Premier equates constitutional suspension with slavery
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has equated the prospect and threat of the BVI’s constitution being partially and temporarily suspended with the enslavement of Africans by European colonisers.
The current administration averted that constitutional suspension when it joined forces with the political opposition to form the coalition ‘Government of National Unity’ and agreed with the United Kingdom (UK) on a framework document for implementing the 48 other recommendations proposed in the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report.
“The thought of the constitution being suspended makes me think of slavery. It makes me think that I’m being treated as a slave and that I am being regarded as someone in chains,” Premier Wheatley said while speaking in the House of Assembly (HOA) recently.
He continued: “I think of it as that type of act; an imperial colonial act in the same type of spirit that slavery was being conducted and my reaction is to fight against this type of slavery in this colonialism.”
In the face of threats faced by the territory, Dr Wheatley said he was disappointed that there are still persons who choose to fight against each other instead of fighting together against these acts.
“I ask myself how much has changed since the days when we were fighting against each other for the benefit of European slavers,” the Premier said.
The Premier previously said he is against the parliamentary Order in Council placed in reserve by the UK. This reserved order will allow the suspension of the constitution to be swiftly enacted if the reforms are delayed unjustifiably or not implemented as agreed. At the time, he suggested that the UK should abandon the business of suspending the constitution of its dependent territories.
Just recently, Governor John Rankin admitted that the Order in Council was being used as an insurance mechanism to ensure the government’s compliance with those reforms.
In the meantime, Premier Wheatley is set to meet with UK Overseas Territories (OT) Minister Jesse Norman who is expected to be in the territory over the next two days where the Premier said discussions will be had on the progress of agreed governance reforms and strengthening the economic resilience of the territory.
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Stop playing noel lloyd
How about you STFU about the UK and focus on delivering what you signed up for, and getting our house in order! Talk to us about how you are going to improve education, social services, infrastructure, cost of living, and bringing back our crumbling economy. Engage the private sector in initiatives and partnerships to advance our country. There are so many things you should be doing other than what is going on in the UK and distracting from what is really important.
All this talk does nothing to advance us as a country, and whining about what you agreed to and signed this country up for in order to gain power is something we have to accept. You did it! Add to that, whomever gets elected in 2023 has to abide by what you agreed as well. That’s set-in stone!
So, stop the misdirection and be the leader this country needs or step aside and let someone who gives a $hit about this country step up and do your job!
This is totally shameful of the premier, definenetely not getting my vote in the 7
IF YOU ARE IN FAVOUR OF THE UK SUPSPENDING THE CONSITUTION AND TAKING OVER PLEASE LIKE MY COMMENT
Play it again Sam
So you are just talking about Africans??
What about all the other good folk that call BVI home blue , red yellow, white or whatever, when is the racism stopping!
By the way the population is mixed and has traces from everywhere in the world.
just because someone has dark skin dosen’t make them African.
You have no one else to blame but yourself and the previous government.
I consider what the BVI Government has been doing as corruption, crime and fraud against their own people.
Criminals and fraudsters will always find a way to blame someone else..
Thank you, we must show a fighting spirit that will change the way things are done.
The question of timing of this statement if another topic, but good show..
of constitutional suspension equates to insurance like the Guv said. Revolution maybe connected but not enslavement.
When I was king of Mali I went on a pilgrimage to Mecca and took with me 12,000 slaves. This was roughly 400 years before the Europeans arrived and began to trade tools and weapons for people. Fast forward to 1981 and Mauritania, the nation in West Africa, became the last nation on Earth to abolish slavery.
Now it’s time to equate this regime with human slavery. You all have become Masters over the many years. Good try Mr. Wheatley. Nothing is going to stop what is coming.
Pathetic, just pathetic. Nowhere else in the Caribbean is this rhetoric as freely used and resorted to than in the BVI. The great Bob Marley sang ‘Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery’ however, in the BVI this is impossible due to irresponsible political and social leaders, who like to blame slavery for their inadequacies.
These politicians have suspended whichever laws or parts of the constitution that they wish for years and years. They all need to be suspended and a fresh bunch of leaders are required. They have been worse than the UK can ever be to the populace.
