‘Let us work with UK as partners’, Vanterpool now urges
The BVI should work closely with the United Kingdom (UK) as partners as it seeks to move forward in its journey towards self-determination.
This was the view expressed by Fourth District Representative Mark Vanterpool during the recently held Emancipation Service at the Sunday Morning Well in Road Town.
“Let us go forward and work closely with the United Kingdom as partners with them respecting us and we respecting them as how we can work together to make the Virgin Islands a better Virgin Islands for the people of this territory,” Vanterpool said.
“We must be able to depend on our good partners, the United Kingdom, who have stood with us for many years, many years past,” the veteran legislator added.
Vanterpool’s statements veered significantly from the tone he had set in remarks made in the House of Assembly (HOA) weeks ago during a debate on the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report.
At the time, Vanterpool attempted to move a motion — which he subsequently withdrew — to send a delegation to the UK to demand the removal of an Order in Council in the UK parliament.
The Order was put in place to effectively enforce the main overarching recommendation (Recommendation A1) that came from the COI report, designed to partially and temporarily suspend the BVI’s constitution and institute direct rule through the UK-appointed governor.
But the Order would only be enforced if conditions in a framework agreement signed with the UK for the implementation of the COI recommendations are not met.
Demanding his own version of BREXIT from the UK at the time, Vanterpool said he wanted the BVI to be left alone by the UK.
No such thing as independence
Fast forward just a few weeks later and Vanterpool’s tone appears more subdued and nuanced, with his argument centred this time on the theory that there is no such thing as independence.
While arguing that the BVI is not a “people unto ourselves”, Vanterpool said: “There is nothing anymore called independence anywhere in the world. Every country, everyone is self-dependent on each other. Even the great United States, even the great United Kingdom, even the great Europe, they’re all interdependent and depending on each other to be able to grow and and survive and establish themselves.”
In the meantime, Vanterpool is also advocating for the discontinuance of the BVI’s involvement as a member of the Commonwealth group of countries.
Vanterpool argued that the Commonwealth of nations is a reminder of all the nations that the UK enslaved in the past and insisted that there was no going back to that.
“We are going forward. We are going forward. I am not celebrating the memory of us being enslaved as a nation,” Vanterpool stated.
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Minister you are a cr**k and a fr**d. You showed your colors and the co**uption on the Pier Park Project. Where is the extra $45 million in costs? We have a complaint into the UK for the $2,000,000 US Dollars — owe our firm. You can not expect the Uk to continue to cover your downside with everyone complicit in the fraud and corruption on the Island. You can call me to discuss.
Grasshopper or flip flopper?
More like bipolar….seems he’s lost his marbles and doesn’t know where to find ‘em!! When are these investigations into malfeasance and misappropriation of public funds going to start? Will the public have to wait longer than those residence/belonger applications (20+)?!?
This is so unfortunate. Everybody but the people who bared the disgraced of what the politicians put on us knows what is really going on. The BVIislanders who came out and give info to the CIO in front and behind the scenes are getting the shitty end of the stick.
What is the local Gov and UK really partnering to do, is it to deceive the people by allowing the show to go on once the UK get what they want which seems to be not in the best interest of the people who just want justice and for those who cause this mess to answer to the law and be removed?
Games are been played and the people who are left out are the fools being played meanwhile the people who cause this mess are allowed to put a unity Government together to look after their self-interest.
Mark is singing a new song like the storm that was coming has taken a different path but meanwhile high insurance and a dysfunctional Government and a lot of unanswered questions loom on the people who just want justice.
The people of this country do not want this Unity government that is led by this … They had rather a board of decent unselfish people to be put in place and some months after we go to elections.
Wow…what a change in tone. Probably just grand standing in both cases.
Both
writing news stories about this l**er. Nobody cares what he says because it changes everyday. Hopefully he will seek medical attention for his mental in***bility.
Mark it’s only a few who wants to journey towards self-determination, why don’t you ask the people of the BVI what they want? You don’t know what you want this is what you said on August 2nd Hon Vanterpool blasts Commonwealth as reminder of UK enslavement
– says moving forward VI should not be part of Commonwealth but rather a strong partner with UK seems to me like you want to eat your cake and have it.
