UK’s announcement to lift Order in Council wasn’t shared respectfully

Kye Rymer

Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer has expressed displeasure with the way the letter from the United Kingdom announcing the lifting of the Order in Council was shared with the BVI.

The letter, dated September 22 and addressed to Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, confirmed that the UK would remove the Order in Council that had been held in reserve to suspend parts of the Virgin Islands Constitution if governance reforms were not implemented.

Speaking during a recent sitting of the House of Assembly, Rymer said he was “bothered” that the letter — though formally addressed to the Premier — was released publicly at the same time.

“I saw a letter that was written to the Premier on the 22nd of September. And the same letter that was addressed to the Premier is published — published to the public. It bothered me a second, because we try to be in this respectful relationship,” Rymer said.

The minister suggested that the Premier may not have even had time to read the correspondence before it was made public.

“You are getting a letter addressed to you today. I’m not sure if you even read it. But the rest of the public is reading this letter, about this Order in Council,” he added.

His comments come amid repeated calls from local leaders for the UK to show more fairness and respect toward the territory’s elected government. Over the past two years, politicians and some sections of society have argued that while the Commission of Inquiry reforms are necessary, the way the UK exercises oversight often undermines the dignity and autonomy of Virgin Islanders.

Despite his unease with the manner in which the news was shared, Rymer welcomed the development, describing it as “good news for us.” He credited the efforts of the Premier, the previously governing Unity Government, and others who worked to implement the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations, particularly since the most pressing recommendation involved the potential suspension of parts of the Constitution.

“I think we work really hard in terms of those 48 recommendations… and I must applaud all who were involved from the Premier, the Unity Government,” Rymer said.

The removal of the Order in Council is being widely viewed as a significant step towards restoring greater confidence in the Virgin Islands’ self-governance.