TNAG-1115-FCO40-1387-Future-staffing-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1982 — Page 69

Mr Wilay

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

mm Vi Thuny

Ja 21/12

GOVERNMENT HOUSE

TORTOLA

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS: 1978-81

-

VALEDICTORY AND TURNOVER

SUMMARY

1.

Privilege of Governorship.

Difficult arrival:

departure

goodwill. Problems of FCO/BVI understanding. Special weight

on Governor because of direct responsibilities in Capital cases:

anomaly of BVI death penalty - reality not academic: personal

aspects. Strong local feeling for hanging when non-BVIslanders

involved. Growing divergencies between UK and BVI law,

Improvements in police force but problems in Law Officer's

Department. (paras 1-8)

2.

Healthy economy: no poverty. Prosperity based largely on

up-market tourism, notably yacht charters. Growing financial

services (= tax avoidance) sector.

US looming.

Possibilities of oil.

But tax treaty problems with

Ministerial business activity

Efforts by Governor and

and corruption a fact of BVI life.

Financial Secretary to prevent things getting out of hand.

(paras 9-11)

3. BVI politics are personality and pocket-orientated.

Governor

is often Umpire between politicians, and Ombudsman to community.

Older BVI voters value link with Britain. Politicians know this,

but resent Whitehall trammels. Sudden squalls can arise:

needed. 1983 election a foreseeable headache. The post has plenty

of interest.

(paras 12 & 13)

patience

2/20/2