‘Natural tension’ always existed between BVI and UK
Although many locals have expressed fears that tensions between elected leaders and the UK government could negatively impact the BVI, Deputy Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said such tensions are natural and have always existed.
Dr Wheatley was speaking at the Wreath-laying & Commemorative Celebration for the late Hamilton Lavity Stoutt, held on March 1. He said the tension stems from the BVI’s desire to be in control of its destiny.
Dr Wheatley also said this desire has existed since Africans were forcibly brought to the BVI as slaves. The minister further said this desire is evident with each constitutional review where greater autonomy over local affairs is sought.
“And I submit to you, Your Excellency The Governor (Rankin) — who I like a lot — that we have always had a natural tension between the United Kingdom and the aspirations of the people of the Virgin Islands. A natural tension between moving forward and staying exactly where we are,” Dr Wheatley stated.
He continued: “And it’s important for us to have a good relationship, it’s important for us to be polite with each other and to be cordial … But I submit to you that there is a natural tension between moving forward as a people and staying exactly where we are. And the people of the Virgin Islands, as I have examined it year by year, continue to have the desire to move forward as a people,” Dr Wheatley stated.
The Deputy Premier’s statement comes amid criticism from Opposition Leader Marlon Penn and some members of the public that the Andrew Fahie-led government is projecting unprecedented hostility towards the UK.
The subject of greater political control remains a controversial one in the BVI. While some agree with giving greater control to elected leaders, some call for greater oversight from the UK government as they demand openness and transparency from elected leaders.
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Could you please shut up and go do some work. Everything under you is a mess. A mess! The education system has gone 10 steps backwards since you became the minister. What you are supposed to be talking about you are not. Take the money from the badge (360k) and buy furniture for the school children. Do some work!
Slavery abolished a long time so stop with you nonsense
Is you ppl in the bvi treating the expats as slaves
Ayo keep bringing up old stories and some of the foolish ppl believing y’all
Stop blaming the UK the are not the problem here the vip is
Is everyday ayo get some nonsense to say
Blame Game
You learned how to type ayo and think you from here now stop masquerading it’s insulting.
I see nothing wrong with the ministers speech at the memorial of our first prime minister, it was very relevant.
Mr Natalio Wheatley even if those tensions existed they were never so blatant and outright disrespectful in the public eye. The actions and words of this administration are so tasteless and shows the lack of experience from you so called leaders its a disgrace. You can disagree behind closed doors and be more tactful in doing so. Your administration needs to do better and stop making excuses for your poor leadership skills and inexperience on international affairs.
My God, I wish this cat would just shut his mouth! Nothing that comes out of it seems to have any relevance whatsoever, and if there ever is any ‘relevance’ to his comments they’re generally laced with divisiveness and propaganda designed to darken the skies so he can slip back into the shadowy corners he and his enablers all hide in!
Wheatley, Yes there have been tensions between the UK and the BVI but I have never seen it taken so far until the Andrew Fahie government got in power, Andrew Fahie took it as far as complaining the UK to the UN tell me that you have seen this before. Yes, there has always been tensions but not to this extent your boss thinks that he has the power to bully the UK but he is going to lose this battle even with CARICOM behind him because most of them are no better than him.
The BVI needs a change from this government and fast because we are sinking fast. All of a sudden there is all this talk about slaves is this all you have.
You like the new governor until he doesn’t side with you on something; you guys are so tow-faced.
From what I read and from what I learn from talking to people we don’t want to move away from the UK the government would like that because you won’t have anyone to answer to. We were doing good until two viruses hit us and the worse one was the Andrew Fahie government.
I can go on and on but the bottom line is the people don’t want independence and the people don’t want Andrew Fahie government, and you need to do your job and see to the education of our children.
Tensions will always exist in these types of situations but they must be handled properly. You think Lavith, Ralph and Orlando did not have issues with the governors who came here? They had them all the time but they were diplomatic about this. Andrew has totally embarrassed the BVI with his low class, back of the yard, arrogant and down right stupid behavior. And then he had Claude on the radio every afternoon spouting pure foolishness and cussing the governor and the British. This is not the kind of leadership we need. If youNatalio has any kind of common sense you would not defend that way of doing things
BVI High School ??????????
