The day after returning from a trip to the United Kingdom to meet with the newly appointed minister for overseas territories, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said he wasn’t able to hold a full discussion about the UK order in council that could possibly suspend the Virgin Islands’ Constitution.
But Dr. Wheatley said the minister — Lord Zac Goldsmith, who was appointed shortly after Rishi Sunak succeeded Liz Truss as prime minister last October — agreed to have dedicated discussions “in the near future” about the order, which was put into place shortly after the publication of the Commission of Inquiry report last April.
“While that issue needs to be resolved, I felt Lord Goldsmith was genuine about wanting a stronger partnership between the UK and the VI that fairly considers the interests of both,” Dr. Wheatley said during a Monday press conference held to update the media about his travels.
Lord Goldsmith, he added, will travel to the VI in a “few weeks’ time,” and discussions will continue.
‘Successful meetings’
Also during the press conference, the premier said his trip consisted of a week of “successful meetings” to “advance the economic, political and environmental interests of the territory.”
“Let me say at the outset that I initiated this visit,” he said. “I was not asked to come to London by … Lord Goldsmith. In fact, I requested the meeting with Lord Goldsmith, because it is important that the Virgin Islands and United Kingdom remain politically engaged on various issues of interest and concern to us. That is what it means to be in a mature partnership. You talk and engage.”
He described discussions as “constructive, warm and frank,” noting the minister’s interest in assisting the territory’s efforts to conserve its marine environment.
“[Lord Goldsmith] also pledged to provide as much UK technical assistance as possible to assist us with continuing in the work of reform,” Dr. Wheatley said.
Parliamentarians
The premier also met with other UK parliamentarians including James Sunderland, the chair of the BVI All Party Parliamentary Group.
“My delegation and I interacted with many parliamentarians who have a very keen interest in the BVI,” Dr. Wheatley said. “Many of them genuinely want to see the UK be as supportive as possible to the overseas territories. I got very good insight and advice on issues of interest to us, and I believe we are making progress in improving the view of the Virgin Islands in that political institution.”
Dr. Wheatley also held a bilateral meeting with Shadow Overseas Territories Minister Stephen Doughty.
“He explained the views of the Labour Party on the overseas territories,” the premier said. “I gave him a clear understanding of the Virgin Islands’ economic, political and environmental priorities. He pledged to take these into account in future debates in the House of Commons and in discussions within the Labour Party.”
During another bilateral meeting, he spoke with Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle about the UK Parliament’s Register of Interests, he said.
Other meetings
The premier and his delegation also attended roundtable discussions with representatives from the London financial services industry, who they updated on legislative developments in the territory (see page eight).
Additionally, they met with the Caribbean Council — a London-based trade and investment organisation focused on the region — and discussed tourism investment and plans to expand the airport, according to Dr. Wheatley.
“There is keen interest in the Virgin Islands economy and an appetite to invest,” he said Monday. “My team will be following up with our business partners and those with an interest in investing to help move our economy forward.”
Also during the trip, Dr. Wheatley signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Southampton to help research and document the territory’s environment and to find solutions to problems like climate change. Additionally, he said, he was updated by the National Oceanography Centre on work being done to map the territory’s marine environment.
While stuck in Antigua because of a flight delay, the premier met virtually with students and others who attended a townhall meeting and luncheon at the UK-based BVI House.
He also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the BVI London Office.