BVI to seek greater self-determination in next constitution
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has confirmed that all 13 elected members of the House of Assembly have reached a common position that the BVI will push for the next constitution to reflect greater self-determination.
While updating the public on the progress of the constitutional review process, Premier Wheatley said members have examined each recommendation of the Constitutional Review Commission’s (CRC) report “in fine detail” during the committee stage and have now agreed on a unified stance that will guide negotiations with the United Kingdom.
“After robust discussion on our various viewpoints, we have broadly arrived at a negotiating position that reflects the collective will and aspirations of the people of the Virgin Islands,” the Premier said. “In summary, it is to become a more self-determined people.”
The Premier did not explain exactly what he meant by “a more self-determined people”, but during the recent constitutional review debates in the House of Assembly, leaders called for the next constitution to reflect the devolution of key functions such as the civil service and internal security from the Governor to elected leaders of the country.
Dr Wheatley said the negotiating terms agreed upon by all elected leaders will be captured in a formal House of Assembly Committee Report, which will soon be tabled. The report will serve as the foundation for the upcoming round of constitutional negotiations.
As for next steps, the Premier announced that he will hold bilateral talks with the UK Minister for the Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty, during the Joint Ministerial Council meetings in London next month.
“Among other things, we will discuss a timeline for constitutional negotiations,” he said. “I look forward to updating this Honourable House and the people of the Virgin Islands on my discussion with Minister Doughty on progressing constitutional reform.”
He also revealed that a negotiating team will be formed locally “in the very near future” to begin the negotiation process “in earnest.” Dr Wheatley promised that the process would be conducted transparently and with continued public engagement.
“We continue to conduct this process transparently with a commitment to public consultation,” he stated. “I once again want to reiterate that, as Premier of these Virgin Islands, I am committed to meeting our collective aspirations of becoming a more self-determined people and a model democracy.”
The BVI’s constitutional reform process has been underway for more than two years, following widespread calls to modernise the Constitution Order 2007. The CRC, which completed its work earlier this year, recommended changes to strengthen local governance, improve accountability, and reduce the territory’s dependency on the UK.
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This man is fighting to the last drop of blood for independence boy,he want his name to go down in history.
They only want independence so they can finish robbing us blind!
Having had a Review Commission would it not be best to not to go against and ignore their carefully considered recommendations.
You are a one trick pony that just wants Independence carved into their gravestone.
You are their to do the will of the people.
Not advance your own blinkered ideas.
Transparency hahaha the DICTATOR says.
Surely the next thing is to present our unified approach to the VI people before the UK Minister.
That way you can make sure it is a unified approach and not just our DICTATOR (ask Fraser how that works) who for the glory of Independence marches forward.
In the meantime the Territory crumbles.
The Diry HOA13 can not and will not do anything to stop him they just want the money.
First of all, Sawonde, you received the fewest votes of all the winners in the last election and allegedly had to charter a plane of voters just to secure your seat. Even after that, you still had to depend on Lorna and Julian Fraser to give you the power to run this country.
You spend more time on planes and reading from scripts prepared by a group of unqualified and incompetent advisors — individuals the public believe contribute nothing of value yet collect salaries for doing nothing. Meanwhile, you block qualified BVIslanders from working, continue to overtax the people, and when the UK demands transparency, you run to CARICOM crying racism — even as you behave like a dictator toward the people of this territory.
Now here you are talking about “greater self-determination,” yet you never once consulted the people about the direction this country should take. You have single-handedly crippled our economy, shown no remorse, and instead rewarded yourself and your colleagues by doubling your salaries — all to keep support for your questionable leadership intact.
Imagine — the same constitutional review that calls for the Premier to be elected at large has been conveniently ignored, because every member of the House knows the public has lost trust in all 13 of you. If something as basic as disclosing the outrageous pay raise you gave yourselves — while mothers, families, small businesses, and seniors struggle — cannot be done transparently, then why should the people of the BVI trust any of you to represent their true interests?
Bvi is not a country.
It’s a British territory.
Don’t you know or understand that?
Greater self determination for the BVi is a must but we should be able to care for the senior citizens of the country and stop neglecting and abusing them. Fix the medical services that oppress them and charging them outrageous fees.
Since self determination is a must then we the people must self determine our own destiny. We want all of our leaders with portfolios including the premier to be voted all large by all citizens.
We want healthcare similar to what the politicians have.
We want to work and be fairly compensated.
We want a level playing field where the greedy bill is repealed or if not no compensation is given out until age 65 just like the rest of us. We want to determine who represents us abroad, don’t waste our money and bring investors in the country so our children can work.
Frankly we don’t want self determination under this dictatorship of a government.
You wont be there for the next Review!
Keep the British flag and the Union Jack over the British Virgin Islands. The British Virgin Islands have to depend on the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force and the Royal Marine from the United Kingdom. I want to keep my British Passport for The Virgin Islands until the die that I die.
THE VIP’S PLAN IS TO TAKE THIS COUNTRY INDEPENDENT WHETHER WE WANT TO OR NOT!
I thought the constitution was the will of the People not of the Wheatley brothers, please people of district 7 get rid of this guy, for the love of country!
Surely the democratic thing to do is hold a referendum on self determination / independence, why the constant delay, is the government afraid the people will vote against it.
Daily shootings and assassinations but this guy wants to go independent..
The man is pushing too hard. He is trying so hard that it won’t happen. When it fails, it will be such a spectacular failure that no politician will want to discuss the subject for 20 years. The result will be the complete opposite of the intention, but that will be his legacy.
he has yet to come to the people of this territory.
I am a Virgin Islander and I do not understand anything the premier doing. They pushing f self determination but that is not for me. I have no part in that. Somebody stop this foolishness or we going to suffer
This accidental premier (and his “special envoy” brother), a inc***etent, f**lish little boy keeps trying to push independence down Virgin Islanders throat while the country continues to go to hell – broken down infrastructure, rampent corruption and increasing serious crime. but tyhe Governor is also at fault. the police probably trying their best with the rising crime and gun violence but they not able. It is time to bring back in the British army for a while like they did after hurricane Irma otherwise all is lost.
No thanks cuz y’all will give yah self another pay rise while keeping minimum wage the same and doing nothing on price control
Will independence lead to improvements in roads, water and electricity, housing supply, health care? Will it permit public works and infrastructure be built on time and on budget? Will it get rid of cronyism and corruption? Will it make available the so called business plan for the airport, or the terms of the recent $ 100 million loan? Exactly, how is this effort beneficial to the Territory besides allowing a few families run the show with even less scrutiny? Would be a different story if there was a record of steady progress over the last few decades instead of the consistent debacles.
do we not see what is happening to so called independent countries in the Caribbean, dictatorship youth killings and jails overcrowded, selling of citizenship and county to the rich, police and defense forces governed through cronyism, barriers on citizen’s travel because of the selling of passports, to name a few. Do the research. We are very fortunate to maintain 2 passports that enable almost free access to the many countries without having to expense of travelling to obtain VISAs. I will wait on the response. But look around at the
OECS and CARICOM, Gonsalves complained that it does not benefit SVG.