Premier denies selecting independence as sole option for BVI
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has dismissed claims that he is unilaterally steering the BVI towards independence after being questioned by Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn in the House of Assembly recently.
Walwyn challenged the Premier over the direction of self-determination discussions, questioning whether the public had been adequately consulted on the various options available.
“When the Premier speaks of self-determination, he speaks specifically of independence, which is one of the tenets of self-determination,” Walwyn said. “Who gave him the authority to determine, on behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands, which form of self-determination they prefer?” Walwyn asked.
Premier Wheatley pushed back against the assertion, stating that the people of the BVI always had a choice in determining their future. “I have expressed on many occasions in public forums that the people of the Virgin Islands have a choice as it pertains to what option they choose,” he said. “No one can accuse me of seeking to push one or the other. I can express my preference and my choice, but we all have choices as it pertains to this.”
Walwyn, however, pressed the Premier on whether he had indeed consulted the public on the available options before presenting a path forward. “That should have been the very first question. These are the options— which one do you prefer? And based on what you say to me, I take my marching orders and move accordingly,” he argued.
Referendum required
The exchange occurred amid a broader debate on self-determination, following recommendations from a United Nations visiting mission to the territory in August 2024. The mission’s report outlined steps towards decolonisation, including implementing a national education campaign, discussions with the United Kingdom, and considering a referendum.
Wheatley reiterated that any change in the BVI’s status would require a referendum. “Before taking any steps to change status, there must be a referendum where the population express their wish and their view. The government cannot take the Virgin Islands to any change in status, it has to be something that the people of the Virgin Islands agree with,” he explained.
The Premier also underscored that the current governance arrangement between the BVI and the UK is not an option for long-term self-determination. “Our present arrangement is not an option. Our present arrangement is colonialism,” he said, referring to a report by international governance expert Carlyle Corbin, which highlighted a democratic deficit in the territory due to the governor’s unelected authority.
The debate comes amid ongoing constitutional discussions and concerns over the BVI’s long-term governance structure. The UN visiting mission recommended that an education programme be implemented to inform the public about independence and other self-determination pathways before any formal decision is made.
Wheatley assured the House that his administration would continue consulting the people.
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Hon. Walwyn is right. This is exactly what he is doing. Hon. Wheatley and his brothers believe they own the BVI. He has not come to the people to ask what form of self determination they want. Everything out his mouth is independence. Did anyone tell him that we want independence?
Clearly, the elephant in the room is a referendum, that should be the starting point for everything related to self determination and independence. Don’t waste government and everyone else’s time, carry out a referendum immediately and get this dealt with once and for all.
A referendum cannot be initiated without first presenting the facts. The public must be informed about the benefits and drawbacks before they can make an educated decision.
No, the last thing needed here is a sales pitch, people are not stupid, let them work it out for themselves and vote like democracies do in elections.
It’s disheartening to see the BVI continue to lag behind while other Caribbean islands make strides in development. We need to wake up and take a good look around us—simple initiatives like airport expansion seem to be stuck in limbo. The UK has shown little interest in our affairs, and if we follow the broader news, it’s clear they can’t even manage their own issues, let alone dictate our future.
However, the public also fails to engage with the government. Many hardly participate in public forums yet are quick to post anonymous comments on news sites. This lack of active involvement undermines our ability to influence decisions that affect our lives. As Myron Walwyn pointed out, the public should have been engaged from the start. We must demand transparency and active participation in discussions about our self-determination. Without that, we risk being left behind while others in the region move forward.
If one is intelligent, forward looking and not of a UK and pale servant, or house negro slave mentality, believe in one’s political, personal, financial, human and future freedoms then, there would be no need to ask anyone anything. One would have already taken those and started developing them since emancipation.
Instead, we sopport every nationality, their businesses, political ideas, their hatreds and ill conversations of us, and never support our own, acondition deepely rooted in the psychological control mechanisms of slavery.
There are still to many house n++ers running around here, none of which has the genuine interest of this country and Black people at heart.
Meanwhile, just as the UK people, the Tortolian people, given their brutal historic and colonial past, and given their membership in the human race, deserve every bit of autonomy that the British people hold so personal and dear.
