Everybody’s afraid of independence
Ninth District Representative Vincent Wheatley has highlighted what he described as the fear of independence and self-determination in some sections of the territory.
He added that people are afraid of the exact steps that are needed to move the BVI forward.
The legislator made the remark during his contribution to the 2023 budget debates that have now concluded. His statement also seemed to be directed to some members of the House of Assembly.
“Everybody’s afraid of self-determination, they’re afraid of independence, all sort of things. But these things are what’s called for to move this country forward,” Wheatley stated. “We should go boldly, with great faith in ourselves and our colleagues to do the right things though they may be difficult.”
Wheatley also expressed that his conversations with some seniors in the territory show that they are depending on leaders to make the best decisions to move the BVI forward.
“They have great faith in us because they have been here a long time and the struggles they went through to get this country to where it is. They have great faith and hope that this generation will do the right things – not the easy things but the right things,” Wheatley said.
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Check my pana
Don’t think people are afraid of it, it more has to do with the people who leading us into it. For example, Vincent is not someone I would trust with this country in independence.
I am wondering why??!!
yeah , we are afraid , except for U , we are of chicken hawks like you , so continue finishing off your DON Q , and try a different line next time we done C through your hypocrisy . AMEN Cya
They afraid of independence when being governed by people like YOU!
Of course we are with the current and past administrations
with the cronies in the HOA, we too can be just like Haiti
Not so much fear… Rather, many of us realise that “honest politician” is very much an oxymoron.
When we look at the alternative with this government, scared to death
Is Ayo fault everybody scared of independence!!! We scared of the greedy crooks that pushing for Independence harder than they pushing for accountability and transparency.
Solid move by the UN as it is the same thing Mark is saying. We are always quick to pull down each other and look into each other and want to see each other go to jail whether with merit or not. However we are always unwilling to challenge the Governor and the UK and their missteps and conduct. The former Speaker of the House challenged in court if the lawyers used by the COI violated the Legal Act by not registering in the BVI to practice law. If so that would have been a criminal offense. Most of us ridiculed him out of hatred of him rather than sticking to the issue of if their actions were right or wrong. Up to this day we do not know if they were right or wrong as the court never got to rule on the matter. If this was a local or Caribbean lawyer or person that came into the same question then I am sure we would have nailed them to the cross with help from the same UK. We are fighting the wrong fight all the time and allowing these people to divide us so we do not have time to see who really is doing wrong. The systems that addresses wrong and right should be for all and exclude none not even the Governor and the UK. Transparent systems secures democracy whether independent or not.
Those of you who hate the BVI no matter what and love the Governor and the UK no matter what are the ones to quickly state when the BVI is not adhering to the UK directive. Let us see what you will say now about the UK not adhering to the UN and CARICOM directive to immediately get rid of the order in Council for direct rule. Independence is a must.
Dude we scared of y’all not independence… we scared of y’all judgement or lack of… this not the same one who was pushing for a rapist to get status or something so?
We have to come together to get out of these pharaoh’s place because their is no future for us in their house. They want to turn the BVI into a mini UK and run by their UK people which means they must eliminate the people of the Virgin Islands by any means necessary and all Caribbean people. Even the blind can see this so when will we get it? At least the UN understands it. Read the UK news and you will understand what corruption is in government and how to cover it up.
In the days of slavery the slaves were led to believe that they cannot survive if they run away from under the leadership of the slave masters. Does this sound familiar? Well it should because the same slave masters but with modern strategy have people in the BVI and other overseas territories some 400 years later saying that if they are not ruling us then then we will be domed and our security and economy will not be secure and we will fail. They kept us in slavery by having us fight each other without realizing it. People stop buying their brain washing philosophy. It is the same strategy as 400 years ago but in a modern form where they are selling it in a way that is getting some of our support but this is a mistake. In terms of independence t is not a matter of if but when. They will always make us feel as if we can never govern ourselves in a transparent manner.
Bob Marley said it best, that until one race stop thinking of itself more superior than others there will always be war.
Clown #3
No Vincent, we are not afraid of independence. It is you guys in the HOA we are afraid of
Who he been talking to? I am a senior of this territory and I do not have any faith or hope in these politicians, they have no idea what we want
Yes this is racism. Ask the UK or this Governor a few questions and see if you can get a clear answer. Ask their views on OTs becoming independent and the process to be used to do so and the time frame. Ask them why there is only one black Governor and this was only done in 2021 when the black lives matter started to emerge. Ask them why the governors in OTs that were found to have done wrong were removed from the islands and sent back to the Uk but never charged or arrested. Ask them why the UK did not do a COI in the UK on the handling of covid (during the heat of covid) by the Uk government but did so in the Caribbean? Ask them why the register of interest laws locally does not include governors and their UK staff. Ask them why governors and their staff and family accounts are not checked during and after they serve in the OTs. Ask them these questions and more and then evaluate their answers. We have to continue to put systems in place to ensure the highest levels of accountability and move forward towards independence and stop letting the governors and Uk make us feel that we are worse than any other country. Stop letting them play with our minds so they can try to continue to control us with mental chains.
