Firestorm brews in the Caribbean over giving more power to UK over British Virgin Islands

Caribbean leaders are alarmed over what they say is an attempted power grab by the British-appointed governor in one of their neighboring territories who wants the United Kingdom to have more control.

The push to impose greater UK control over the British Virgin Islands stems from a corruption inquiry in the overseas territory in the eastern Caribbean. The territory was plunged into the international spotlight in April 2022 when its premier at the time, Andrew Fahie, and his port director were arrested in Miami on drug-trafficking and money-laundering charges.

BVI’s current premier, Natalio Wheatley, said the UK’s move “harkens back to the heyday of colonial governors ruling over these Virgin Islands.” There was no consultation with the BVI government, Wheatley said.

The day after Fahie’s arrest, his three-year-old government faced a British crackdown as the UK released the findings of a commission of inquiry into allegations of corruption, poor governance and other malfeasance in the territory. The 900-page report and the premier’s downfall helped fueled a constitutional crisis in the archipelago. But as UK officials mulled over the commission’s recommendations to suspend the territory’s constitution and institute direct rule by the United Kingdom, BVI’s leaders and others in the region protested.

Eventually, the British opted not to strip BVI leaders of their powers. But to retain local control, BVI leaders had to agree to meet certain conditions — conditions that outgoing Gov. John Rankin said are “still lacking.”

“Politicians from across political parties agreed that delivering these reforms was vital,” Rankin said in a press statement, in which he reported that progress on the commitments has been “significantly stalled.”

Rankin isn’t recommending a complete British takeover of the territory’s governance but he is pushing for his successor to get additional powers. Despite agreeing to four dozen reforms to clean up corruption and improve governance, Wheatley’s coalition Government of National Unity has only completed 24 out of the 48 recommendations before a May deadline, Rankin said.

The governors in the 14 British Overseas Territories are appointed by the United Kingdom, and their powers vary. In the BVI, the governor, for example, retains powers over defense, external affairs, internal security, court administration and the terms and conditions of persons holding public office. But it is the locally elected House of Assembly that has primary law-making power.

“There is clearly a need for some further step or steps to drive forward implementation” of the commission of inquiry recommendations, Rankin said earlier this month. “I have come to the conclusion that additional powers for the Governor are required to help ensure that the BVI Government delivers its commitments. I will be writing to the UK Minister today with a recommendation to that effect.”

In a statement, officials with the Caribbean Overseas Territories Caucus say they are opposed to any additional powers for the UK governor. The caucus includes the premiers, deputy premiers and government representatives of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Rankin’s request, the group said following an emergency meeting, “is unjustified and unnecessary.”

In a letter to the British Minister for Americas and the Caribbean, David Rutley, the leaders said granting Rankin’s request “would be a step backward in the democratic governance of the British Virgin Islands and Overseas Territories.” The letter was signed by Turks and Caicos Islands Premier Charles Washington Misick, who serves as dean of the Caribbean caucus.

The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, whose members are former British territories, echoed a similar sentiment. The group said efforts to bypass the elected government of the BVI “demonstrate a flagrant disrespect for fundamental principles of democracy which aim essentially to preserve and promote the dignity and rights of the individual, respect the will of the majority, foster economic and social development, strengthen cohesion of society and to maintain/enhance national tranquility.”

The independent prime ministers noted that “much work remains to be done in the process for the reforms” and called on the UK to provide the BVI government with technical assistance to support the process.

Wheatley hasn’t minced words in his rejection of the governor’s recommendation. In various statements over the past week, he has called the request “a shock to the system,” and “an insult to the voters and people of the British Virgin Islands” who eight months ago went to the polls and elected his government to represent them.

“There is no justification for powers being transferred or given to the Governor to undermine the democratic will and democratic rights of the people of the British Virgin Islands” he said.

The firestorm over the request is brewing just as Fahie is preparing to go to trial in Miami on Monday. While the BVI’s problems preceded him and spilled over into his administration, his arrest renewed controversial discussions about corruption, drug smuggling and misuse of public funds in the British territory of 30,000 residents.

It also reopened the debate about sovereignty as UK officials and others discussed whether there should be a British takeover. Such takeovers have been employed over the years following other corruption scandals, most recently in the Turks and Caicos Islands, where a decade-long corruption case involving government officials and attorneys is still ongoing after a mixed verdict in October for some of the accused.

In the case of the BVI, the commission’s report concluded there was widespread instances of corruption across the public sector in the island territory.

“Almost everywhere, the principles of good governance such as openness, transparency and the rule of law are ignored,” the report said. Though the report wasn’t targeted at Fahie, he had been in charge for two years when the independent BVI commission of inquiry was launched in January 2021 to review the territory’s governance and make recommendations for reforms.

Fahie has maintained his innocence since his arrest, and his defense lawyer argues that the case against him was built on a “sting” operation. His administration’s port director, Oleanvine Maynard, has pleaded guilty to the cocaine-smuggling conspiracy charge, awaits sentencing and is scheduled to testify at his trial as part of a plea deal.

The two BVI officials were in Miami attending a conference when they were lured to the Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport by a Drug Enforcement Administration informant and an undercover operative who told them to come and check out a purported $700,000 cash payment. The money had been promised to them in exchange for letting the territory be used for the trafficking of cocaine to the United States.

Also arrested was Kadeem Maynard, the son of the port director. He is serving nearly a five-year sentence after also pleading guilty to the cocaine-smuggling conspiracy charge in a plea deal.

Miami Herald Staff Writer Jay Weaver contributed to this report.