Miami, April 29 (Reuters) – The constitution of the British Virgin Islands must be suspended, the elected government disbanded and effectively governed by London, according to a highly critical report on the management of Britain’s overseas territory released on Friday.
Queen Elizabeth’s representative on the island, Governor John Rankin, has ordered a 2021 investigation to investigate “corruption, abuse of office and other serious dishonesty” in the management of the territory.
His report found that millions of dollars in state funds were spent each year by politicians and ministries without due process, along with serious dishonesty regarding the sale of public property and widespread misuse of appointments.
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
I’m registering
The report is not directly related to the arrest in Miami on Thursday of the elected Prime Minister of the islands Andrew Fahi on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to import cocaine. However, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the arrest demonstrated the importance of the investigation. Read more
The investigation was led by British Judge Gary Hickinbottom.
“He concluded with a particularly heavy heart that if the most drastic and urgent steps are not taken, the current situation with elected officials deliberately ignoring the principles of good governance will continue indefinitely,” Rankin told a news conference.
“He notes that the people of BVI deserve better and that the UK government owes them a duty to protect them from such abuses and to help them achieve their aspirations for self-government as a modern democracy.
Any decision to suspend parts of the constitution will fall to London, which said it was sending a minister to the British Virgin Islands before announcing the plan next week.
In a statement, Trus said the report “clearly shows that significant legislative and constitutional changes are needed”.
But incumbent Prime Minister Natalie Whitley said there was no need to suspend the constitution.
The report said the principles of good governance had been ignored throughout the Fahi administration, witnesses were afraid to come out, and the government’s revelations were “incorrect”.
“With limited exceptions, in terms of governance … the people of the British Virgin Islands have been poorly served in recent years. Really very poorly,” the summary said.
If London accepts the main recommendation of the investigation, one of more than 40 in the 946-page report, Rankin, a British career diplomat, will take over the day-to-day running of the BVI.
Rankin was appointed by the Queen on the advice of the British government, and in normal times his role would have been small.
Hickinbotham recommended that the new administrative agreement last for two years, but that the ministerial government should be resumed as soon as possible.
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
I’m registering
Report by Brian Ellsworth and William James and Zarina Ahmed; writing by William James; Edited by Kevin Liffey
Our standards: Thomson Reuters’ principles of trust.
Add Comment