Governor of the Virgin Islands

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Governor of the Virgin Islands
Flag of the Governor of the British Virgin Islands.svg
Standard of the governor
Coat of arms of the British Virgin Islands.svg
Arms of the British Virgin Islands
Daniel Pruce 2023.jpg
Incumbent
Daniel Pruce
since 29 January 2024
Style His Excellency
Residence Government House, British Virgin Islands
Appointer King of the United Kingdom
Formation1887
First holder Edward John Cameron
as Administrator
Website Office of the Governor

The governor of the Virgin Islands [1] is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of the British Virgin Islands. The governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government. The role of the governor is to act as the de facto head of state, and is responsible for appointing the premier and the executive council.

Contents

The current governor is Daniel Pruce.

The governor has a viceregal flag, the Union Flag defaced with the territory's coat of arms. The official residence of the governor is Government House located in Road Town, Tortola.

History

The first colonial administration on the islands was the Dutch. England annexed the Islands in 1672. An administrator was appointed to the islands from 1887, and replaced by a governor in 1971 when the islands were created a distinct territory.

Prior to this date, the local council would elect one of their members to be president (see List of presidents of the British Virgin Islands).

Up until 1971, the administrators were answerable to the governors of the Leeward Islands, of which the British Virgin Islands formed a part.

Powers

The governor is responsible for the conduct of any business of the Government of the Virgin Islands, including the administration of any department of government, with respect to the following matters: [2]

  1. External affairs; [3]
  2. Defence, including the armed forces;
  3. Internal security, including the Police Force;
  4. The terms and conditions of service of persons holding or acting in public offices, without prejudice to section 92; and
  5. The administration of the courts.

The governor also has various powers to make and remove appointments, [4] and a power of pardon. [5]

Subject to certain exceptions, the Governor is required to consult with the Cabinet in the exercise of all functions conferred by the Constitution of the British Virgin Islands or any other law for the time being in force in the British Virgin Islands. [6]

List of administrators of the British Virgin Islands

List of governors of the British Virgin Islands

Note: Acting governors are the incumbent deputy governor of the British Virgin Islands who was in office when they acted as governors.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Virgin Islands</span> British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean

The British Virgin Islands (BVI), officially the Virgin Islands, are a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, to the east of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands and north-west of Anguilla. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles and part of the West Indies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the British Virgin Islands</span>

The history of the British Virgin Islands is usually, for convenience, broken up into five separate periods:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government of the British Virgin Islands</span>

His Majesty's Government of the Virgin Islands is the democratically elected government of the British Overseas Territory of the British Virgin Islands. It is regulated by the Constitution of the British Virgin Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tortola</span> Largest of the British Virgin Islands

Tortola is the largest and most populated island of the British Virgin Islands, a group of islands that form part of the archipelago of the Virgin Islands. It has a surface area of 55.7 square kilometres with a total population of 23,908, with 9,400 residents in Road Town. Mount Sage is its highest point at 530 metres above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport</span> Airport in British Virgin Islands

Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, previously known as Beef Island Airport, is the main airport serving the British Virgin Islands, a British overseas territory in the Caribbean. The airport serves as the gateway to just about all of the islands within the BVI. The airport is also a gateway for inter-Caribbean travelers headed to the nearby U.S. Virgin Islands. Many travellers fly into Beef Island, with the intention of taking a ferry to the other smaller British Virgin Islands. The airport is located on Beef Island, a small island off the main island of Tortola, to which it is connected by the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands</span>

The House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands, until 2007 known as the Legislative Council, has 15 members: 13 directly elected for four-year terms, and two ex officio members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Law of the British Virgin Islands</span>

The law of the British Virgin Islands is a combination of common law and statute, and is based heavily upon English law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of the British Virgin Islands</span> Overview of and topical guide to the British Virgin Islands

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the British Virgin Islands:

BVI Airways is a defunct airline of the British Virgin Islands. Its headquarters were located at its hub at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport serving the territory's main island of Tortola with the capital, Road Town. It suspended inter-island operations in late 2014, shortly after a change of ownership to concentrate on a non-stop schedule directly to the United States. The company slogan was Your Caribbean Airline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitution of the British Virgin Islands</span>

