UK agrees plan for reforming governance of British Virgin Islands

A man joins dozens of activists at a rally calling for the British overseas territory to retain its autonomy, following a report by a commission of inquiry that said it should be governed directly from London, in Road Town, British Virgin Islands May 11, 2022. REUTERS/Stringer

Britain on Wednesday said it had agreed a comprehensive plan to reform the governance of the British Virgin Islands without being ruled from London at this stage after an official report found systemic dishonesty in the British overseas territory.

Britain said it retained the option of a governor-led administration - effectively suspending BVI's constitution and handing rule to the British government - if there was not enough progress in improving governance over the two year plan.

"I believe, in the first instance, the new government should have an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to reform through the implementation of the 48 (inquiry) recommendations and the further measures they have proposed," Britain's foreign minister Liz Truss said in a written statement.

A general view of the ports of Road Town as a proposal is considered to put the overseas territory of the British Virgin Islands under the rule of London, which came after the arrest of the island's premier in Miami on charges of conspiracy to traffic drugs and launder money, in Road Town, British Virgin Islands May 4, 2022. REUTERS/Gabriella N. Baez

"If it becomes clear that this approach is not delivering the reform the people of the BVI want and deserve we will take action."

(Reporting by Alistair Smout)