HISTORY

The Old and the Unexplored
a Fresh Look at B.V.I. History

Old fashioned outdoor oven at Salt Island, BVI (photo by Giorgio Migliavacca, copyright)

The Ministerial System introduced by the New Constitution sanctioned the establishment of a Legislative Council consisting of a Speaker (chosen from outside the Council), two "ex- officio" members (the Attorney General and the Financial Secretary), one member nominated by the Administrator and seven members elected by single- member constituencies; the appointment of a Chief Minister by the Administrator from among the elected members of the Legislative Council; the appointment by the Administrator of two Ministers on the advice of the Chief Minister; and the formation of an Executive Council, comprising two "ex- officio" members and three elected Ministers (including the Chief Minister).

 

 

 

The New Constitution was generally welcomed by everybody; the increase in the number of constituencies provided a better representation of the various districts, and the full Ministerial System was designed to give BVIslanders the right to administer their own internal affairs. The 1967 general elections resulted in the Administrator appointing the Hon. H. Lavity Stoutt as the first Chief Minister of the colony - a post he occupied again in 1979-1983, 1986-1990 and 1990-to date.

With emphasis on developing an infrastructure commensurate with the slowly expanding tourist industry government passed a number of measures aimed at making the territory more attractive to the eyes of foreign investors; thus the Ministerial System had its first serious test in 1969 over the leasing of Wickham's Cay and two thirds of Anegada to Bates- Hill, a British developer. The lease had been signed a few months before the introduction of the Ministerial System by the then Administrator. The scheme was designed to confer privilege on British entrepreneurs and expatriates. The Positive Action Movement - a pressure group headed by Noel Lloyd and Walter (Lindy) deCastro - became openly opposed to the scheme. The government reversed its position and a Commission of Enquiry appointed to investigate the matter issued a report which was considered unacceptable. Finally, in 1971, a compromise was reached and the British government provided a loan of $5.8 million to the BVI government to acquire the interests of the Anegada Development Company and the Wickham's Cay Company.

In May 1972 the Legislature established a Constitutional Committee but the initiative was met with widespread indifference. The following year efforts were made for revamping the Committee; in March 1973 a massive demonstration protested the exercise of the Governor's power to commute a death sentence in a murder case. This led to a petition being forwarded to London calling for the Governor's removal and for constitutional review. By December 20, Secretary of State Sir Alec Douglas-Home had on his desk a lengthy report compiled by the two constitutional commissioners who had visited the BVI a month earlier. The document proposed a number of changes but implementation did not occur until 1977 when the Chief Minister acquired responsibility for Finance. Additionally, the territory's electoral districts were augmented to nine; the voting age was lowered to 18; and the Governor was mandated to appoint an Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.

H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, Paraquita Bay, Tortola, BritishVirgin Islands

In 1975 the government appointed the Wickham's Cay Authority for the purpose of developing that area. The Labour Code came into being that same year, and in 1979 the Social Security Board came into being. In August 1984, the Legislature passed the International Business Companies Ordinance which immediately brought the territory to the forefront of the international financial offshore industry. In August 1986 the stage for a major political crisis was set when two members of government threatened to sustain a no- confidence vote. After complex but fruitless negotiations the Legislative Council was prematurely dissolved. The unexpected early election made it impossible to update the voters list and about 400 qualified young voters were unable to register and vote on September 30. This flaw was later remedied
  by continuous voter registration. The Human Rights covenants (the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Civil and Political Rights Covenant) were ratified by the local Legislature on 20 June 1990. Presently the government has embarked on unprecedented and massive investments to develop the territory's infrastructure (port facilities, governmental buildings, fire stations, power plants, desalination of water, incineration of waste disposal, new Tortola-Beef Island Bridge, 4-lane highway, new hospitaletc.) as well as human resources (BVI Community College, review of secondary education, community centers, etc.)
 

Copyright: All rights reserved: the content of the above historical review of the BVI is under International copyright, no information can be extracted from it in any form. Transgressors are liable to criminal prosecutionand civil claims for damages.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

VERNON PICKERING - "Early History of the British Virgin Islands- From Columbus to Emancipation" - 2nd edition [Milan/New York] 1997- Falcon Publications International. 248 pages, 60 illustrations, large size, hardbound, colour dust jacket. For further information, price, p&h, send e-mail to: issun@candwbvi.net

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