Accepting COI report was a big mistake

Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has posited that the initial acceptance of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report has opened the door for the UK to label the BVI government corrupt and publish damning reports such as the new review of local law enforcement agencies.

Last week, all elected leaders used their time in the House of Assembly to reject the report which identified corruption in BVI’s law enforcement bodies and suggested that key offices be placed under the governor’s purview.

While issuing his rejection of the assertions in the UK document, Walwyn said Britain was only able to craft such a negative report because the BVI leadership accepted the COI report that was handed down in 2022. That report labelled the territory corrupt and threatened to take power away from local leaders if its recommendations weren’t enacted.

At that time, the government and opposition members of the House formed a unity government with Dr Natalio Wheatley as the Premier. They agreed to implement the UK’s recommendations.

But according to Walwyn, that was the first mistake.

He said leaders should have sought help from legal experts in the Caribbean, who could have helped them to understand the future implications.

“But we accepted the recommendations without reading them, without understanding the ramifications,” Walwyn bemoaned. “Was it that we were too happy to hold on to premiership and leadership that we didn’t have the courage to stand up? That was when the courage was needed to say no, we won’t accept your report,” the Sixth District representative said.

He said the recent UK review of law enforcement agencies that has offended many, was created pursuant to recommendations of the COI. And he said any rejection of the new report is simply futile because the damage was already done when the COI recommendations were embraced.

“So we have this report now and we’re getting a heart attack but the reality is our utterances would make absolutely no difference. So what we’re doing is an exercise in futility as far as I’m concerned,” Walwyn further explained.

No widespread crime here

Walwyn also rejected the report’s assertion that the BVI is a hotbed for serious crimes, adding that the territory’s problems are similar to those that regional neighbours face.

“I must not know where I live. Maybe something is wrong with me. I walk about and every pan knock I’m there. Where is this widespread corruption and serious organised crime? Unless they are doing it and I don’t see,” Walwyn argued.

He added that the UK’s report has the potential to hurt the territory’s tourism, which is known as the second major pillar of the economy.

All elected leaders and some sections of the public have rejected the UK’s new report. However, it’s unclear what actions may be taken if the territory fails to implement the report’s recommendations.