BVI needs more education on self-determination
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has stressed that Virgin Islanders need more education about self-determination, calling it a human right and a necessary step in the territory’s political journey.
Appearing on the Honestly Speaking radio programme, Dr Wheatley explained that many people misunderstand what self-determination means and why it matters.
“It is clear to me, even more clear since we’ve started having these discussions, that education is needed among our people. I don’t say that in a condescending way at all. It’s just a matter of whether you know or you don’t know,” he stated.
UN mandate on decolonisation
The Premier pointed out that the issue is not one of choice but of international law.
“Persons believe that we have a decision to make as to whether we decolonise or not. The first thing persons have to understand is that decision was already made. The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in 1960 and the resolution in essence said there should be no more colonies in the world,” he explained.
The Premier noted that the Virgin Islands is one of 17 remaining territories on the UN list of non-self-governing territories. He said his brother, Benito Wheatley, as Special Envoy, has represented the BVI at the UN’s Committee of 24 (C-24) for years, fulfilling obligations that the UK and its territories must meet.
Dr Wheatley said self-determination does not necessarily mean independence. “We have options. If you want to be self-determined, you don’t have to be independent. You can become integrated into the United Kingdom… We can form a free association… And then you have independence,” he explained.
No preconditions for freedom
The Premier stressed that freedom is not something that must be earned through conditions.
“There are no preconditions for you to be politically free. For you to be self-determined. It is a human right. And it’s a human right that everyone should be aware that they have,” he asserted.
According to Dr Wheatley, the UN visiting mission to the territory recently concluded that the BVI was ready to change its political status but needed more public education. He said an education campaign and a decolonisation commission would be launched, alongside debates during the upcoming constitutional review.
He also revealed his preferred timeline.
“As it pertains to setting the date, I believe that we should have a referendum, let the people decide, in 2031,” he stated.
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As the Bank of Barbados’ ex-head stated recently in a research paper, those OT’s which went independent are significantly behind those territories which are still OT’s economically. An independent BVI would lose its financial services industry, the dominant leg of our economy,resulting in massive layoffs of Government employees and the crashing of our economy.
The only benefit of independence is the ability to raid the bank accounts; but wait, those government accounts are already broke!!!
The Premier pointed out that the issue is not one of choice but of international law. “The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in 1960 and the resolution in essence said there should be no more colonies in the world”.
But that was 65 years ago. In Africa and the Caribbean, China is now implementing its own version of colonisation. What is the United Nations doing about that and are the Virgin Islands to be recolonised under a new master?
He is free! He just isn’t free from the rule of law! Do not grant this man a lawful right to continue to steal our taxpayer money and manipulate the systems of government for the elite!
the only thing yall educating the people is how yall boldly fill your pockets of off schemes and refuse to fix and improve basic services that our tax is paying for!
and ofc the non stop parties of blasting a message to the youths! SEX DRUGS RUM GANGS FAST LIFE PARTY LIFE!
So says the DICTATOR.
Referendum in 2031.
6 years away. So if we use VI time. Multiply by 24.
So in 144 years time we will have a referendum.
Great.
But we will need to check the VI clock and see if it is working properly and if we ever did got an incinerator or a road in Hodges Creek, or any financial reports, or seen the airport reports or prosecutions arising from the COI will we still have the revered Andrew Fahie looking over our lawless society from the walls of the HOA.
What more self determination do you need when you can authorize $5Million of our hard earned tax dollars to the Bank of Asia without requiring authorization from the Uk government. What more self determination do you need when you can get on a plane every week to go to a full moon party in Puerto Rico and other unnecessary trips overseas which brings no money or business to the BVI without your travel being vetted by the Uk Government. We must worry about self determination when only 26% of the work force is BVIslanders of which most come from your district and a lot of them either hungry or eating out of the garbage. All you know to do is spend money frivolously. You know nothing about attracting business or jobs to the territory after all before you became the first accidental premier you were only a bad example of a substitute teacher.
This independent push is for the wrong reasons by a few self-interest crooks. Rather than educating us, prove to us and show us through good leadership from yourself, your Government, and those countries that have gone independent where all of them are doing so poorly.
We dont need self determination we need first of all Good Governance from those responsible for the courts and law and order also.
Natalio Wheatley I think most of the people on the British Virgin Islands will agree with me when I say that you are the one who needs more education about self-determination you are hungry for power and not thinking about what will happen if the BVI made that move. We will be worse off than where we are now. NO TO SELF- DETERMINATION LOOSER.
Natalio Wheatley I think most of the people on the British Virgin Islands will agree with me when I say that you are the one who needs more education about self-determination you are hungry for power and not thinking about what will happen if the BVI made that move. We will be worse off than where we are now. NO TO SELF- DETERMINATION LOOSER>
BVI needs to self-educate on the current state of Haiti.
Ineffective and apparently corrupt government, gangs, a profusion of illegal firearms and a major drugs transshipment route.
Indoctrination another.
Me believe that if the people get a chance the with self determination, they would fight to have self determination from your grip natalio.
Where you wu
Go and repent Premier for sending the police to lock up CINDY, KISHMA AND PICKO. Everyone on the Island knew you did that evil act. Your fingerprints is all over that one.
More like he need STFU!
There’s only one reason to call for independence, so nobody will catch you and continued thievery. Having a 65 million person first world Nation tied to you is a gift from God. It sure wasn’t in the old days, but it is now. And essentially, they’re doing it because of the guilt of the old days so do not be a fool and see past the fox wearing a handmaiden‘s outfit.
Children of The BVI wake up and be vigilante. I remembered years ago going to skool persons would drive their vehicles into pot holes and wet my/our uniforms the same ppl are around today and the same pot holes are sadly however silly ppl will always be here but it’s time to act like we have common sense and return to greatness and stop listening to The PRODIGAL’s SON.
You would not be in power then.