Education has gone to the dogs since you took over as minister. All you have is talk and can’t do nothing. We don’t want no lecture from you we want some work done to improve the education system. Where are the furniture for the schools? You have been minister for 2 years and you have nothing to show. Education down, agriculture fully buried now, fisheries non-existent. What a failure. Just a talker
It’s pretty clear that Fahie and co have an agenda that includes getting rid of the UK , getting unrestricted access to the cookie jar, closing businesses that compete with their or their crony’s businesses or having their cronies take over businesses bankrupted by their policies.
Pretty much the Robert Mugabe style of government.
Well said.
YOU ARE NOTHING MORE THAN THE PREMIER LACKEY, YOU NEED TO TURN IN YOUR KEYS AS WELL AND EXIT THE BUILDING AS WELL. OH, ONE MORE THING, DON’T FORGET TO TURN IN THE KEYS TO MY RIDE THAT YOU ARE SHOWING OFF IN.
That is why he was picked to be Deputy Premier. LACKEY.
This is my opinion, KYE, A LITTLE EH SOMETIMES BUT HE IS ALWAYS ON HIS GRIND. HE WAS MORE SUITED TO BE THE DEPUTY PREMIER.
I had a meeting once with this guy. Face to face for one hour. Topic: agricultural planning. Totally i******tent. Totally…
Tension is one thing. Blatant disrespect and aggression is another.
Be reminded here and of the following:
The UK, other European nations and countries and America were and still are, to a large extent, engage in violent, murderous and other political aggression and disrespect especially against Black people for centuries and up to this very moment
Further, British white citizens and others blog vile, racist, hateful, hatred and disrespect for Black Virgin Islanders daily on this comment site.
British citizens walk the roads of these lands daily and pass the local with the utmost of human indifference and disdain for them.
So don’t come here talking that reverse psychology nonesense. Begin cleaning your own humanity.
Hence, it is just blatantly cruel and false to now accuse Black Virgin Islanders elected leaders of being aggresive and disrespectful.
Idiot
One person can’t handle the truth and resorts to name calling. Lots of foreigners on these sites causing mischief. Why do they feel entitled to do this?
Because you feel entitled to pull the race card EVERY time you don’t like something
Seems like ‘Natural ignorance’ always existed in you
THESE POLITICAL FIGURES IN THE BVI IS TRYING TO BE ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE POLITICAL BIG BOYS IN THE US.
Natalio wears me out mentally.It just goes to show that having a doctoral degree does not necessarily mean one is intellectually competent.
Wheatley is a “natural” sleeper
Please for everyones benefit. Split ways, Britain wil be better for it. BVI will have self determination. Everyone happy, especially the Chinese for when the British will no longer be in the way. Happy happy happy
No Sir, these tensions did not exist…..until you created them.
There is always tension between britain and overseas teritories, but the way your government is handling it is “Ghetto”. No Strategy, no charisma, no diplomcy,, “U all acting Ghettoish”. Not good.
“Ghetto”. No Strategy, no charisma, no diplomacy
Yea that’s how the last governor behaved. He let his feelings get the best of him and became petty that he was not in control of the pandemic response. it became personal and his reputation was also tarnished.
he continually reached for more power while landing in hot water as a racist messenger by upholding the norms of white supremacy.
He was not a good governor for us as a Caribbean territory with his mental complex.
Just reading this, how many of the 7 do you follow? One or two?! Ha ha https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life–2?fbclid=IwAR2gtTuv1-B8gmfyOpuOcunRIzJk7gUv6XNhThIGT12icJ5tbM_YlOOAx8I
@ Hey Fahie, which 1 or 2 are you talking about? Inquiring mind wants to know
The problem is some power hungry persons want to move away from UK so that there will be no one to check when they do wrong. Some do not believe in law and order. That is why we have so many problems in the island. such as crime.
No crime in England?