Local News
‘UK LABOUR GOV’T CAN MEND FENCES WITH CARIBBEAN TERRITORIES’
By Benito Wheatley
5th July 2024
The Labour Party’s landslide victory at the polls presents a fresh opportunity for the United Kingdom (UK) to establish a genuine modern partnership with the Overseas Territories (OTs) after 14 years of Conservative Party rule in which the relationship with the Territories was severely strained by heavy-handed UK Government policies and actions that smacked of colonialism, particularly in the Caribbean where Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos are located.
It also did not help that four OT Ministers were appointed between 2021 and 2024 due to UK political instability.
Late in the previous British Government’s term, efforts were made by former OT Ministers Lord Goldsmith and David Rutley to repair the relationship, which achieved limited success.
The UK and OTs did adopt a Joint Declaration in December 2023 that sought to reframe the relationship and encourage the UK Government to consult the Territory Governments on decisions affecting them in order to avoid future impositions and heavy-handed policies.
The Joint Declaration was also meant to improve the UK’s international reputation at the United Nations (UN), Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) where it was perceived that the UK had reverted to its imperialist past.
Plans to publish a new OT strategy to guide UK policy going forward were never realised as the electoral clock ran out on Ministers.
The gap left by the Conservatives leaves an opportunity for the new Labour Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon. David Lammy to consider their own strategy toward the OTs, which could involve a much better balance in the UK-OT relationship if Labour genuinely wants to improve things.
At the same time, Labour must be careful to not simply see the OTs through the narrow prism of Gibraltar and the Falklands that are the only two Territories mentioned in the party’s manifesto by name and to whom a commitment was made to their defense and right to self-determination. These commitments, however, should be affirmed for all of the inhabited Territories.
The new Labour Government must also not limit the scope of their engagement with the other OTs, particularly in the Caribbean, to company transparency, corporate taxation, security, and marine biodiversity.
To do so would be to repeat the mistake of the Conservatives who narrowly focused on these issues and overlooked the islands as communities of real people living normal lives, who have their own daily challenges as well as aspirations for themselves and their societies.
Critical areas for stronger UK-OT cooperation are climate change, sustainable development, economic resilience, security, democratic governance, and self-determination, which should take into consideration regional specificities.
More immediately, the UK and Caribbean Territories must collaborate on disaster preparedness and emergency response as the highly active Atlantic hurricane season progresses after Hurricane Beryl.
These key areas can also serve as the basis for a new modern partnership between the UK and OTs in which each Territory can thrive and go on to achieve its highest aspirations, supported by the UK in its role as Administering Power.
For a genuine change in the UK’s relationship with the Territories, the new Labour Government and OTs must seize the opportunity to genuinely reset the relationship through proper consultation on UK policy and strategy and OT needs and aspirations.
The UK will also have to tangibly demonstrate its commitment by making available access to the technical assistance and financial resources needed by each inhabited Territory to help them meet their full potential.
The opportunity is now for the UK and OTs to establish a new modern partnership that is fit for purpose in the post-Brexit and post-Conservative era.
Benito Wheatley is a Continuing Policy Fellow at Centre for Science and Policy at the University of Cambridge. Feedback can be provided at benitowheatley@gmail.com.
Local News
Fraser Appointed to Lead Environment and Planning in Cabinet Reshuffle
Deputy Premier, Honourable Julian Fraser, has been appointed to lead the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, taking on expanded responsibilities that now include Building Inspection, Electrical Inspection, Housing, and Town and Country Planning. His Excellency the Governor, Mr. Daniel Pruce, formalised these changes through newly signed instruments of appointment, marking notable shifts in ministerial portfolios across key government departments.
The restructuring affects multiple ministries, beginning with the Premier’s Office, which will now oversee Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Veterinary services, previously managed under Environment. Additionally, Constitutional Advancement has been added as a formal subject of the Premier’s Office, strengthening its focus on constitutional issues.
Further changes see the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sustainable Development gain oversight of Statistics, a function moved from Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, as well as District Councils, formerly managed by the Premier’s Office.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Financial Services, Labour, and Trade has been renamed the Ministry of Financial Services, Economic Development, and Digital Transformation. Its newly broadened remit includes Cooperatives, Industrial Development (including Incentives), Immigration, and the Registration Apprenticeship Training Employment Development (RATED) Programme, along with Weights and Measures.
