UK Minister Discusses Constitutional Arrangements With BVI

by Amanda Banks, Tax-News.com, London

14 September 2004

On his recent visit to the British Virgin Islands, UK foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell reportedly indicated that the British government would have no objections to the jurisdiction pursuing a course that led to its political independence.

Mr Rammell, the Foreign and Commonwealth Minister for UK Overseas Territories visited the BVI earlier this month, where he held discussions with Chief Minister D. Orlando Smith on the long term constitutional arrangements between the Caribbean territory and the United Kingdom.

According to the Island Sun, it emerged from this meeting that Mr Rammell stated the UK would not stand in the way of any Overseas Territory that pursued independence, provided the government had the full consent of its people and had consulted thoroughly on the implications of independence.

In common with several Overseas Territories in the region, the Government of the British Virgin Islands is legally a constitutional democracy with Queen Elizabeth II as the official Head of State. The Executive Authority of The Virgin Islands is vested in the Governor, Tom Macan, who acts as the Queen’s representative.

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