-self-governing territory, prompting renewed discussions about self-determination.