Human Rights Commission Long Overdue in the British Virgin Islands, Says Premier Wheatley

Premier Dr. the Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley addressed the longstanding delay in establishing a Human Rights Commission in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) at the continuation of the First Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly on 8 January.

Hon. Wheatley emphasised that the concept of a Human Rights Commission was embedded in the 2007 Constitution, yet successive legislatures had failed to implement it. “We had an opportunity, over many years, to bring in a Human Rights Commission,” he noted. “The purpose of this Commission is to ensure that we don’t have poor sense human rights violated. All of the rights we want to protect are right there in the rights and freedom section of the Constitution.”

The Premier highlighted that the current reliance on legal recourse to address human rights violations often excludes those who cannot afford expensive legal representation. “The concept of the Human Rights Commission is not for you to have to spend a whole bunch of money to go to a lawyer or go to court,” Dr. Wheatley explained. “It is about having a commission tasked with investigating violations of human rights.”

Acknowledging past inaction, he vowed that the current legislature would correct this oversight. “That Constitution came in 2007, and it’s going to take this legislature, in 2025, to pass it. I’m not one to cry over spilt milk. We are going to bring the Human Rights Commission and ensure we have a mechanism in place to protect persons’ human rights from abuses.”

Dr. Wheatley also commended members of the opposition and his government for their contributions to refining oversight mechanisms in proposed legislation, particularly regarding police powers and prosecutorial balance. He highlighted the research and recommendations of the Sixth District Representative and the Deputy Premier, who advocated for a more balanced approach in the bill under discussion.

“The Deputy Premier made an excellent point that you need to get the other side so that the bill can have balance,” Dr. Wheatley said. “While we want to give the police the power, we must ensure the bill leans towards fairness for all.”