Government Misses August Deadline For Implementing CoI Reforms, Says Governor Daniel Pruce

Premier say 45 of the 48 and say they will complete the remaining in the new week – The British Virgin Islands Government, led by Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley, has failed to meet the August deadline for implementing reforms outlined in the 2021 Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report, which uncovered corruption within the government. Premier Wheatley stated that 45 of the 48 reforms have been completed and that the remaining reforms will be completed in the coming week.

Governor Daniel Pruce reiterated the urgency of the situation at his August 30 press conference, stating, “We cannot slow down.”

He and Premier Wheatley are scheduled to travel to the United Kingdom for talks with the UK Minister for Overseas Territories to discuss the next steps.

In February, former Minister for the Americas, the Caribbean, and UK Overseas Territories David Rutley issued a stern warning, cautioning that slow progress on the CoI reforms could prompt further British intervention.

“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 statement issued by the Governor’s Office on February 5.

At that time, the government had addressed only twenty-five of the forty-five identified reforms, with just five months remaining before the deadline.

The report warns that failure to meet this deadline could result in the retention of the Order in Council, potentially leading to a two-year constitutional suspension.

The CoI, initiated by former Governor Augustus Jaspert in January 2021, was established to investigate potential corruption and abuse within the public sector.

Inquiry Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom presented a detailed 900-page report on April 4, 2022, highlighting extensive corruption and offering recommendations, including the partial suspension of the constitution to reform the BVI’s governance structures.

Following Premier Andrew Fahie’s arrest in April 2022 on drug and money laundering charges, an interim government led by Premier Natalio Wheatley took office.

Wheatley, who was previously Deputy Premier, led efforts to prevent a constitutional suspension.

In the 2023 elections, political parties pledged to uphold the CoI reforms as part of their commitment to safeguard the territory’s political autonomy.

Premier Wheatley was re-elected in April 2023.