Mather to confront Premier over self-determination push
Territorial At-Large Representative Stacy Mather is set to challenge Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley on his government’s strong push for self-determination during today’s House of Assembly sitting.
Mather intends to question the Premier on the lack of widespread public consensus on the issue, arguing that the United Nations (UN) visiting mission to the BVI in August 2024 gathered input from only a limited segment of the population.
“Given these factors, how does your government plan to ensure that the pursuit of self-determination reflects the collective will of all Virgin Islanders?” Mather is expected to ask.
Premier Wheatley is also likely to face questions about the UN mission’s report and its role in shaping his administration’s stance on self-determination.
‘Model’ democracy in the making
In a recent press release, Premier Wheatley expressed confidence that the BVI will emerge as a “model democracy” following the implementation of reforms stemming from the UK-mandated Commission of Inquiry (COI) process.
The COI, led by Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom, released a damning report in April 2022, citing widespread governance issues. The report recommended major reforms, including criminal investigations and a temporary suspension of the constitution to improve transparency and accountability.
Over the past two years, the government has made significant progress in addressing these concerns. Officials report that ten policies and fifteen pieces of legislation have been enacted, covering areas such as discretionary powers, grants, Crown lands, and residency and belonger status. Notable legislation includes the Public Assistance Act, Integrity in Public Life Act, and the Audit Act.
Premier Wheatley stressed that these reforms have been carried out under democratically elected leadership. “We’ve done a lot of work, and we are proud of what we have achieved,” he said. “Our ultimate goal is to build a model democracy.” He added that he envisions the Virgin Islands developing a governance system that could serve as a model for the region and beyond.
To engage residents in this transformative process, the government launched the Governance Reform Education and Awareness Transformation (GREAT VI) campaign. Public meetings have been held across the territory, including in Anegada, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda, with government ministers and department heads leading discussions.
The debate over self-determination continues to spark discussion among policymakers and the public, with today’s House of Assembly sitting expected to shed further light on the government’s direction.
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The problem is that the premier thinks HE is the people of the VI. He is not and we do not think like him. All people of the VI are not corrupt.
Time for him to start working for the people that are not rich and/or corrupt.
Not all people of bvi are corrupt.
Don’t say “all people of bvi are not corrupt” because some really are.
Honestly I don’t even want him as our premier any more Lorna screw everybody cause she wanted big position. Still got fired. Now we stuck with him till next election again sturpss.
i was saying you does be quiet when this talk come up
but i am now proud to see you have taken a stance
maybe ur not against it but at least your making it known that the public should know
Only person interested in this are corrupted politicians with them family and friends
and ofc the drug trade and criminals would benefit from it as well
just the rich want to get richer without any accountability or stop gaps
if another irma passes you’ll see how quick the wealthy fly out and stay overseas for a bit while the middle and lower class remain suffering with no help from UK
hopefully caricom send some crumbs
Premier failed to let the public know that we had visitors from the UK last week or week before and they were all up east end talking to people. Is this why we have those roads paved? Not all people are fools. Where are you 2027 but it can be sooner too.
An incorrect not fully thoughout position along with lack of historical context and human sufferage is a greater threat to national soveriegnity than staying under a flag the represents, slavery, colonialism, neocolonialism and racism.
What have some of our dullards consumed for education? Are this the newest set that are being paid by the hidden government?
Why are minds like Mr Fauklner, Castro, Noel, many others to include Garvey, Ms. Mottley, Williams Nkhrumah and others not pesent in our current political arena?
Many today are chosing money, personal wealth and even power over the ultimate future of the people and country. None is chosing country or soveriegnity.
Chose you your demise. I chose freedom.
Up to less than one hundred years ago over fourteen countries, led by the UK and America, had open human zoos, where the exhibis were not animals, but little Black girls and little Black boys.They were exhbited as a lower class and form of animal not human.
And today, many in those countries and all over Europe still the view the Black man as less than human.
Yet there those who still thinks that all other people should be subjected to the whims of the children of slave holders, colonialist, neocolonialist and vehemently racist people against the Black man.
But if one is not one hndred Black, one can never relate to the struggle ofthe Blackman, but will sell imout at every occassion. The Premier must brace for that kind of mentality.
Herin is a glimpse into a horrfic brutal past that is still informing modernity, and where some young minds appear oblivious to, but are seeking the crown to lead over a billion Black people back into the furnaces of oppression and not liberation.
Gd help us.
Just the other day we had a premier that was willing to sell out our port to the drug kartel he wasted millions of taxpayer dollars, appointed his cronies strategically to facilitate corruption and have control over entities he should not have influence on. the uk put us through a process that ultimately left us having to put measures in place to make sure that kind of abuse never happen again. Every one of our local politicians had/ have a problem with it. Personally not wanting independence right now for the bvi has nothing to do with love for the white man colonial masters or concern that we can’t make it on our own; I simply can’t trust these man to run the bvi in the best interest of bvi without nobody to answer to. I love the bvi too much to see it completely in the hands of the enemies of transparency and good governance. If these man get their way the bvi is done for we going to be Haiti in 10 years maybe less. I have zero faith that we will prosper as an independent nation not because we can’t but because these man have no vision no strategy and their primary objective is to take and get whatever they can get most of them have dual citizenship when the place turn to Haiti they going to just pack up their children and collect their fat pension they done set up for themselves and leave.