Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Code of conduct in works for ministers

Code of conduct in works for ministers

Premier Andrew Fahie called for greater transparency in government as he reported April 16 on planned measures that would establish a legally binding ministerial code of conduct.

“The ministerial code is an important tool to ensure that when persons are elected to serve, and serve in ministerial office, we are conducting ourselves in line with the best ethical standards,” Mr. Fahie told the House of Assembly.

Cabinet recently approved establishing a committee to review the proposed code, which is based on a draft approved by the previous administration. That committee is asked to suggest revisions within the next three months. The draft has not been made public.

The document would set out guidelines for how ministers should conduct themselves to high constitutional and personal standards, according to the premier.

He added that establishing a code is vital to advancing democracy in the territory, especially as government prepares for a constitutional review.

The premier said the code is “among a range of initiatives designed to uphold transparency and standards of ministerial accountability, and to preserve public trust in the institutions of the Cabinet.”

“Codes of conduct reflect a worldwide trend on the part of citizens to demand greater accountability and transparency from their governments,” Mr. Fahie added.

The premier indicated at the end of February that a new ministerial code would be coming down the pipeline.


Campaign trail

The ruling Virgin Islands Party and the opposition National Democratic Party both campaigned in early 2019 on promoting transparency and accountability in government with steps such as freedom-of-information legislation, integrity legislation and a public register of legislators’ interests.

Prior to the VIP winning the general election in February 2019, Cabinet received a draft of the ministerial code.

“It was agreed on in principle by the former administration,” Mr. Fahie said. “However, in light of the change in the government following the 2019 general elections, there is now a need for a further review of the draft.”

The code would apply not only to ministers, but to all government officials as a legally binding contract for the “proper use” of government’s human and financial resources, the premier said. The Public Service Management Act is also in the works and has been for years, he said. For now, Mr. Fahie said, public officers are still following the General Orders.

“Things have changed tremendously over the years,” he continued. “We must therefore ensure that all the parts are moving together … to ensure collective responsibility of all.”

In a break from typical procedure during the emergency meeting of the HOA, members had the opportunity to ask questions after ministers’ statements. No one asked about the proposed code of conduct.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
×