Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

BVI starts third round of constitutional talks with Britain
10-26-2006

ROAD TOWN, BVI: Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands, Dr Orlando Smith, is leading the BVI Constitutional Negotiating Team into the third round of negotiations with their counterparts from the United Kingdom, over recommended changes for a new BVI Constitution.

The BVI and UK constitutional negotiators are meeting in the BVI from Wednesday until Friday to discuss the Territory’s request to be granted a new constitution, which the Chief Minister said is in step with the BVI’s current level of “political, social, and economic development.”

The third round of negotiations comes on the heels of two earlier rounds in March and June, when the constitutional negotiators reported considerable progress but said there some issues to be further reviewed.

Government held two public meetings, last month, ahead of the third round of constitutional negotiations to gain public input on what should be included in a Fundamental Rights Chapter of a new BVI Constitution.

The third round of negotiations is expected to be the last round before the Chief Minister and members of the BVI Constitutional Negotiating Team meet with Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Lord David Triesman, to consider the proposed amendments.

Negotiation points between the BVI and UK teams are based on a detailed report that was produced by the Virgin Islands Constitutional Commission, which was appointed by the Chief Minister in April 2004 to conduct a year-long review of the Territory’s constitution, in consultation with the public, and submit recommendations for its improvement. The commission was chaired by attorney Gerard Farara, QC.

In the two earlier rounds of constitutional negotiations, the Chief Minister said his team gave special priority to the role of the Governor, introduction of a cabinet system of government, the public service, and the creation of a sixth ministry.

The Chief Minister also said that BVI and UK negotiators recognise that agreement on the different points would only be finalised as part of an overall package that would form the basis of a new BVI Constitution.

The BVI Constitutional Negotiating Team is comprised of the Chief Minister as its leader, Deputy Chief Minister Ronnie Skelton, Representative for the Seventh Electoral District Dr Kedrick Pickering, Leader of the Opposition Ralph O’Neal, Representative for the Third Electoral District Julian Fraser, and constitutional commissioners Gerard Farara, QC, and Elihu Rymer.

The UK Constitutional Negotiating Team is led by Ian Hendry and includes Overseas Territories Constitutional Advisor, FCO, Michael Bradley; Legal Counsellor, FCO, Susan Dickson; FCO Desk Officer for the BVI and the Cayman Islands in the Overseas Territories Department Fiona Rumney; and Head of the Overseas Territories Department, FCO, Tony Crombie.