The Constitution of the British Virgin Islands is a predominantly codified constitution documented primarily within the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007 a statutory instrument of the United Kingdom. The 2007 Constitution was the fourth written constitution of the British Virgin Islands, and superseded the 1976 constitution. In addition to the constitution itself, a number of the constitutional powers of the British Virgin Islands government are specified a "letter of entrustment" from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office which delegates powers to the British Virgin Islands government to represent itself in certain external affairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabinet of the British Virgin Islands</span>

The Cabinet of the British Virgin Islands is the collective decision-making body of the British Virgin Islands government. It is composed of the Premier, four other Ministers of Government, and the Attorney General as an ex officio, non-voting, member. The Governor attends and presides over meetings of Cabinet where possible. The Cabinet has responsibility for the formulation of policy, including directing the implementation of such policy, insofar as it relates to every aspect of government, except those matters for which are reserved to the Governor under the Constitution. The Cabinet is collectively responsible to the House of Assembly for such policies and their implementation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1950 British Virgin Islands general election</span>

General elections were held in the British Virgin Islands on 27 November 1950, the first after the decision to restore the Legislative Council of the British Virgin Islands. Four members were elected to the First Legislative Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attorney General of the British Virgin Islands</span>

The Attorney General of the British Virgin Islands is the principal legal adviser to the Government of the British Virgin Islands. Under the Constitution of the British Virgin Islands the Attorney General sits ex officio in both the House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands and in the Cabinet of the British Virgin Islands, but is not permitted to vote in either. The Attorney General also sits on the Committee for the Prerogative of Mercy and on the National Security Council.

Dr. Joseph Samuel Archibald, QC was a Saint Kittitian-born British Virgin Islander jurist, lawyer, registrar, magistrate, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and former Attorney General.

Vivian Inez Archibald CBE is a British Virgin Islander politician and businesswoman who has served as the Deputy Governor of the British Virgin Islands since September 2008. On 21 August 2008, Meg Munn, who held the British ministerial portfolio for the Overseas Territories at the time, instructed the Governor of the British Virgin Islands to appoint Archibald as Deputy Governor. Inez Archibald took office as the British Virgin Islands' Deputy Governor on 15 September 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of the British Virgin Islands</span>

The foreign relations of the British Virgin Islands are largely conducted on behalf of the British Virgin Islands Government by the United Kingdom through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as a result of the Territory's status as a British Overseas Territory. However the Constitution of the British Virgin Islands provides that this power is delegated to Premier and Ministers of Government in relation to certain specific areas:

  1. the Caribbean Community, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, the Association of Caribbean States, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, or any other Caribbean regional organisation or institution;
  2. other Caribbean regional affairs relating specifically to issues that are of interest to or affect the British Virgin Islands;
  3. the relationship between the British Virgin Islands and the United States Virgin Islands in matters of mutual interest;
  4. tourism and tourism-related matters;
  5. taxation and the regulation of finance and financial services; and
  6. European Union matters directly affecting the interests of the Territory.
<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 in the British Virgin Islands</span> List of events

Events from the year 2017 in the British Virgin Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Effects of Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands</span>

The effects of Hurricane Irma in the British Virgin Islands were significant in terms of both human and socio-economic impact on the Territory. Hurricane Irma struck the British Virgin Islands as a Category 5 hurricane during the daylight hours of Wednesday, 6 September 2017. It caused widespread destruction, and killed a total of four people. The eye of the hurricane traveled over the three major islands in the group: Virgin Gorda, Tortola and Jost Van Dyke.

Events from the year 2020 in the British Virgin Islands.

Events from the year 2021 in the British Virgin Islands.

References

  1. ↑ While the territory is commonly known as the 'British Virgin Islands', her official name is simply 'Virgin Islands'; moreover, section 35(1) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007 stipulates that the name of the office is 'Governor of the Virgin Islands'.
  2. ↑ Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, article 60(1)
  3. ↑ Except in relation to certain matters delegated to the premier, including external affairs relating to: (a) the Caribbean Community, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, the Association of Caribbean States, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, or any other Caribbean regional organisation or institution; (b) other Caribbean regional affairs relating specifically to issues that are of interest to or affect the British Virgin Islands; (c) the relationship between the Virgin Islands and the United States Virgin Islands in matters of mutual interest; (d) tourism and tourism-related matters; (e) taxation and the regulation of finance and financial services; and (f) European Union matters directly affecting the interests of the Virgin Islands.
  4. ↑ Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, article 42.
  5. ↑ Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, article 43(1).
  6. ↑ Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, article 40(1).
  7. ↑ "Deputy Governor to Serve as Acting Governor from January 23 | Government of the Virgin Islands".
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