We deserve to be free to chart our own course forward just as the Brits, Europeans and others are.
I have lived on this rock for almost seventy years now, and say good American bad American, there are good and bad in everyone, were it not for them, we would stillbe eating rock stones and driking sea water for nutrition.
Therefore, why should we remain under a colonial and neocolonial boot on the neck for ever? Didn’t George Flyodd pay the ultimate to teach us to be vigilent with our earthly existence? The UK nor EU man will never acquiesce to our full freedom minus our total extermination from earth.Those are the historical facts.
So, go on and put your distaste for truth and facts in the orm most represent you, a thumb down.
Don’t you stupid British Virgin Islanders prefer internal government control from the British Administration in the UK and military defense from the British Administration in the UK. Crime would increase if the BVI becomes independent of the UK and human rights abuse would become rampant if the British Virgin Islands become independent of the UK. Why not work along with the British Administration to end racism and prejudice and bigotry and biasness between the British Virgin Islands and the UK without any outside influence from any other nation and just work along with the British Administration only. Why not work together for human rights and equal rights and justice and freedom and civil liberty for everyone in the British Virgin Islands and for all British Virgin Islanders.
Every statement by yhe ptemier is for indepence. Every push with UN, is indepence. Not interested in follwing other things UN wants for VI like gay rights.
He atill pushing. He has ruked out another of the. Hoices. Staying as we are. Why is that ruked out if it is for the people to decide. He is lying to us.
Read this article:
https://www.stabroeknews.com/2025/01/31/business/the-caribbean-gives-lie-to-the-notion-that-achieving-political-independence-always-results-in-faster-national-economic-development/?utm_source=whatsappbtn&utm_medium=whatsapp&utm_campaign=whatsapp_send&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2eAVH9dp91lXtmuoLVU1H0E5P09_Mb5w8XPmBz3MKxz7M8S5WNTAIU0jc_aem_teYPpbhU85jRnrCiK3ZgeA
So the public is crazy for getting the impression that the premier is pushing for independence? Is there any realistic outcome of bvi getting to do whatever it feel like without the uk having a say while retaining all the advantages of being a British overseas territory? Does the public trust our politicians, policies, regulations and procedures and justice system enough to feel like self determination /independence is a good idea? They tryn make it sound like it’s going to be all good afterwards like is the uk and colonialism holding us back is why nothing going on.
You are gravely mistaken and even living in another mental era.
First, racism, prejudice, bigotry and biasness against Black and African people have been dispensed upon them since the 1600’s. They are now a part of the DNA of the so called white. man.
Hatred and discrimination are today’s tools that keep domination firmly in their hands, and the media is used to fool many,thus the comment seen from uninformed minds.
Last,why not ask the UK man and woman t rid their minds and heart of Black hatred, racism and prejudices? Why not demand from the UK gretaer human rights for the people inside of it borders insted of massive deportation?
Why not ask the UK to give greater civil liberties to the Black Africans and Caribbean Nationals i the UK?
Hypocrisy is such a blunt instrument often unable to hide its own bluntness.
Why not work together for human rights and equal rights and justice and freedom and civil liberty for everyone in the British Virgin Islands and for all British Virgin Islanders.
BVI is not going to make it out we are doomed by the colonial mentality that has been programmed into us. All that the oppressors need to do to derail our train to freedom is to chant the COI and other manufactured narratives that have us under their spell. This is such a sad situation.
Doomed: You have submitted absolute facts, yet our people will not smell nor taste the sweet smell and taste of the trths.
The communities even your supporters are disgusted and disappointed with the priorities you give way to even at the displeasure of the society
You are a head strong person
Yes Walwyn and many others in the leadership role including your own Cabinet. You want independence that is what you called self determination . Only Walwyn has the ghuts to come out and day it .
Marlon has balls too, but he is a bit more cautious
BVI should just join the UK as another county like the Isle of Wight. No more governor, premier, politicians, etc. just a small group of city counselors to run the county. Of course as a county belongers are abolished and all UK nationals are free to come here, buy property, work any time and vote in county and national elections.
France has their overseas departments, US has their overseas states so UK should have its overseas counties in this 21st century.