The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has released a statement on the ongoing situation in the BVI.
The OECS says “The OECS has noted the position taken by the duly elected Government of the BVI which, while welcoming the recommendations arising from the Inquiry, rejects the intention of the British Government to impose direct rule on the BVI.”
They added that “It is clear to us that, in principle, it is a bad idea to impose direct colonial rule and the history of such imposition in the Caribbean has never delivered the desired result.”
As such, the OECS has effectively sided with the BVI Government, stating that they concur “with the elected representatives of the people of the BVI that abolition of Parliament with direct rule from London represents a retrograde step in the evolution of the democratic process that is inconsistent with the United Nations Proclamation of Human Rights to be free of colonial rule.”
The OECS also mentioned the harrowing news of last week’s arrest of Premier Andrew Fahie. On this matter, they stated “Like all persons charged with a criminal offense, Andrew Fahie [is] entitled to the presumption of innocence, procedural fairness, and a free and [a fair] trial within a reasonable time.”