BVI Citizens rejoice; No Constitutional Suspension says Governor Rankin

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#BritishVirginIslands, June 16, 2022 – The British Virgin Islands will not have their constitution suspended by the United Kingdom. The announcement was made Wednesday June 8th by the Governor of the British Virgin Islands John Rankin.

Rankin had called for a commission of inquiry into the government of the BVI which was handed over to him in April of this year. The Commission of Inquiry made recommendations that the constitution be suspended on suspicion of corruption.

The report was revealed to the citizens of the British Virgin Islands only days after former premier, Andrew Fahie and Director of Ports Oleanvine Maynard were arrested on charges of corruption by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration

The UK Overseas Territories Association which includes the Turks and Caicos Islands had firmly advised against any suspension of the constitution, submitting a letter indicating their resistance to the idea.

The BVI government appointed a new premier, Nataliol Wheatley shortly after the incidents. The government then submitted a proposal to the UK government on how they would deliver the recommendations included in the commission of inquiry on their own. The UK has accepted that proposal and so ruled out the partial constitutional suspension for now.

Sources in the British Virgin Islands say the decision was met with celebration from citizens and the government alike who had been resistant to the idea of British control. The BVI must now meet the targets set out in the commission of inquiry or face more scrutiny from the British.