Let my people go! Vanterpool pleads for BVI’s ‘freedom’
Fourth District Representative Mark Vanterpool has decried the Virgin Islands’ dependent status as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom (UK).
“I want to say to United Kingdom – like the Lord sent Moses to speak to Pharaoh – I want to say to the United Kingdom, let my people go,” Vanterpool stated while speaking in the House of Assembly this week.
Vanterpool who previously called for a ‘Brexit’ from the UK, railed against the coloniser’s hold on the territory while denouncing that practice as being from a bygone era.
“I want to say to the United Kingdom that the time has come when colonialism must stop. It must be ended in the Caribbean. It must be ended all over the world,” he expressed.
Psychological whipping
And while acknowledging that BVI leaders have made mistakes in the past, Vanterpool maintained that this was no reason for the BVI to be kept as a territory, particularly since the BVI has no control of the UK’s affairs.
“We still have to be told what to do,” Vanterpool argued. “I am not asking our people to beg to let us go. I’m asking the United Kingdom to wake up with your own conscience and see that you may make mistakes as you have been doing. We may make mistakes as we have been doing. But it doesn’t mean that you (UK) have to tell us what to do, because we can’t tell you what to do.”
Drawing on imagery from the era of the Atlantic slave trade, Vanterpool insisted the BVI was being whipped psychologically.
“We are not people who can’t think for ourselves. You know, that was the hallmark of slavery. The people had to do what the master said, they couldn’t think for themselves and if they didn’t do it, they were beaten and trodden. We don’t see the whips right now [in plain sight], but the whips are there,” he argued.
I want my own UK COI
Vanterpool dismissed the recent Commission of Inquiry (COI) and its damning report which found glaring irregularities in the governance of the territory and which ultimately recommended a partial and temporary suspension of the BVI’s constitution.
He suggested that there should be a change in mindset of the territory’s leaders, whom he argued should see the territory’s potential to forge its own destiny since the BVI has been managing its own affairs for a number of years.
“They (the COI recommendations) were good things to come and highlight to us. But I want to go to the United Kingdom and have my own COI up there. I [will] be the [Gary] Hickinbottom,” Vanterpool said in an apparent reference to the UK-appointed COI Commissioner.
Vanterpool contended that a COI was also needed on the UK’s Prime Ministers, but said persons were too afraid to talk about this.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Shout the loudest. Why don’t they do an audit of this man’s business activities..
One thing, I like to listen when Mark gets into this mode.
This grasshopper is all over the place
… that emptying public coffers every year to enrich yourself, friends, and family can be considered “mistakes”. And every official ever elected in recent times is complicit.
Mark most of the people of the BVI don’t want to be let go because we know what will happen, if you have any smarts you won’t want it.Most politicians want it because they can do what they want and don’t have to answer to anyone.The VIP government killed a lot of the tourist business, with no one to answer to the trust companies will be gone you will still be making money because whoever is left in the BVI have to eat.The BVI would be for the rich because they are the only ones that will be able to afford to live in the BVI.
Maybe you will prefer to answer to China because they will be right there waiting to help.
Yes mark keep fighting white supremacy and racist Uk colonialism
I would be amazed if more than 15% of tax payers who live in the BVI would vote for independence.
Who wants to live in a corrupt, violent, failed state with no financial services? As for tourism, I wonder how much Haiti gets? We’d have to rely on the drugs business even more than we do now. There is almost nothing else.
Small scale fishing ad farming won’t replace financial services; and definitely won’t produce tenants for expensive apartments.
It’s bad enough as it is, and UK has let us down by not being more active; but it could be a lot worse.
What nonsense is this man talking about colonialism? We are prisoners within our own country by the people in power and want to sprinkle pixie dust with illusions as if they are saving us. You ministers are pressing us. You cry for independence and you can’t even operate the territory properly. We can’t afford a coast guard to patrol the 200 nm of water we have… THE UK COAST GUARD does this for the Caribbean countries. You cant fix roads properly; they are broken and damaged every month or so. Education here is horrible, the environment we live in is filthy. We breathe polluted air and, high prices, not paying their employees and don’t let me start with the crimes and mismanaged funds that the COI exposed the country’s people with. There’s so much more to mention. NO Mr. Vanterpool, we are not in a position to go independent. And stop telling the people the UK doesn’t give the Government money. Yes they do…. WE KNOW BETTER!
