Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley. Photo by Andre ‘Shadow’ Dawson/BVI News
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has rejected claims by UK commentator Ben Judah that the BVI has become “quite corrupt”, describing the remarks as “utter nonsense” and challenging critics to produce evidence of corruption convictions in the territory.
Judah made the comments during a discussion on Britain’s overseas territories, where he suggested that some jurisdictions had developed governance problems.
“They’re not huge populations but places like the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and these places have become a bit of a problem for the UK because they don’t receive any sort of large amounts of money or support from us,” Judah said. “In some ways, they become quite corrupt, like the British Virgin Islands. A lot of corruption that takes place there.”
Judah also argued that the long-term solution for the territories would be closer integration with the United Kingdom. “The best outcome, in my view, would be to incorporate them boldly and proudly into the UK, give the people better public services so their local elites don’t need to do this sort of fraudulent thing that they’re doing,” Judah stated.
The comments were put to Premier Wheatley during a press conference on March 6, where he rejected the description of the Virgin Islands as corrupt. “I think Ben Judah is quite out of place calling the Virgin Islands corrupt,” Dr Wheatley said.
I dare them to name one person in BVI convicted of corruption!
The Premier said his experience living in the territory contradicted the claim. “I’ve lived there all my life. I’m familiar with the people. It’s a proud people that we have here, hardworking people, people of integrity,” Dr Wheatley stated.
He added that critics should present concrete evidence to support such allegations. “I would challenge them to bring to my attention even one person who’s been convicted in the Virgin Islands of corruption,” Dr Wheatley said.
The Premier acknowledged that governance reforms had been discussed in recent years but said that did not justify describing the territory as corrupt.
“As I said before, we had some administrative challenges that needed to be improved in our governance structure, but I definitely reject this concept that the Virgin Islands is a corrupt place,” Dr Wheatley stated.
He further suggested that Judah should visit the territory and examine the situation first-hand.
“He needs to travel to the Virgin Islands and do some investigations, and he will find that what he mentioned is utter nonsense,” Premier Wheatley said.
Judah previously served as a special adviser to the UK Foreign Secretary and has written extensively on British foreign policy and global affairs. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office oversees the United Kingdom’s relationship with its overseas territories, including the Virgin Islands.
The territory has been under increased scrutiny in recent years following governance reforms recommended by a commission of inquiry, prompting administrative changes to strengthen oversight and public accountability.
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