– Premier arrested for drug smuggling
– Head of Ports arrested for drug smuggling
– Commissioner of Customs on administrative leave
– former Post Master general indicated plus 2 staff
– Former Director of the International Affairs Secretariat arrested and charged
– Former Education Minister arrested and charged
– Assistant Secretary within the Ministry of Education arrested and charged with Breach of Trust by a Public Officer.
– Head of trade department accused of mismanagement
I believe everyone is afraid of the absolute corruption and chaos that is called BVI..
It is not that we are afraid, but what planning was done to lead us towards independence? Have we secured our borders? Do we have sufficient dedicated locals in our police force? What about a navy? What currency will we use? Can we call ourselves self-sufficient at this juncture? Have we gotten past the drug running and cold blooded murders?
It is not that we are afraid, but we are ill-prepared. Those we thought would pave the way were/are only interested in lining their pockets. They speak a lot of nonsense that they call “debates” each month. Now they are fully prepared and hell-bent in leading us to self destruction instead of self sufficiency.
Are we ready for independence? Definitely not. We are far from being ready.
Be careful what you ask for.
no we are afraid of independence under ndp/vip crooks, without the u.k you guys would steal even more than you are doing now
Until very recently these people were the running dogs of the
[ alleged ] Drug Dealer [ and possibly worse] Fat Albert Fahie. They were his devoted lickspittles.
And now they want us to let them run the country unhindered.
They cannot be serious.
We are not afraid of independent. We are very afraid of greedy and corrupt politicians. Dont trust them to run our country
WE FRAID AYO
For 30+ years our administrations have raped this country, making themselves fat and not giving the people the firm foundation for our country’s future. I have no doubt that these same people now pushing for “independence” will continue to steal directly from us and sell our country to the drug traffickers and money launderers. Since our own (previously popular) former Premier had already sold us out, I have no confidence that the present politicians, who were complicit with the former-Premier, or so weak and incompetent that they couldn’t stop him, will do any better. So, I’m happy that the present bunch of hopeless crooks don’t have my destiny in their hands. God is reaping on us what we have ourselves sown.
People afraid of you all greedy corrupt self serving politicians…
If you all have your way we will be worse than Haiti
Everybody’s afraid of what the BVIs is likely to become if it should go independent. If the last 3 decades are anything to go by, what are the chances that there’ll be an end to corruption, cronyism, and fiscal irresponsibility with the public purse, not to mention large scale narco trafficking? Would we get the schools and roads fixed sooner? It’ll be the same old same old, only worse for most. Good if you have the right family names.
The COI was the best thing that happened. Whether t h e lawyers were registered here or there makes no difference .The end result would have been the same.
Stalling interrupting and postponing would have been a wasted effort to postpone the inevitable and while highlightjng and spotlighting the biggest mistake and embarrassment in the form of the then Speaker.
A mini UK would be a God send, The alternative is becoming another independent island purgatory in the Caribbean.
Make sure you keep a full tab on all the results and events and who was behind all of this and why and why now. Also recapp the following because there is more……
– The UK is listed as one of the most corrupt country that hides their corruption yet they still remain in charge of their own affairs. They cannot suspend their constitution because they have none.
– A non transparent COI by the Governor that hides his wrong and inefficiencies but exposes who they wanted to expose for unethical reasons which will soon be known.
– A public service that has fnine. And failed in upgrading for 35 years and it is solely under the Governor but he gets exempted from the failure or from being known as the failure.
– Questionable actions of pass governors and Commissioner of Police swept under the rug.
– Man died and was missing but only the Governor knew where he was to find him. The Governor was never questioned.
– UK resisted doing a COI in the heat of Covid in the UK because it was not the best thing to do at the time since the UK needed to save lives and the economy in the UK but did one on the BVI.
– Had public officers who they want arrested for breach of trust but protecting others who are assisting in their plots.
– In other Overseas territories where it was found wrong doing by governors they were sent back to the UK and are roaming free without any charges or arrest and a new Governor sent to replace them.
– One black Governor sent to the Caribbean in the last 50 years and it was in 2021 in Bermuda. How do you explain this in this day and age other than racism.
Will stop there for now but let’s keep track of everything. The point is no one man should have the power to look into everyone and go at who they want ethically or not and the system does not allow it to be reciprocal. This is where the real chaos comes. It is wrong and you cannot do wrong claiming you are trying to get right. At least public officers can be suspended or fired and elected officials can be voted out but the system totally exempts governors and the UK from punishment for unethical or questionable actions. This is why it is time for independence with solid systems in place to govern us because we will never do anything good or right in their sight unless they are doing it or they are governing.
