OECS Director General slams UK over threat of direct rule 'hanging' over VI - Dr Didacus Jules says whether VI moves fast or slow with CoI reforms, it is all part of strengthening democracy

SAINT GEORGES, Grenada – Director General of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Dr Didacus Jules has slammed the United Kingdom (UK) Government for what he called the threat of direct rule still hanging over the Virgin Islands, despite reforms coming out of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) being executed and often in advance stages of implementation.

The OECS Director appearing on an episode of the Narrative with Calistra Farrier and uploaded today, October 27, 2022, on YouTube, said the position of the OECS is that democracy is paramount and if there is an elected government, that elected government has the responsibility.

“Ultimately, the responsibility for good governance cannot be imposed from outside, it has to be undertaken from within. And as a mark of good faith, the government of the BVI has actually reconstituted itself as a Government of National Unity since the situation with the former premier,” he said.

“So we are fully supportive of that move. We accept that where changes have to be made they must be made. We note the findings of the Commission of Inquiry that was undertaken and we note too that most of the recommendations made by that Commission are in fact either implemented or in a very advanced stage of implementation by the government.”