Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Jun 25, 2025

Direct rule or Indirect Rule

Direct rule or Indirect Rule

Post the Commission of Inquiry Report, there are only two options for British Virgin Islands governance short term: the next 4 years. There will be either direct rule or indirect rule. Both types will see the UK cabinet and Foreign and Commonwealth Office play an active role in BVI Governance.
It has become evident that for the next 2-5 years there will be either UK Direct Rule or a partnership between the Governor and Premier, with the Governor as Senior Partner: Indirect Rule.

Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, a new order is already in place with the Governor as Direct Overseer of BVI governance. Better stated, with the UK Governor much more interventionist than in recent decades. In past years, the Governor has played a silent role. However, the Governor has always possessed enormous power: reserve power as the Queen’s Representative in the overseas territory.

The COI report and recommendations has given the Governor the power – albeit not clearly defined- to suspend the constitution and impose Direct Rule at his choosing. Obviously, the Governor will consult the UK Cabinet before taking any such action. That is this writer’s take on current governance and current affairs in the BVI, post the COI Report.

Direct Oversight by the Governor will be equivalent to Indirect Rule. The BVI did not have Indirect Rule, not until after the Governor announced the release of the Commission of Inquiry Report on April 28, after the arrest of the Virgin Islands Premier on drug conspiracy allegations in Miami

The BVI has essentially had self-rule for decades, but with the caveat that the Crown through the Governor has reserve powers to intervene under specific circumstances.

The preceding is what has happened with the allegations of rampant corruption and criminal misconduct in the land, and the consequent COI, and the COI Report and Recommendations.

Suddenly we are all seeing just how powerful the Office of the Governor is.

The BVI is a Territory of Great Britain, and until it is independent, it will be subject to UK Cabinet Oversight through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Now the COI has recommended that ‘one or more independent units be established to conduct needed investigations.’

The Commissioner further stated that ‘steps should be taken to ensure that appropriate measures be used to secure money, land, or other assets, pending the outcome of criminal or civil recovery or confiscation proceedings.’

The Commissioner emphasized the ‘independence, impartiality, and integrity of such a unit as crucial; and that such an office is properly resourced to foster public confidence.’

The establishment of an independent, honest, and scrupulous agency to investigate criminal misconduct in Virgin Islands governance may have prevented the Virgin Islands from being plunged into the constitutional abyss. However, such an agency would have had to be very active to prevent the type of activities that have led the country to this very bad place it finds itself.

The imperative of a powerful check on executive impunity in the Virgin Islands, and democratic countries with a culture of corruption and impunity is the one true guarantor of accountable, transparent, and honest governance, in a free society.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
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
×