Order in Council ‘should be removed’- TCI Deputy Premier Jamell R. Robinson

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica- The Deputy Premier of Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), Hon Jamell R. Robinson, has opined that it is time the United Kingdom-imposed Order in Council in the Virgin Islands (VI) be lifted.

In an interview with the Acting Director of Communications, Mrs Karia J. Christopher, at the 49th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Montego Bay, Jamaica, from July 6 to 8, 2025, Hon Robinson said the TCI, which is also a United Kingdom (UK) Overseas Territory, went through a similar Order in Council in 2009, where the constitution there was suspended.

“That’s something we don’t want to see in the BVI, and three years onward from that initial Commission of Inquiry, I think that it’s time that [it] should be removed so persons can move forward.”

Hon Robinson added that from his discussions with Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), all of the targets that were set out for the territory in terms of keeping self-government have been met.

“So once that has happened, it’s time to move on, as we would have moved on in the Turks and Caicos Islands, because of course, having the people’s voice in the Parliament as well as the decision making is the most important thing for any democracy, for any country in this side of the world.”