UK Conducts First Crisis Simulation Exercise in BVI and Anguilla

A team from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom for the first time will today oversee a stimulation exercise with key departments and entities under the command of the Governor in the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla.

The February 8 unprecedented departmental takeover in the two overseas territories aims to provide UK with essential insights and processes for swift and effective crisis management, facilitating the relay of critical information back to the UK office.

According to sources, the FCDO has been conducting training sessions in the BVI for the past week as part of disaster preparedness efforts.

“UK crisis management experts are in the BVI to host a week of training with the Governor’s Office, DDM (Department of Disaster Management) and other agencies as part of disaster preparedness. The training will culminate in a semi-live scenario exercise at the end of the week” explained the communication source in the Office if the newly appointed Governor Mr. Daniel Pruce.

In UK overseas territories the Governor has the power to take control of territory should there be a crisis or disaster.

Amidst the anticipation surrounding the exercise, concerns have emerged among the public regarding its underlying motivations. Speculations that the training and simulation are prompted by the ongoing challenges faced by the government in implementing recommended reforms, compounded by the overarching Order in Council.

Former Governor John J. Rankin’s push for increased powers has further fuels these concerns.

Some government workers have voiced discomfort over the lack of clarity and oversight regarding the visiting officers’ interactions with their departments.

“There have been these UK people coming to our office and demanding or they might say requesting certain information, asking us to show them this and that. But the thing is it seems that our bosses were even aware that these people were coming and we are required to give them whatever information they ask for,” one government official said.

In his last quarterly report issued in January, Governor Rankin expressed reservations about the “capability and determination” of the BVI government to effectively guide and conclude essential reforms.

He 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.

While underscoring the necessity for endowing the governor with increased authority, Rankin pointed fingers at the ministers for the slow pace in implementing reforms.

However, Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley rebuffed the proposal for additional powers to be bestowed upon the governor, labelling the suggestion as a regression into colonialism.

He noted that contrary to the governor’s report, “the government has been working diligently on governance reforms since May 2022. We have made genuine strides in strengthening the systems and institutions of government. Good progress has been made and the work involved continues.”

“The Governor should not be seeking additional powers to bypass democracy and the people of the British Virgin Islands so that he can implement measures as he sees fit without any democratic accountability. It would be a colonial act.”

On February 5, UK Member of Parliament David Rutley commenced a series of meetings with Premier Wheatley and other ministers to receive updates on the advancements in governance reforms.

Prior to his arrival 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 January 2021, the ex-Governor Augustus Jaspert launched a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to probe possible corruption, abuse of office, or substantial dishonesty within the public sector.

Inquiry Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom on April 4, 2022, presented a detailed 900-page report to Rankin, unveiling corruption findings across different government tiers.

The report comprised 45 specific recommendations, featuring four broad suggestions, one of which proposed the partial suspension of the constitution to revamp the governmental and governance structures in the BVI.