Interim administration not justified; fires back at
The House of Assembly (HoA) has formally rejected calls for an interim administration, saying such a move is unnecessary and would undermine the Territory’s democratic progress. In a press release reported by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), the HoA also pushed back at comments from Overseas Territories Minister Doughty on October 13, 2025, while stressing its readiness to work transparently with Governor Daniel Pruce under agreed monitoring arrangements. The HoA highlighted that meaningful reform began before the Commission of Inquiry and pointed to the revocation of the draft Order in Council and 18 new laws as evidence of lasting progress; it said it will continue to monitor law enforcement reforms and oversight arrangements in partnership with the UK where appropriate.
The House of Assembly (HoA) has formally rejected the proposition that an interim administration is necessary for the Virgin Islands, saying such a step is neither required nor justified and would undermine the Territory’s democratic progress. In a press release reported by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), members of the HoA said they remain ready to work transparently with Governor Daniel Pruce under the agreed monitoring arrangements.
The statement responds to comments made by Overseas Territories Minister Doughty on October 13, 2025, in which His Majesty’s Government acknowledged significant progress on governance reform but also raised concerns about recent law enforcement changes. The Assembly’s release, as carried by VINO, stressed that members expect the spirit of partnership and mutual respect which underpinned the reform journey to be clearly recognised.
While the Minister’s wording echoes parts of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) that described past governance failings, the HoA said the Territory has engaged in the reform process in good faith, with diligence, integrity and a commitment to meaningful change. House members emphasised that momentum for stronger governance began well before the CoI.
The release noted that successive administrations made deeper commitments to ensure necessary reforms were completed and said the Governor himself has publicly acknowledged on several occasions the seriousness with which elected representatives have taken their responsibilities and the tangible progress achieved.
A milestone highlighted by the Assembly was the revocation of the draft Order in Council, which the HoA described as recognition of the strength of the Territory’s democratic institutions and of the government’s approach to reform. The House underlined that the revocation is not the end of the process but a marker of a maturing democracy and a chance to move reforms into routine, self-sustaining governance.
To date, the House said, 18 new laws have been passed to strengthen transparency, accountability and the rule of law. Those statutes are supported by a Governance Reform Transition Plan designed to ensure reforms endure across administrations — an approach the HoA described in its VINO-statement as deliberately aimed at building consultation, depth and durability into the Territory’s institutions.
While the Assembly reiterated its commitment to elevating the UK–BVI relationship to one of trust, collaboration and mutual respect, it also signalled it will continue to monitor how agreed oversight arrangements operate in practice. The House named the government’s handling of law enforcement reforms as an area to watch and said tensions around those changes should be addressed through dialogue between the Territory and the UK.
For residents, the HoA message signals continued local leadership of reform accompanied by a promise of sustained oversight and implementation. The Assembly’s response makes clear it will push back on external warnings it sees as disproportionate while continuing to work with the Governor, the public service and international partners to embed lasting governance improvements.
Primary source: VINO