A lot of people talk among themselves about the corruption in the BVI and about the lack of ethics and integrity but that’s all they do – talk among themselves. They don’t make their voices big and broad like this man so people might think his opinion is the prevalent one. It isn’t. But you wouldn’t know that because the people are sheep and they are led by wolves who will slaughter them in the name of greed. If the schools are no good, ask yourself where did that money go? X-ray machine doesn’t work? Where did that money go? Roads terrible? Where is that money going?
Not because they’re sitting down in the HOA or in their offices and not wearing masks and carrying guns doesn’t mean it’s not robbery.
I agree with Mark 100%.
BVI people wake up. The man is speaking sense.
Start to educate our people about independence because those people have some of our people thinking that we can never govern ourselves with integrity without them. This is foolishness but it is the same strategy they used worldwide especially in Africa. All of them found out late that they were worse off staying under their colonialist rule. We need to get organized and move forward now.
We do not want to be apart of china’s Silk Road project. If our gov so much as dear entertain that it will be a huge mistake. We must not fall victim to the Chinese . They just build Antigua a new port. Dear they fail to make payments and that port will belong to the Chinese.
Here we go again with the crab in the barrel mentality. Why don’t we do an audit on the Governor and his office. Why do we have a non elected person in the 21st century as a Governor and they can only be selected and come from the Uk. Why can’t the Governor be held accountable to the people of the BVI and not the UK. People you cannot have a system where one side have all the power to look into the other side and it is not reciprocal. You cannot have one side above the law and the other side in charge of the law to use it to look into everyone and always make it seem justifiable. This will always lead to chaos and abuse of power with a frustrated people fighting each other.
Plead all you want but it will be our decision not yours.
You obviously didn’t do your research because history shows that where ever the UK remains in charge only the rich survives. Look at Africa and all over. The fact is we can govern ourselves by doing what is being done now, putting systems in to do so and safe guard against abuse. It is time to move on from a relationship that has out grown its time. The notion that governors are good people and politicians alone are bad is a baseless one. Both will be bad if there are no checks and balances to hold each accountable to the people. We have systems in place for the politicians and even if they fail we can vote them out but we are defenseless against the UK and their governor as the people have no system in place to address them when they go wrong and to protect the people from their abuse of power. This is the heart of the issue and it must change now. There are more failures with the Governors and their portfolios than politicians and the facts bare this out.
Your mentality is our hold back as they will always make us think that we are not worthy of running our own affairs and this is not factual. The UK people are worse off than us and they wish they were out from under the UK rule so why should we accept this colonialistic rule in modern times. I agree measures must continue to be put in place to hold us all accountable but that must include for the Governor also.
This th**f does kill me smh iykyk
He want to make sure politicians and elites and carry on being able to get hands on the money.
Since only half the people here have citizenship, this new country will have a population of 15,000 people. Pretty small to be out on your own carrying all the costs of defence, disaster management, UN representation and all the organizations you are required to join.
Don’t know how the finance industry would view this as well. Association with Britain confers reputation, security and stability.
It would become a colony of Columbia and make Haiiti look like a well run paradise.
Are you really serious, the head of Customs has been sent home pending arrest, the head of the ports is in a US jail. The heads of the Post Office are charged with criminal offenses, and, the Premier of the Territory is under arrest in the US and likely to spend the rest of his life in jail. Murders are happening on almost a monthly basis and numerous police officers are pending a stay in His Majesties prison. And you think the UK is the problem. ??
MY people?
strange how nons and halves voices are the only ones wanting to talk for who them come meet here. Can’t happen uk us other Caribbean
Finally someone understands what time it is. You hit the nail on the head. Only thing you missing is that all who calling for independent will run home to their real people when it hits the fan.
Lol…Yep, me too.
Whoever you are, come let me shake your hand……
Rubber Duck, you suck. Given the brutal, oppressive, and exploitative history that Haiti has endured for centuries by the evil European, and is still enduring by France, that is keeping that country and people in dire poverty while it, France, lives in luxury,you should be ashamed for projecting Haiti as you often do so negatively..
You clearly are an uninformed blogger who does not read and educate the mind with facts before blogging his opinion… Pitiful indeed..
Please go study the history of Haiti from post slavery to present, then research the economic relationship between France and Haiti. After that education, come on back.
Nothing makes a man looks more foolish to another man that one who spouts ignorance, demonstrating his lack of knowledge of the issues. That is onewho lives in fool’s paradise.
