London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Plan for canceling democracy and recolonizing the British Virgin Islands opposed by acting premier

Plan for canceling democracy and recolonizing the British Virgin Islands opposed by acting premier

UK decided to suspend the constitution and democracy one month before ex-leader charged with drug offences and a UK inquiry finds governance issues. The question is what Zuckerberg can lecture BVI about good governance…
The Foreign Office is risking a political backlash on the British Virgin Islands if it goes ahead with plans recommended by an independent commission of inquiry to impose a form of direct rule on the islands from London after allegations of maladministration and corruption.

Natalio Wheatley, the acting BVI premier elevated to the office after the former premier Andrew Fahie, 51, was arrested on drug running charges in Miami on Thursday, said he opposed the plan for direct rule for two years, with the British appointed governor taking charge and being advised by a council of local politicians.

Fahie was arrested after an undercover operation conducted by the US Drug Enforcement Agency.

Foreign Office minister Amanda Milling is due to arrive at the islands shortly where she will hold talks before the Foreign Office makes a decision on direct rule next week.

Wheatley is from the same party as the former premier, but is seen as independent of him. His objections to direct rule have the support of the opposition party, so the UK must decide how to set about reform of BVI governance if the elected assembly and government retain existing powers over domestic policy.

An inquiry into corruption in the territory, led by Sir Gary Hickinbottom, whose report was hurriedly published by the Foreign Office in the immediate wake of the premier’s shock arrest, argued direct rule is necessary because the allegations of systematic rule-breaking, stretching back over one or more administrations, were so serious that time was needed for constitutional reform to be introduced, and investigations to be held into specific examples of corruption.

But the retired judge submitted his report, including this recommendation, on 4 April, with what he said was a heavy heart on the assumption that Fahie would still be in office. Arguably, his detention in a jail in Miami, along with the head of the BVI Ports Authority, Oleanvine Maynard, will weaken any Fahie allies who wished to block reforms or specific corruption investigations. Fahie, according to a DEA affidavit, had boasted he used his powers of office to protect his allies.

Fahie was also resisting plans to introduce a public register of beneficial ownership, a means of lifting the veil of secrecy over the BVI’s tax haven status. The Foreign Office believes corruption on the islands is linked more to drugs than money laundering. Yet more than half the shell companies identified in the Panama Papers are registered in the BVI, Hickinbottom’s report found.

In an address on Facebook, Wheatley said he was gravely concerned by the anchor of the Hickinbottom recommendations – the partial suspension of the constitution and direct rule by the UK for at least two years.

“What this would mean in real terms is that there would no longer be elected representatives who represent the people of the districts and the territory in the house of assembly where laws are made for our society. There would be no government ministers to advance the public priorities or a cabinet to approve a policy. All of that authority would be invested in the governor.

“The benefit of representative democracy to the public is the understanding and responsiveness of the elected representatives to their challenges and also to serve as conduits of their views, especially on reforms.”

Hickinbottom had proposed an ad hoc council be formed to advise the governor.

Wheatley said the strengthening of the system of BVI government “can be achieved without the partial or full suspension of the constitution”.

He said extraordinary powers exist under the constitution that can be exercised if necessary and, in an olive branch to London, said he recognised that the governor had a duty to ensure the security of the territory, acknowledging he has authority to mount the necessary criminal investigations.

Proposing an alternative path, Wheatley said: “What is in the best interest is an enhanced cooperation mechanism to impose the reforms under a tight timetable without resorting to direct rule.”

He said there were already signs of a better partnership between the elected cabinet and the governor, pointing to the progress BVI and the UK had made in imposing sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

However, the inquiry found that elected officials “can and do make decisions – which expend huge sums of public money and affect the lives of all those who live in the [British Virgin Islands] – as they wish, without applying any objective criteria, without giving any reasons and without fearing any comeback”.

The report said these decisions include matters such as procurement of contracts, selling crown land and grants of residence.

Also highlighted was the scale of police corruption; the report pointed out that in November 2020, in a single operation, the Royal Virgin Islands police force seized 2.353 tons of cocaine from the home of a serving police officer who is currently under arrest. At the time the chief of police gave his evidence to the inquiry, “the RVIPF had nine officers suspended for various offences, including not only possession with intent to supply, but also possession of an unlicensed firearm, making obscene publications, handling stolen goods and indecent assault”.

The string of islands inhabited by 35,000 people, east of Puerto Rico, operates under a 2007 constitution that gives the islands limited self-governance under a governor who is the ultimate executive authority as the representative of the Queen.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×