Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Government House in Tortola, the residence of Governor-General John Rankin, on Monday, following a British judge Sir Gary Hickinbottom’s investigation into corruption that proposed governing the islands for two years. It is proposed that Mr Rankin, who represents the Queen, take over as Prime Minister and be elected as a government official. However, many BVI residents oppose this proposal, which has been described as “colonial”, especially in the context of the area’s history as a former British slave colony, and anti-democratic as there are no plans to make the issue public. Protesters blocked traffic outside the governor’s house and shouted slogans such as “no to British rule” and “no return to chains”. A speaker said to the crowd: “How can you talk about us if you did not have a conversation with us, the people? “It is possible for us to condemn the actions of corrupt leaders and also to believe that we can be principles in good governance,” he said. Bishop John Ivan Cline, of the New Life Baptist Church, which organized the demonstration, told local media: “This is a very important, historic moment in the life of the Virgin Islands. “The United Kingdom has decided after 70 years of self-government that it wants to take away our rights and deprive us of the opportunity to have a democratically elected government.” (JTV channel 55) “They want to tell us that one person must be able to make decisions for 30,000 people, they want to tell us that we do not have the necessary capacity to run our country and we say we will not relinquish our rights.” continued the clergyman. “We welcome the help of the United Kingdom – but a democracy and a dictatorship are two different things. We want the opportunity to return to the polls and elect a democratic government to govern us. “But this colonial mentality that you will tell us what to do is wrong, unfair and we will not support it.” The protests come after the arrest of BVI Prime Minister Andrew Fahie in Miami on Thursday for drug conspiracy and money laundering in a company led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The area’s port manager, Oleanvine Maynard, was also arrested. The report had nothing to do with the incidents in the US last week, although its publication was promoted following events in the US last week. UK Overseas Secretary Amanda Milling arrived at the BVI on Sunday for a three-day trip to discuss the region’s future leadership. However, the content of these discussions has been overshadowed by ambiguity, protesters said, as they asked Milling to include BVI residents in talks about the country’s future. The BVI, with a population of 35,000, is currently governed by the 2007 constitution, giving it limited authority under a governor who has absolute executive power as the Queen’s representative. “Do we not believe that there are good people in this country who can be elected worthy leaders of the BVI? “This is our future and it must be in our hands,” said another speaker. “This is our country! It’s our responsibility to take responsibility. “ “I want to say to Her Majesty the Queen: tell your people to be fair to us. That’s not fair, “said another speaker. In a statement earlier this week, incumbent Prime Minister Natalio Wheatley said he was “very concerned” about the recommendation. Andrew Fahie, the elected prime minister of the BVI, was arrested in the USA last week (AP) Mr Wheatley said: “What this would mean in real terms is that there will no longer be elected representatives representing the people of the regions and territory in the House of Commons where laws are being passed for our society. “Also, there would be no government ministers to advance the priorities of the public or a cabinet to approve the policy. All this power will be delegated to the Governor. “The benefit of representative democracy for the public is the understanding and response of their elected representatives to their challenges, who also serve as conduits of their views, especially for reforms.” BVI Governor-General John Rankin (Is provided) This follows widespread protests against royal visits to Caribbean countries and calls for reparations for British slavery over the past two months. When the Independent approached for comments about the protests. The UK Department for Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth did not comment. However, a spokesman noted a statement on governance in the BVI issued by Foreign Minister Lizz Truss on Friday. He states: “In January 2021, we expressed serious concerns about the deteriorating governance situation in the British Virgin Islands, as well as the potential vulnerability of the islands to serious organized crime. “The government of the United Kingdom has supported the decision of the then governor to launch an independent inquiry into the governance of the territory. “The research report released today by the governor clearly shows that a substantial legislative and constitutional change is needed to restore the governance standards to which the British Virgin Islands are entitled.”