To Think Twice:
Agreed with all you mentioned. Agree 100% with Mr. Vanterpool statements also.
We must step forward and become more aggressive towards our normative and future existence.
No one was born to rule over any body. Therefore, we must continue the agitation to rule ourselves, by all means.
Remember the psychology that had us crippled on the plantation? that is the same psychology that permeates or mind and psyche presently. That is why many of our people are crippled with FEAR of moving away and into unchartered waters..
Same as the slave felt living on the platation.. It was only the bold, fearless and brave that ran away. And it was those that contributed to the ending of slavery for all of them..
The details will take up to much space, so reseach must be done if readers need to be educated.
Hon Mark Vanterpool, R-4, aka Action Man, I feel the passion and energy in what you are advocating. But bring it down. Yes, colonialism was/is a brutal, exploitive, abusive, sexual violence, psychological traumatic, and dehumanizing institution sanctioned and institutionalized by the UK government. It deprived colonies of freedom, blessings of liberty, democracy, and basic human rights. Nevertheless, there is a process under the UN charter for the VI to pursue independence if a majority of people vote for it. But the people has not had the opportunity to do so. The vI must let the people through a referendum choose their political status, ie, independence, integration , integration, etc. We are going to have a referendum on same sex marriage. Is not the Bi a Christian nation? By way, BI residents need to be educated on the pros and cons of independence. BVI residents have not been education on the constitution and are struggling with making a meaningful contribution to the CRC.
That is why we need our independence immediately and yesterday.. Your arrogance just riled me up to the highest degree!
when you have no valid argument for independance you bang on about race when you are racist yourself. take a seat Mark.
You talk garbage. Where does the UK remain in charge in Africa?
The answer is “nowhere” Look at the corruption and poverty they have!
the uk has world class education, universities, amazinf research and science, huge financial services…. We barely have buildings to teach our kids.
What did St Kitts and Nevis had when they became independent 38+ years ago? Aren’t they the leading Small Island State in the caribbean?
Until more persons get over his guile we will remain paralyzed with fear and doubt. Religion is at the bottom of all the mess on this planet. Watch the ants nest stir up. According to the bible the governor can do no wrong. Christianity is the deadliest military weapon ever invented. I bet most people done haul a++ and abandon ship…das how we know ayo ain ready. Setta cartoon.
@vin, We don’t have much because it has been proven that both of our governments’ help themselves to the peoples money.For the amt of money the BVI makes we should be in way better position than we are in.
Let’s not forget our infrastructure,roads, incinerator, sewerage problem, health services, lack of fishing and farming and much more.
See them fighting for power cause they know not the hour, only the stupid fly follow the corpes to the grave
if you and jokers who pushing this racism from centuries bago would have emulated Mr STOUTT who was a very educated gentleman we won’t reading your evil thoughts that you all trying to share , all because you all got exposed ( STOUTT took the BVI to higher level and without all this sh*t you all trying to fool the people with , ( and he knew of the same RACISM you and your lack of integrity friends using as excuse to hide your CLANDISTINE operations
if you and jokers who pushing this racism from centuries ago would have emulated Mr STOUTT who was a very educated gentleman we won’t be reading your evil thoughts that you all trying to share , all because you all got exposed ( STOUTT took the BVI to higher level and without all this sh*t you all trying to fool the people with , ( and he knew of the same RACISM you and your lack of integrity friends using as excuse to hide your CLANDISTINE operations
Virgin Islanders are Virgin Islanders biggest Oppressors, Naysayers, Underminders(if such a word) and Pitchforks. Ain’t nothing about white supremacy, it’s all in the Blood Line.
Columbia? Where is that?
If France is living in luxury, why are 40,000
people a year risking their lives to escape to England in rubber boats?
What does St Kitts lead in? It’s incredibly corrupt
so maybe that’s it.
Perhaps it is intentional. Meant to sew discord among persons who do not know better. VI ppl please educate yourselves so that you will not fall for divisive and subversive tactics.
Who is holding your people prisoners?
Has the U.K said they are not willing to give you your independence?
I’m sure I’ve heard a governor saying it’s all in your hands. Go for it!
Better take Chinese gifts than the knee on our neck they still wont apologize for as the Netherlands attempted to do.
And all you talking about this place becoming like haiti no sir if the locals stay here and foreigners go we will be back to peaceful living recognizing each other no majority of strange faces its not politically correct but honesty its the truth.
I prefer the UK.