In a Communiqué issued at the conclusion of the forty-third regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government held July 3-5, 2022, in Suriname, CARICOM noted the Order in Council to impose direct rule on the people of the Territory and expressed concern that it has been placed on reserve and can be immediately brought into force at the United Kingdom Government’s discretion.

“Heads of Government declared that the imposition of direct rule, and the history of such imposition in the Caribbean, was never intended to deliver democratic governance or to be an instrument of economic and social development of our countries and peoples,”

The Caricom Heads said they recognised that the success and modernisation of the VI is due to the effort and initiative of its homegrown leadership.

Caricom Heads of Government has welcomed the decision of the United Kingdom not to impose direct rule on the British Virgin Islands (BVI), an Associate Member of the Community, but are highly concerned about the UK’s decision to place Direct rule on reserve.

VI must be afforded every opportunity to provide good governance - CARICOM

“Heads of Government stated that the people of the BVI and their duly elected representatives must be allowed every opportunity to provide good governance in the country with full transparency and accountability,” the Communiqué said.

CARICOM also expressed faith in the leadership of Premier, Dr the Hon Nataloo D. Wheatley (R7) and the Government of National Unity and commended their commitment to implement the recommendations for reform as mutually agreed by the VI and the UK.

Finally, CARICOM endorsed the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation’s (C-24) approved draft resolution on the Question of the [British] Virgin Islands and will support its adoption at the next session of the UN Fourth Committee.

They encouraged all parties concerned to approve a C-24 visiting mission to the Virgin Islands and acknowledged that Member States will continue to support the territory’s decolonisation process.