The Ministry of Communications and Works will now oversee Alternative Energy, a responsibility previously under the Ministry of Environment, reflecting the government’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
The Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Dr Natalio Wheatley, remains responsible for the Premier’s Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sustainable Development, and the Ministry of Financial Services, Economic Development, and Digital Transformation. Dr Wheatley will be supported by Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Honourable Dr Karl Dawson, and Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism, Honourable Luce Hodge-Smith.
These adjustments reflect ongoing efforts to streamline government responsibilities, aligning ministerial remits to meet the evolving needs of the Virgin Islands. Under Section 56(1) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007, the Governor, with advice from the Premier, holds authority to assign ministerial responsibilities in writing, facilitating this latest reorganisation in service of the Territory’s administrative goals.
Local News
Visa-Free Access for Guyanese Effective From Nov. 1
A Welcome Change, but with Mixed Reactions
The introduction of a visa-waiver for Guyanese travelling to the British Virgin Islands, aimed at deepening ties with the oil-rich nation, has prompted mixed reactions from both Guyanese residents in the territory and those at home.
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Natalio Wheatley confirmed that as of November 1, citizens of Guyana would no longer need a visa to visit the British Virgin Islands for up to six months, whether for tourism or business.
This move eliminates the often lengthy and complicated visa application process that had previously been a barrier for many.
“This step strengthens the bond between our countries and the region, facilitating greater ease in travel, trade, tourism, and investment. It underscores our shared vision of regional cooperation and opens new opportunities for people-to-people exchange. Many of our Caribbean brothers and sisters already benefit from visa-free access to the BVI, and we are pleased to extend this offer to Guyana, a giant in our Caribbean community,” Premier. Wheatley said during a press conference on September 30.
For many Guyanese, particularly those who have lived and worked in the BVI for more than two decades, the visa process had been a source of frustration.
Long-time resident Natasha, who has called the BVI home for more than twenty years, welcomed the change, describing it as long overdue.
“It really is about time that this was done,” Natasha smiled. “I’ve lived in the BVI for over twenty years and was very annoyed when I had to get a visa after being granted a work permit. Made no sense to me, but what can I say—when you’re in another man’s country, you adhere to their rules.”
The issue was first raised during a 2023 trade mission, when both the BVI government and private sector visited Guyana.
The British Virgin Islands is keen to position itself as a key player in Guyana’s burgeoning oil industry, offering specialised services in finance and other sectors.
At the same time, the Guyanese government is keen to ensure its citizens have the freedom to travel internationally with ease. Reflecting this shift, the United Kingdom in 2022 has also eased visa restrictions for Guyanese nationals.
While some share Natasha’s relief, others in Guyana are less enthusiastic. For many, the BVI has not been a primary travel destination, particularly as Guyana has gained visa-free access to the United Kingdom and streamlined visa procedures for European Schengen countries.
A Guyanese, who resides in Georgetown, added that, “After we’ve been given visa-free access to the UK and we can now get our Schengen visa right here in Guyana, the BVI is not really at the top of my bucket list of places to visit.”
Indeed, the perception that this new policy will lead to a surge of visitors from Guyana appears exaggerated.
A Guyanese who previously visited the BVI voiced her appreciation for the Territory but downplayed the likelihood of a major influx.
“I love the BVI, and yes, I would visit again,” she said, “but this notion that we are going to be passing through in the hundreds to take up permanent residence in the BVI is utter foolishness. I am quite happy being home.”
The exemption reflects a broader move by the BVI government to ease restrictions for Caribbean nationals, pushing for regional unity and enabling greater mobility across islands with historical and cultural links. Guyana, with its vibrant economy and close community ties across the Caribbean, is seen as an important partner in this vision.
While some are ready to embrace the opportunity, others view it as an optional advantage in an increasingly accessible world.
As the BVI opens its doors, the hope is that this policy will facilitate more meaningful exchanges between the two countries.
But whether it will lead to significant shifts in travel patterns remains to be seen.
In the words of Premier Wheatley, “We are pleased to extend this offer to Guyana,” but for many Guyanese, the decision may simply be a convenience, not a game-changer.
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