When the United Kingdom’s new minister for overseas territories visited for three days last week, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley aired his concerns about the UK order in council that gives the governor power to suspend the Virgin Islands’ Constitution and implement direct rule.
But the minister, Lord Zac Goldsmith, apparently didn’t budge.
Instead, he suggested that the order won’t be lifted until the completion of the two-year reform programme the VI government agreed to carry out after the release of the Commission of Inquiry report last April.
“The premier made very clear his strength of feeling about the order in council, and we too want to see those reforms through such that the order can be lifted,” Mr. Goldsmith said in a statement released last Thursday. “I assure you that I will continue to support the British Virgin Islands both in the next few months and after the general election in taking these reforms forward so that we can realise the premier’s vision of the VI as a beacon of democracy.”
During his Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 visit, Mr. Goldsmith — who is also the UK minister for climate and the environment — toured various environmental projects and met with other elected representatives, senior officials and community leaders.
What he didn’t do, however, is meet with the media or host an open public meeting. Instead, information about his visit was channelled through online platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and the VI government’s website.
Premier trip
The visit follows Dr. Wheatley’s trip to the UK last month. Upon his return to the territory, the premier said that he wasn’t able to hold a full discussion about the order in council but that Mr. Goldsmith had agreed to have dedicated discussions on the topic during his VI visit.
Attempts to reach Dr. Wheatley for comment this week were not immediately successful, but Mr. Goldsmith gushed about his trip in a video posted on government’s Facebook page.
“The beauty of these islands and the natural riches you have here are nothing short of amazing,” he said. “I’m honoured to be the first UK minister to visit Anegada in a very long time. I may even be the first ever.”
Mr. Goldsmith added that three things stood out during his visit. The first, he said, is that the VI and UK are building a “stronger modern partnership.”
“That applies not only to the UK’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of this beautiful territory,” he added. “It also applies to other areas like health, education and energy reform, where there’s room for much stronger and better partnerships — sharing best practice, technical expertise; encouraging investment into this territory.
His second point praised the premier and Cabinet’s “strength of commitment” to carrying out the COI reforms and otherwise “promoting” good governance.
“I know of course that some of that work isn’t easy and that there is much still to do,” he said.
Mr. Goldsmith’s third point noted ongoing environmental work in the territory, including mangrove restoration at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and coral reef protection efforts.
“Protecting the environment and building resilience in the face of climate change are vital to the future of the people here in the BVI and across the world,” he said. “As minister for the climate and environment, as well as the overseas territories, I’m excited by the energy, enthusiasm and commitment I’ve seen here from so many people to that goal.”
Eco projects
On Feb. 1, Mr. Goldsmith met with HLSCC President Dr. Richard Georges and Head of Marine and Maritime Studies Susan Zaluski and toured the HLSCC mangrove nursery and Centre for Applied Marine Studies.
He also discussed potential opportunities for the college’s students and graduates.
The next day, the minister visited the Police Marine Base, where he announced that the UK would fund four new rigid inflatable boats for the police force.
His tour continued in Anegada, where he observed turtle tagging carried out by the Association of Reef Keepers, the solar energy development, the Claudia Creque Educational Centre, and the Anegada Rock Iguana Sanctuary.
He also took part in replanting trees with the Green Sprouts Eco Club.
New in position
Mr. Goldsmith was appointed shortly after Rishi Sunak succeeded Liz Truss as UK prime minister last October.
He replaced Jesse Norman, who served as OT minister during Ms. Truss’s brief reign in September and October.
Mr. Norman’s predecessor was Amanda Milling, who visited the VI in March and May 2022 while she was serving as OT minister.