British Virgin Islands' acting leader resists calls for direct UK rule

British minister to hold talks with senior officials in the territory after premier is arrested over drugs shipment

British Virgin Islands Premier Andrew Fahie has been detained in the US over links to a drug shipment. AP

Political leaders in the British Virgin Islands do not want the UK to take over the administration of the territory as it reels from a drugs-and-corruption scandal.

Acting premier Natalio Wheatley said he was “very concerned” about a recommendation for Britain to take direct control after the territory's leader was arrested in a US drugs operation.

Amanda Milling, the UK Minister for Overseas Territories, is set to meet the territory's Governor James Rankin and other senior figures on Saturday.

Andrew Fahie, the country's leader, was arrested in an undercover operation on suspicion of accepting cash to import a major drugs shipment organised with the aid of a group from Hezbollah, US court documents have shown.

Mr Fahie, 51, and his chief port official, Oleanvine Maynard, were detained in Miami, Florida, and accused of accepting $700,000 from an informant posing as a member of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel.

The string of Caribbean islands, inhabited by 35,000 people, is administered under a 2007 constitution giving it limited self-governance under a governor who is the ultimate executive authority as the representative of Queen Elizabeth II.

Failures on many levels

An inquiry into corruption in the territory led by retired judge Gary Hickinbottom said the people of the territory were “badly served” by its government.

In the report, published on April 4, he recommended the governor take direct control of the territory for two years.

“Almost everywhere, the principles of good governance, such as openness, transparency and even the rule of law, are ignored,” his report said.

Mr Wheatley has argued against the recommendations before meetings on Saturday with Ms Milling.

“What this would mean in real terms is that there would be no more elected representatives who represent the people of the districts and the territory in the House of Assembly where laws are made for our society,” he said.

“There also would be no government ministers to advance the public's priorities or a Cabinet to approve policy. All of this authority would be vested in the governor.

“The benefit of representative democracy to the public is the understanding and responsiveness of their elected representatives to their challenges, who also serve as conduits of their views, especially on reforms.”

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Ms Milling would speak to Mr Rankin and other senior officials.

“The arrest of the premier of the British Virgin Islands on charges related to drugs trafficking and money laundering is extremely concerning and underlines the need for urgent action,” Ms Truss said.