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UK MP David Rutley Warns Of Further British Government Action Over Delayed Reforms
Minister for the Americas, the Caribbean and United Kingdom Overseas Territories David Rutley in a stern message on Sunday cautioned the government that a lack of expeditious implementation of its recommendations could prompt the British Government to take further measures to ensure the vital reforms are swiftly carried out.
“The Commission of Inquiry has identified serious governance and reputational issues, but progress on implementing its recommendations has been too slow, with agreed deadlines missed. That is why I am here: to listen and understand from those working directly on the reforms how they can be delivered quicker so that the people of BVI get the good governance they deserve,” Rutley said in a February 5 statement issued by the Governor’s Office shortly after his arrival in the territory.
He added that “the UK will provide further technical assistance if required,” and warned that “if there continues to be a lack of progress, we will not hesitate to take further action to help deliver the much-needed reforms.”
The Member of Parliament will hold meetings with Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley and other ministers to receive an update on progress of governance reforms stemming from an independent inquiry into governance in the territory.
Rutley stressed that “the Overseas Territories are a core part of the UK family and the UK Government is committed to the security. prosperity and well-being of the people of the British Virgin Islands. We want to see a successful, thriving, well-governed BVI, and will continue to do our utmost to support the Governor and the people of the BVI to achieve that goal.”
In his final quarterly report released on January 5, outgoing Governor John Rankin expressed reservations about the “capability and determination” of the BVI government to effectively drive and complete crucial reforms.
Rankin highlighted that despite having a considerable time frame of twenty-one months, the government only managed to address 25 out of 48 identified reforms, with just five months remaining before the deadline expires.
The report underscored that failing to meet the deadline would result in the retention of the Order in the Council, a potential two-year constitutional suspension.
It was former Governor Augustus Jaspert who initiated a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) in January 2021 to investigate potential corruption, abuse of office, or significant dishonesty within the public sector.
The Inquiry Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom submitted a comprehensive 900-page report to Rankin on April 4, 2022, outlining findings of corruption across various government levels.
The report included 45 specific recommendations, with four overarching suggestions, including the partial suspension of the constitution to overhaul the BVI’s governmental and governance structures.
Amidst the looming threat of government suspension and the aftermath of Premier Andrew Fahie’s arrest in April 2022 in the United States on drug and money laundering allegations, an interim government led by recently appointed Premier Natalio Wheatley emerged.
Wheatley, who had previously served as Deputy Premier during the review, spearheaded efforts to avert a constitutional suspension. With partial implementation of the recommendations, the 2023 elections saw all political parties committing to uphold the COI recommendations upon assuming office. Premier Wheatley secured re-election in April 2023.
Newly appointed Governor Daniel Pruce stressed that the “Minister’s visit comes at a crucial time for the BVI, and signals the UK’s interest and commitment to ensuring that the BVI succeeds.”
“Delivering the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry will help us achieve the positive changes we all want to see, including better access to services, a fairer society with opportunities for all and a more accountable and transparent government.”
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Safer, Greener Schools for Virgin Islands Students Under BVI SMART Schools Project
Students across 14 public schools in the Virgin Islands returned to safer and more sustainable learning environments this term, thanks to the ongoing efforts of the BVI SMART Schools Project. This initiative, managed by the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) in partnership with the Ministry of Education and several local organizations, aims to enhance the climate resilience and sustainability of schools throughout the Territory.
The current phase of the project, funded by the European Union through the Resilience, Sustainable Energy, and Marine Biodiversity (RESEMBID) programme, builds upon previous efforts to safeguard schools by upgrading infrastructure, improving safety standards, and integrating environmentally friendly practices. By adding new partners like Green VI, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, and the BVI Red Cross, the project is working to make schools better equipped to handle climate change and disaster risks.
“With this project and the work of our partners, the goal is to ensure that schools can protect students and empower them with the tools they need to thrive in a changing world,” said Michel Ambrose, the SMART Schools Project Manager. “The upgrades are a crucial step toward that goal.”
The 14 schools involved have undergone extensive assessments and improvements to meet stringent international safety standards under DDM’s oversight. These enhancements include structural upgrades, energy and water conservation measures, and the introduction of sustainable practices such as school gardens, recycling programs, and waste reduction. Schools meeting these safety standards are certified as “Safe,” while those incorporating green practices are designated as “SMART.”
Participating schools include Alexandrina Maduro Primary, Bregado Flax Educational Centre (Primary and Secondary), Claudia Creque Educational Centre, Ebenezer Thomas Primary, Enis Adams Primary, Enid Scatliffe Pre-Primary, Elmore Stoutt High, Francis Lettsome Primary, Ivan Dawson Primary, Joyce Samuel Primary, Leonora Delville Primary, Robinson O’Neal Memorial Primary, and Willard Wheatley Primary.
As the BVI SMART Schools Project continues, the DDM remains committed to ensuring that all public schools are resilient, sustainable, and prepared to meet future challenges. For ongoing updates, visit the Department of Disaster Management’s website and social media channels.
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BVI Athletes to Compete in PanAmerican U23 Squash Championships
Three squash players from the British Virgin Islands (BVI) are set to compete in the PanAmerican Under-23 Squash Championships, scheduled to take place in Bucaramanga, Colombia, from October 6 to 12. The event will feature individual, doubles, and team competitions, where the young athletes will have the opportunity to compete against some of the strongest squash nations in the region.
Representing Team BVI are Luca Reich, Oliver Henderson, and Daniel Henderson. Luca, 21, is currently studying at Western University in Canada. With experience competing at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the PanAmerican Senior Championships in Guatemala, Luca brings valuable international exposure to the team. His teammate, Oliver, 18, recently began his degree at Birmingham University in the United Kingdom, where he trains alongside players ranked in the top 100 of the senior world rankings. Daniel, the youngest team member at 16, is still a student at Cedar School. As the reigning Caribbean Under-17 Champion and a quarterfinalist in the U17 PanAmerican Championships, Daniel has already established himself as a promising talent in the sport.
Despite their young ages, the athletes will face strong competition from squash powerhouses such as Colombia, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Canada. Their participation in this prestigious event marks an important step in their development as they compete on the PanAmerican stage.
National Coach Adam Murrills emphasised the significance of the competition for these young players. “We’ve seen great progress from this group over the past five years, with their standout performance at the Junior Caribbean Championships, where they earned three gold medals. Competing at the PanAmerican level will be an important challenge for them. Although they are young for this category, this experience will help them bridge the gap with top-tier players over time,” Murrills stated.
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