London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Jul 08, 2025

Is the governor answerable to BVI residents? Rankin says yes

Is the governor answerable to BVI residents? Rankin says yes

Governor John Rankin has denied that he is not accountable in any way to residents of the BVI.

During a recent hearing of the Commission of Inquiry (COI), Sir Geoffrey Cox — who represents the Attorney General and ministers of government — said decisions taken by Governor Rankin are not subject to any kind of democratic pressure from the BVI. Sir Geoffrey further suggested that this can create some level of friction.

“If part of the executive authority, part of the government in effect, is not subject to democratic pressure and scrutiny, it’s not therefore driven or has to be driven by — inevitably to an extent — those pressures,” Sir Geoffrey said.

But Governor Rankin refuted this, noting that although he’s subject to directions from the Secretary of State in the United Kingdom, this doesn’t mean that he’s not subject to some degree of accountability in the Virgin Islands.

“I am bound by the constitution and constrained by the constitution. I am subject to British Virgin Islands law like any other person in this territory,” the governor said.

Governor Rankin explained that he can be sued, judicially reviewed, be questioned in Cabinet about positions he has taken and even receive questions and challenges from members of the House of Assembly, among other things.

“While I am not democratically accountable like a minister is to the House of Assembly, all of those are ways in which I feel I can be held accountable and indeed am held accountable by people here in the BVI,” Governor Rankin reasoned.

Powers


Speaking to the issue of constitutional powers, Governor Rankin said most of these are devolved to the elected government.

He further noted that although he can advise, caution and make recommendations at the Cabinet level, if a decision is made in Cabinet which he believes to be a poor or wrong decision, he can say so but has no power of veto.

“Cabinet can override my advice in any matter which is outside my special responsibilities and those are Cabinet decisions over which I as governor, however bad I think the decisions may be, I cannot override. They are solely the responsibility of the elected government,” Governor Rankin said.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
×