IN THE MATTER OF THE TERRITORY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS COMMISSION OF INQUIRY 2021
AND THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ACT (CAP 237) ("the Act")

POSITION STATEMENT – GOVERNANCE

Introduction

1. The Government took office on February 25, 2019, committed to change and renewal including of governance in the Virgin Islands. It won an overwhelming mandate for that change, gaining the support of 46.6% of the voting electorate compared to the 28.2% of its nearest rival, the outgoing NDP government.

2. This Position Statement, which is submitted by the seven Cabinet and junior ministers (the elected Government), is intended to indicate, at a general level, some of the structural difficulties and weaknesses the elected Government has faced in the Territory’s governance since it came to office and to answer the questions posed by the Commission; it is not intended to be their full statement on these and the other matters under inquiry. While we have not set out our answers in the “examination question” form they have been asked, it is hoped those answers will become apparent from what follows.