Premier calls for Cabinet Secretary to replace
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has called for the Deputy Governor’s post to be scrapped in the next constitution and replaced with a Cabinet secretary who reports to the Premier, a move seen as part o...
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has called for the Deputy Governor’s post to be scrapped in the next constitution and replaced with a Cabinet secretary who reports to the Premier, a move seen as part of a wider push to strengthen local control over government. Speaking at the close of a House of Assembly debate on the Constitutional Review Commission’s report, Dr Wheatley argued that responsibilities currently assigned to the Deputy Governor should be transferred to a Cabinet secretary under the Premier’s office. “That position of deputy governor, in the next constitution, it won't be necessary.
We should put those responsibilities given to the deputy governor to a cabinet secretary,” he stated. Premier Wheatley added that the shift would create clearer accountability within government. “Responsibility for the civil service should come to the premier most likely and be under a cabinet secretary, most likely,” he explained.
The Premier also insisted that the governor’s role in Cabinet should be scaled back, saying, “And the police, internal security should come to an elected minister of national security. And the governor definitely shouldn't be chairing cabinet or even a part of cabinet,” he argued.
Under the existing system, the Deputy Governor oversees the public service, while the Governor retains responsibility for internal security and chairs Cabinet meetings. These powers have long been a point of contention, with local leaders arguing they limit the territory’s ability to exercise full internal self-government.
Earlier this year, debate intensified about the Governor’s influence after reforms to the Public Service Management Act highlighted the Deputy Governor’s central role in public administration. Critics have argued that the arrangement leaves elected leaders unable to fully direct the civil service, while supporters contend that it preserves checks and balances.
The Premier’s call comes as the Virgin Islands prepares to enter negotiations with the United Kingdom on constitutional reform. The government has stated its intention to achieve greater autonomy by devolving more powers to local elected officials. Dr Wheatley has described the review process as an opportunity to strengthen democracy and ensure ministers can hold the public service accountable.
He stressed that the replacement of the Deputy Governor with a Cabinet secretary would align the Virgin Islands more closely with systems where the executive directly manages government administration.
Primary source: BVI News