From as far back as the late Malone, Fonseca, Lavity Stoutt, Cyril B. Romney, Terance Lettsome and even further back it is documented that they also stated that it is time for independence and just like now people named their concerns. Some were legitimate but most, like now, are out of a lack of education and being brainwash by some of the tactics used once again by the British to try to silently influence the majority to be against it. The fact is independence will never be given to us as they will always stir up situations such as COI, investigations, breach of trust in public officers, and anything under their control to do that will cause the public to always question local leadership and authority and our own people and thereby see them as our only hope for the future. Check the history books as this is nothing new. They even introduced the At-Large system to try to get rid of certain political parties knowing full well that it never worked anywhere and will not work in the BVI. We need to realize that just like the Israelites we must decide to move out because better is there for us and we cannot afford to miss it out of fear and ignorance and some hatred.
You are abslutely correct. Nonetheless, that narrative is contrary to their narrative, so itwill not garner any attention even thuogh there is much truth within it.
We are truly. living among twisted minds when truths are despised and vilified.
It is amazing the vitriol that is directed towards this man but NO ONE can state in Court or in press or public discourse what he has done wrong.
Incredible that is why you get who you get , I hope the next set duck you even worse. set of ingrates deserve it.
It is amazing the vitriol aimed at this man who NO ONE has proved or shown in court, press or social discourse :to have done anything wrong. A serious inability to discern good people from bad . I hope that the next set duck you even harder . Set of ingrates . You get what you deserve.
Give me my increents iworkedforyears ago, have been waitng to collect years and years ago.
This is breach of trust and confidence between government and former employee..
Butch, this horrible and inhumane. Imagine, people are still being owed increment from when yu were in the classroom. Now, in your humanity sir, is that righ, fair or just? If not, canyou do anything to alleviate the increment proble once and for al? Then we can approach INDEPENDENCE!!!
Independence is NOT moving forward.
Independence means dependence on
local corrupt politicians. It is moving BACKWARDS.
Your paranoia about Britain is getting really old.
They have no interest in ruling us. They just
don’t want corruption to rule us. It’s so simple
.
Yall not ready. No trust. The people will perish even more. So stop talk BS bout being afraid open your eyes. We are suffering. The country already have poor management. We can’t even feed ourselves i mean come on.
What slavery are you referring to? The Yoruba
who enslaved the Fulani? Or perhaps the
Egyptians who enslaved the Nubians?
Bob Marley didn’t specify which races thought they
are above others. I see it happens in all races.
Truth is, race has nothing to do with our
problems.It’s power and money that undermines us.
Race is just a smokescreen.
Stop talking about moving forward to independence it’s not moving forward it’s moving backwards.
agree 100%
What exactly do you have here that can financially used to support the standard of living accustom to. Even though the UK don’t directly support you their name is like a security a support in the competitive world out there. They also would not allow you to fall so far that you would enter the bracket of a third world country
Stop your scare tactics! Every comment of yours reeks of imperialist superiority. You don’t really care about us except as paradisical colonies you dependent on a historically exploitative UK fumbling with its own dwindling power & influence at home, and in the world.
How much worse off are our new independent Caribbean states compared to post-Brexit UK right now with its merry-go-round politics & nation-wide strikes now that its own dependence on foreign labour is on the line? So stop with your nonsensical campaign, we are not simple & can see right through you.
The likes of you cannot conceive of us as any more than the last British outposts, some foreign power’s colony – if not under the rule of Brittania, then at the mercy of the Chinese! You just cannot wrap your small arrogant mind around the reality that former British colonies just half a decade or less old, (How many decades old is UK again?) are refusing to succumb to foreign rule, and difficult as it might be, they are indeed capable of determining their own destiny and take their rightful place at the UN table.
It is not that simple. Don’t be naive in thinking that UK is being kind and benevolent towards us. And have you been following UK politics lately? They can’t even handle their own domestic affairs, so yyou think they are capable of ‘fixing’ ours? We should put our energies into ggrowing in confidence to handle our affairs.
I am afraid of independence unless the Head Coach and the Maynard’s can come back to lead us.
No one else is suitable. Look how well we have done with all the revenue the Government got since the 1980s! Not very well. Our past leaders were not up to it. We need the Head Coach. He is an entrepreneur.
I am tired of some of you complaining about everything the BVI does as if the rest of the world has no issues and they are perfect. SMDH.
Well, fiercely and directly stated.. It brings great joy to one’s heart every now and then when one of our silent but peeping warriors speak out.. Thank you kindly.. Your piece has renewed hope in one and i hope more.
You are missing the police officers in jail for drugs. Prison officers interdicted from duty. Government incompetency.
Please
Put the measure in place to insured that the elected govt can’t abuse their power and can effective be held account.
Who wouldn’t care for self determination, the issue is leaving those who can possible keep the govt in check without some other means
Cousin Vinny, a real thug
One would have to be tone-deaf, plain greedy, out of touch with the recent news or COI findings to even mention the word independence. Please spare us the ‘slavery’, ‘freedom from the white man’ ‘colonism’ speech it’s not convincing the majority of us. Past behaviour predicts future behavior! We the people have lost confidence in our politicians. Much work needs to be done to rebuild that trust so I suggest that our politicians get on with implementing the COI’s recommendations and providing the people with accountability they deserve.