Our people don’t trust us to take them to independence — Malone
Territorial At-Large Representative Carvin Malone has concluded that residents do not believe today’s political leaders can move the BVI forward into independence.
While appearing on the Honestly Speaking radio show yesterday, Malone discussed research commissioned by the United Nations, which showed that residents of several overseas territories under the United Kingdom’s (UK) rule are not inclined towards gaining independent status.
“It is said that the UK has felt that whether it is Bermuda, Turks and Caicos, Caymans, BVI, Anguilla, Monserrat; it does not seem as if there’s any appetite by the majority of the population to go that other step,” Malone said.
He added: “They would rather stay as British Overseas Territories, without removing the particular governor as the one who represents the queen and the UK.
The radio show’s host, Claude Skelton Cline then pressed Malone about his thoughts on the conclusions of the research.
“I’m saying if you put it to the vote today, we fail,” Malone replied. “We fail because the governance of our people, by our people… our people don’t trust us to do this.”
‘UK pushing a false narrative’
Malone further said the UK has been peddling a narrative which he said is to blame for the mistrust. The first-term legislator also suggested that there was some complicity on the part of Virgin Islanders in coming to that state.
“So we have a duty today to let our people know that this is a false narrative,” he argued. “We can get ourselves pulled together, we have the gravitas … to go and make it right.”
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“our people don’t trust us”
100% correct.
Thank you.
Name one Caribbean country which has benefitted from independence.
All the most successful countries in the Caribbean maintain close ties with the UK (BVI, Cayman, Turks, etc).
Even if we had the resources to go independent, it will only negatively affect us.
All former British independent nations in the Caribbean are doing better than they were as British colonies. Statistics prove that.
The British hardly financially support their colonies and are very cheap.
So whatever “success” the current UK Colonies possess is due to their local efforts.
Fear of independence is, psychologically, “fear of the unknown.”
He came outta deh woods and hit the nail on the head
this dude does need to be voted back into any position. Independance is what is on his mind with so many suffering to pay bills and eat?? Hmm speak volumes if you ask me.
YOU GOT THAT PART RIGHT , AND WE LEARNT THE HARD WAY FROM YOU SET OF WANNABE ARISTOCRATS / AND THE REST IS HISTORY
Just needs to shut up. We are sick and tired of him now.
Always everyone else’s fault. Conspiracies, and delusions! Just look in the mirror, and accept the fact that it is the politicians, like you, that betray the public’s purse along with their trust and goodwill.
If our elected elite could be trusted to lookout for the common person, and this community’s future, I am all but certain the majority would consider voting for independence should they be presented with a valid and well planned argument that could sustain such a decision. To date, nothing remotely palatable has been presented to the voting public by those that clamor for independence. No one yet has made the argument that a country of our size could actually achieve such a thing to the benefit of all. Not just to those that wish to drain the public money for their own gain while telling us that we are blinded.
In reality, whatever way you skin this cat, the patterns of the past do not give any of the citizens of this Territory the slightest confidence it won’t get a whole lot worse in the hands of those that are currently elected versus the UK.
If we are to be better off independent I suggest you stop with the nonsensical and divisive rhetoric (that most can see right through), and actually present a sound argument that makes sense. Until such a time, none of us will take you seriously, and continue to shake our respective heads at the depth our public representatives have sunk both our home and themselves to.
Right now, all we hear is your unarticulated argument for unfettered access to the cookie jar while accusing the public of having Stockholm Syndrome.
We don’t trust you! Agreed.
But it isn’t because someone else is “peddling a narrative”. We don’t trust the government because you took advantage of us for all these years and it wouldn’t have stopped if a higher authority couldn’t step in and investigate on the people’s behalf!
WOW!!
“Malone further said the UK has been peddling a narrative which he said is to blame for the mistrust.”
Once again this government official has proven to lack accountability when it comes to their action.
Tell me, how is “mistrust” linked to blaming the UK
now, so we the people cant see what the government leaders have been doing with the People’s funds?
Malone come on
LOLOLOL!
Don’t trust you all to fix the roads….. is independence? Child, please…
You guys can’t even give us proper roads now imagine us independent, we would be worse off than haiti
We don’t.
When are these people going to stop trying to force independence down our throat. You all have proven not to be trustworthy both VIP and NDP cleaning out the cookie-jar for yourselves and your cronies. What about this RDA supposedly ensuring that we receive value for our money, approving 1 Million Dollar elevators?
The only reason for independence is so the rich can get richer. there would be no oversight regarding the drug trade or human smuggling. the people in government could steal more money for themselves. vote for higher pay, higher pensions, better healthcare for themselves.there is no negative in being a territory, we get help with police and boarder control. education and if we swollowed some pride and asked they would help out with other things.
“We fail because the governance of our people, by our people… our people don’t trust us to do this.”
This is a very true statement.
“the UK has been peddling a narrative which he said is to blame for the mistrust.”
This is a lie. Look in a mirror to see who is to blame
RDA got rid da white people innit..
