Beautiful Virgin Islands

Friday, Apr 18, 2025

Elected officials to be stripped of power to help residents; Governor is King!

Elected officials to be stripped of power to help residents; Governor is King!

As more and more details emerge from the draft proposal now on the table by the coalition Government headed by Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), it is clear that it is facilitating the United Kingdom (UK) imposing direct rule without suspending the constitution.

This is following the April 2022 release of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report in which the Governors over the years have been given a pass for their failures in the good governance partnership; however, everything was blamed on the elected officials.

Governor could do no wrong?


The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), for example, has been rocked with mismanagement, a high crime rate, numerous unsolved murders, police officers accused of drug running and scandals over the many years, along with the public having little confidence in the judicial system where residents are on remand for over four years; however, those areas under the portfolio of Governors were ignored.

However, the focus of a proposal in a draft document is to give all the powers to an unelected Governor. In other words, direct rule without the suspension of the constitution, which is on the table by the Natalio D. Wheatley-led Unity Government.

In the proposal yet to be discussed with the public, those elected will become powerless to help residents unless the Governor agrees, according to information reaching our news centre from two senior Unity Government officials.

The coalition government is proposing the immediate transition of House of Assembly (HoA) Assistance Grants Programmes to the Social Development Department. This was a small portion of funds in a programme given to each of the 13 elected Members of the HoA for small projects, to help those in the territory facing financial hardships, to help students in college, to assist residents in need with medical bills and to sponsor events in the community.

No help unless you go to a bureaucrat


In about two to three ministries there are also special assistance grants to help farmers, fisher folks, small businesses, and students who may not have received a scholarship. They will now have to be pre-approved by the Deputy Governor's Office, according to the Unity regime's draft proposal.

In keeping with stripping the local elected officials of all powers and transferring them to a one-man governor, the HoA will be forced to amend laws to remove discretionary powers of Ministers to approve any assistance grants going forward, according to the draft proposal on the table with both the Governor and the United Kingdom.

Under the direct rule draft proposal, short of the suspension of the constitution, the Governor will oversee the conducting of independent Gateway Reviews every three months over the course of the reform process to assess the progress of reform based on the work programme for implementation of the Col recommendations and other reforms.

You have to sign the agreement or else?


This will not just be in a proposal but the Government of National Unity and the UK Government will enter into a binding agreement for the implementation of the Col report recommendations and delivery of other reforms, based on the framework set out in the draft document not yet discussed with the public or even some backbenchers, according to sources.

Just like what would have happened if the constitution was suspended, the Governor under the draft proposal will establish an Advisory Council to advise the Governor and Government on implementing the agreed recommendations of the Col report and other reforms.

In a recent media interview, the UK-appointed Governor John J. Rankin, CMG claimed that those who are against direct rule and suspension of the constitution “are in the minority”. It is unclear how Mr Rankin came up with what many believe is an erroneous assumption.


As more and more details emerge from the draft proposal now on the table by the coalition Government headed by Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), it is clear that the United Kingdom (UK) has imposed direct rule without suspending the constitution.


In keeping with stripping the local elected officials of all powers and transferring them to a one-man governor, the House of Assembly (HoA) will be forced to amend laws to remove discretionary powers of Ministers to approve any assistance grants going forward, according to the draft proposal on the table with both the Governor and the United Kingdom.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. State Department Raises El Salvador’s Safety Ranking, Making It Safer Than France and Other European Nations
UK Government Assumes Control of British Steel's Scunthorpe Plant Amid Shutdown Threat
UK MP Wera Hobhouse Denied Entry to Hong Kong During Family Visit
Bangladesh Issues Arrest Warrant for UK MP Tulip Siddiq
China Urges United States to Cancel Tariffs Amid Escalating Trade Tensions
The Empire’s USD Pyramid Scheme Is Working Brilliantly—So Why ‘Fix’ It?
China Raises Tariffs on U.S. Goods to 125% Amid Escalating Trade Dispute
Elon Musk Reports $150 Billion in Projected Government Savings Amid Fraud Investigations
U.S. and Panama Finalize Defense Agreements Amid Canal Access and Chinese Influence Concerns
China Stands Firm Amidst Trade Disputes with the US: A Factual Analysis
U.S. Tariff Escalation Sparks Global Trade Tensions
Helicopter crashes in NYC with four people on board.
Australia Dismisses China's Suggestion to Collaborate Against US Tariffs
EU Postpones Response to US Tariffs
The Trump Administration is contemplating removing Chinese companies from U.S. stock exchanges.
Violent Incidents and Public Safety Concerns Escalate in London and County Durham
UK MP Arrested on Suspicion of Rape and Child Sex Offences
UK Gears Up to Respond to US Tariffs with Industrial Strategies and Trade Initiatives
‘Rocky’ star Dolph Lundgren and his wife Emma Krokdal bask in the Miami sunshine following the actor’s lengthy health struggles.
Spain Encounters Countrywide Protests as Housing Crisis Intensifies
Alisha Lehmann's Modeling Campaign and Public Controversy Stir Debate Ahead of UEFA Women's Euro
U.S. Firms with Major International Revenue Exposure in Light of New Tariffs
President Trump Calls on the Federal Reserve to Reduce Interest Rates in Light of New Tariffs
President Trump Prolongs TikTok Sale Deadline by 75 Days
Global Markets Dive Amid Rising U.S.-China Trade Conflicts
British comedian Russell Brand faces charges of rape and several sexual assaults.
Kanye West Reveals in a New Song That His Wife Bianca Censori Has Departed from Him
Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme Accused of Having Sex with Human Trafficking Victims
Tom Cruise Pays Tribute to Val Kilmer at CinemaCon
Europe Pursues Digital Autonomy Amidst Transatlantic Strains
OpenAI Lands Unprecedented $40 Billion Funding.
Charity Chairwoman Accuses Prince Harry of Bullying and Harassment
DOGE revealed that USAID provided $84 million to the Clinton Foundation. Of this amount, $3 million was spent on Chelsea Clinton's wedding, and $10 million was used to acquire a lavish mansion.
The State Department has announced the formal closure of USAID.
Apple's Innovation Deficit: Falling Behind in AI and Foldable Technology as Chinese Developments Progress
President Trump Proposes Military Intervention to Obtain Greenland
Passenger Taken into Custody After Engaging in Masturbation on SWISS Air Flight
Barcelona player Dani Alves found not guilty of rape accusations.
PUTIN'S LIMOUSINE DETONATES—SECURITY CHAOS ENSUES
French Foreign Ministry Denounces U.S. Interference in Corporate Diversity Initiatives
Copyright Issues Emerge as AI-Generated Studio Ghibli Images Gain Popularity
This is what we refer to as CREATIVITY.
Removing the Political Opponent Means Dismissing the Remnants of Turkey's Economy.
Malaysia Strengthens Semiconductor Regulations in Response to U.S. Pressure to Restrict AI NVIDIA Chip Exports to China.
OpenAI Launches New Image Generation Tool for ChatGPT
Ex-FIFA President and French Football Icon Acquitted of Corruption Allegations
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz Under Investigation After Journalist Added to Secret Military Chat
Ex-Business Partner of Hunter Biden Discusses Possible Pardon from President Trump
U.S. Attorney General Announces Task Force to Prosecute Government Fraud
American Brands Face Consumer Boycott in Europe Amid Escalating Trade and Political Tensions
×