Mark it’s only a few who wants to journey towards self-determination, why don’t you ask the people of the BVI what they want? You don’t know what you want this is what you said on August 2nd Hon Vanterpool blasts Commonwealth as reminder of UK enslavement
– says moving forward VI should not be part of Commonwealth but rather a strong partner with UK seems to me like you want to eat your cake and have it.
We are going forward. We are going forward. I am not celebrating the memory of us being enslaved as a nation,” Vanterpool stated? What were you doing August Monday?
He seems to have really lost his mind! Get elected, doesn’t want the job, then wants the job, then wants to be a statesman, attacks Uk, now wants to kiss up, really what is going on with this man.
they always called him the grasshopper or flip flopper
Obviously a man with a clear vision –
bend whichever way the wind blows.
Get the feeling the gentleman is ‘closing the door after the cows have left the barn’?
Something’s up.
He heard us!!!let us check in on him in the coming weeks and months…..LOL
WELL THAT FELLOW IN MIAMI WAS DOING THE SAME THING , AND HIM AND OTHERS WHO THOUGHT THAT THEY ARE UNTOUCHABLE ARE IN FOR A RUDE ?AWAKENING /\\_ JAWS AINT GOT NOTHING ON THESE JOKERS ( MONEY WON’T TAKE YOU TO HEAVEN , SO ENJOY THE GOOD TIMES ? ?
Does anyone take this man serious? Like seriously? Smh
Available in every aisle of his store building on crown land! No wonder he want to work together, he owes the Queen rent!!!!
Only when the breeze blow you see fowl bottom.
Should he find himself on the wrong side of a trial, this may favor him in a reduced sentence. Mark has been changed he is a new born again!
Well UK might save us, if we beg them enough? That’s my takeaway from this piece.
Rogue unity party was the same ones that got us to this point. How now they keep power?
Governor we need you to come forward and tell the people elections are set and ready, let the people campaign and select new leaders!
By the way, de wuk up done, we back to business?
The UK owned us let them take over.
Let us look at the world powers: We jump where
To China, Russia, India, Parts of Africa OR
Latin America, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba OR
USA, Europe, France, Australia,
We are still a democracy dictatorship, socialism. are even worse. Look where out own Government has landed us. No to Mark you not stable
By the way we have rights as a British Territory not a privilege
So PM watch your language. Once you are a BVIslander it is a Right stop you nonsense!!,
He is inconsistent like jellyfish. Flip flapping politician. Sir,next time just keep silent. Silence is a virtue.
Mark go siddung ur disgusting now.
MK Ultra is real
Remember the five states of grief? He has jumped from denial to acceptance overnight. Don’t be surprised if he reverts to bargaining next and then to depression if he is convicted.
Is he narcissistic? A ** businessman and a worse politician. Hopefully he will have to answer for some of it.
As Bob Dylon said “the answer my friend is blowing in the wind” Mark won’t change, his answers will always be whatever he thinks his audience wants to hear….and so long as he gets what he wants! maybe someday the chickens will come home to roost?
UK will not move to make a change as long as the general population of the BVI allows people like Mark to have power.
UK of 2022 does everything subtly and doesn’t want to rock the boat.
Basically unless something significant happens on its own, the UK doesn’t cause significant events in such a small society.
In the UK the UK barely does anything overtly as well, its all slow and subtle. Usually likes to look like its ineffective.
Unless specific corporations or VIPs in the UK stand to benefit somewhat directly the UK will continue to let people like mark slide.
Don’t believe it? The UK had to know about corrruption of Andrew Fahie and others, they didn’t pre-empt that case to stop it, he/they were picked up in FL.
Irma wasn’t something the UK dealt with until it was at risk of cresting a black mark against them with the prisoners on the loose.
The UK didn’t do anything overt about BVI corruption since the early 2000s.
If it doesn’t significantly directly affect the UK they won’t act. The people of the BVI are in reality still very much in support of people like Mark from a political and commercial point of view.
BVI people need to help themselves before the UK will help them.