The truth is that we are to blame for the situation we now find ourselves in. That said, the Uk played its part to get us here because Governor’s sat in Cabinet meetings as Chair and allowed many of the terrible decisions to be made that will have lasting consequences for the BVI. Reform is a must, however, the people of the BVI must chart the course for the BVI, not the UK.
Absolutely correct. Trust is earned. You never gained it from us
Independence? Fix your house before you fix ours
That the Premier was arrested for drug dealing is hardly the fault of the Uk
Neither is the ongoing roll of financial scandals from the Wall through the Planes to the Solar Panels.
Nor is the ongoing murder spree anything to do with them.
One of the most honest statement you ever made .You are so correct..Here is the question for you Carvin. Why?
False Narrative that the UK Pushing? this man delusional… he still cant accept that he was part of the worst government we ever had.
“
Name one Caribbean country which has benefitted from independence.”.
Mexico?
Let’s be clear, my only aim is to develop a BVI on which we agree. I wish to fight only for what our people desire. I’ll continue to give the facts of the choices and you will continue to decide. The difference is that you’ll have the facts on which to decide. Our people have worked hard to get us to where we are today and their efforts must not be undervalued by anyone. This I’ll always defend.
When the head official of the territory is in the US on money laundering and drug charges, and, the head of Customs is sent home, is it any wonder the people do not trust their government.
The upcoming election should also include a vote on the UK taking control versus the election of a new government, let the people decide once and for all.
Cant go independant if we cant feed our selves or even make our own water lol
As a BVI Lander, I could only imagine how the ex-pats and the outside world view us. The BVI is arguably one of the most successful islands in the Caribbean financially. Why would we ever think about going independent? The only reason these politicians want independence is, so they do not have big mama looking over their shoulder, but the funny thing is, these politicians don’t get lock up. Could you fandom if they have no one??? Have mercy on the common man.
As a BVI Lander, I could only imagine how the ex-pats and the outside world view us. The BVI is arguably one of the most successful islands in the Caribbean financially. Why would we ever think about going independent? The only reason these politicians want independence is, so they do not have big mama looking over their shoulder, but the funny thing is, these politicians don’t get lock up. Could you fandom if they have no one??? Have mercy on us, the common man.
Wow. Honestly, it seems like Hon. Malone had a certain politician sitting on him to the point that he couldn’t speak. Every single one of them sat and watched money disappear and assisted in bad decisions to the detriment of the people in this country and said nothing, not a word. Now Hon. Malone knows how to move over to the Opposition. He knows how to run his mouth for every news feed. It is so astonishing. At least the others continue to not say a doggone thing because that is the best way to go. They are inept. They have no idea what to do. They are lost and we the people has already seen and already knows. Doing favours for a few will not get you all reelected. No. No. No. When it counted, when that $40 million was taken from the Social Security Board and was spent in 40 days and not on anything that we can see on the ground, when it was time to vote on Bills giving themselves a pension in only four years, when their compandres on top of that went to the House again and again for clearance to take another big fat contract, we heard nothing from not one of them. No one said let us fix the roads, put some of that money into Public Works to assist with road works, for portable water, etc. Nothing. Dead silence. Well, it is too late now, Hon. Malone. Head Coa** sat his big behind on all of you all for 3.5 years and to be frank, we have been in the pressure cooker and frankly, Hon. Malone and all you others, we are done. Silence is appreciated, especially on important issues like Independence of this Country.
especially him crossing the floor when he lose the minister seat…always looking power…no way in h**l.
Tortola has no army, so going independent we done get taken over. What we have to go independent on, salt water or sand? Makes absolutely no sense. How about this pay off Tortolas debt and become debt free from the UK then let’s talk. Can’t go independent and the government still borrowing money Ha Das a joke.
BIG BELLY, you couldn’t even be trusted to get us out of the woods. Is independence u gon achieve???? Struuuups !!! U made a much with covid and covid vaccine crap, now u get demoted after u have RUINED lives !!!! I don’t even hear from the new Health Minister. Because he ain’t pressing for that covid and vaxxx crap !!! ALOT of blood and tears on your hands !!!
If these Politicians treat us like this and we are not independent, imagine if they have no accountability to anybody. They would job the whole bank while we can’t do anything but watch.
Which stats are you referring to? These ones tell a different story:
Top 10 Richest Caribbean Countries 2022
10. St Martin – $25,000
9. Antigua and Barbuda – $27,542
8. Saint Kitts and Nevis – $29,098
7. Anguilla – $29,493
6. Trinidad and Tobago – $33,026
5. The Bahamas – $33,516
4. British Virgin Islands (BVI) – $34,200
3. US Virgin Islands (USVI) – 34,899 USD
2. Cayman Islands – $64,103
1. Bermuda – $85,748
Governor does not get a vote in Cabinet. Decisions rammed through to benefit the Cabinet and their cronies. That’s why the COI was called. Perhaps if the Governor DID have a vote in Cabinet, or even better a veto, BVI wouldn’t have got in such a mess.