Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has shed new light on the powerful advocacy mounted by regional leaders in defence of the BVI during the aftermath of the 2022 Commission of Inquiry (COI) report.
The COI report triggered an Order in Council in the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament, which threatened to strip power from the elected government if governance reforms were not implemented within two years.
He said CARICOM leaders went to great lengths to advocate for the BVI, arranging calls with top UK officials, including the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary. The Premier joked that some “nearly called King Charles as well.”
“On the CARICOM level as well, we had some heads of government who went as far as calling the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. We had heads of government who called the Foreign Secretary; they nearly called King Charles as well,” he said. “So when you have persons like that who are willing to step out on your behalf and engage for you, you know, that’s what you call true solidarity.”