Mr. Premier please take your mind out of slavery and put your brain to work on implementing the COI recommendations. Wallowing in thoughts about slavery won’t help us. We need free-minded leaders who have vision for the future, not dwelling in the past. You are wasting your time but going to England to ask for removal of the order on council. Can’t you ask from here. You don’t know how to write letters or make phone calls. Wake up and do what needs to be done to get us out of the hole. It is not England’s fault that we are where we are today in terms of poor governance. Enough is enough now man.
Rain fall from the sky – UK fault
Lil Kareem forgot his lunch kit -UK fault
Fry plantain burn – UK fault
Your spouse cheating- UK fault
You ain’t bathe & smell like ramgoat- UK fault
The slaves didn’t do it to themselves. They were enslaved by other people. The BVI did it to itself by being institutionally corrupt. What happened to the billions of Government revenue since the 1980s?
Natalio Wheatley after what the COI showed us about corruption in the British the UK should have just taken over the BVI, but you and your brother found a way to convince them that you and your government will implement the 48 other recommendations proposed in the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report, know you are doing the same thing you did before Andrew was locked up talk about enslavement of Africans by European colonizers and putting the UK down but when you saw an opportunity for you to become Premier you dropped all your hate for a little while. You agreed with everything now you are back to your old tricks because you think with the UN and the OECS and whoever else behind you, you can start up with your crap again I hope the UK slam you and take over the BVI you are not fit for the job in any way. You are not doing anything to improve the BVI, all you and your government dose is talk talk while the people of the BVI suffer in more ways than one
man is fighting for his supper (salary)
What is wrong with this guy? A PHD and you did not learn SH**.
You put a government together and made promises to the UK and the people of the BVI and you still talking crap.
Sorry you made agreements with the UK. Now you want to go back on them. Time for the UK to suspend the Constitution and put the VI and its people back on the right road and lead us away from these lack lustre self serving leaders we have now and have had in the recent past. Need to look back to the good start we had with HLS and fix what went wrong.
Didacus Jules first I must ask you what business is this of yours, I have never before seeing so many people involved in the BVI business until the last 3 years. This is your statement.
Whether they are moving fast or slow, the responsibility has to be that of the government, the elected government, because that is part of the strengthening of democracy in the BVI, ultimately the wishes of the people of the BVI that must prevail and the British Government must be consistent on that,” he asserted. For one thing this is NOT AN ELECTED GOVERNMENT, and your so called ELECTED GOVERNMENT sing on for this without confronting the people of the BVI now he is crying to whoever will listen. Didacus Jules if you all are so good why do we have some many of Caribbean independent people living in the BVI as bad as all of you think we are they can make a living in the BVI and not there home. Why all of you don’t stay out of the BVI business? Just reading what you had to say you don’t know anything about the BVI.
He well know he is not up to the task that he signed up for. Now he is trying to make the people believe about slavery. If you knew you couldn’t do it why signed on the dotted line. Macack.
Are you trying to tell our youth if you fail blame it on someone else? I believe it is democracy and not slavery that got you where you are today. Now whether you are worthy of it is something else. Don’t blame but yourself.
Getting tired of racism card
The longer UK/Governor take to suspend the Constitution the bolder and more brazen the”Unity Government” becomes day by day. I am very disappointed that the situation has been allowed to go on so long. Where are the investigations, suspensions, sackings, prosecutions, demanded by the 48 recommendations?
BVI, blaming all faults.shortcomings on slavery since 1847
Wow!So many house n!gg@$ in the comment section.Get off the white mans d!(k people.
so basically the ridiculously poor way this country has been run especially for the last 3 years don’t matter and if the UK force yall to do better for the sake of the people and the future of the country its equal to slavery?
The handlers did not tell them to do anything like that. Soon you’ll see who’s running things. The truth will be revealed. Your Premieres have been running around taking charge of every aspect of the government themselves. What is hidden will be brought to light. Don’t expect the UK to be kind just cause the PREMIERE arrived. You know not the British. They already have their “long list ready and waiting”
I can only speak for myself. I am in favour of the paper being held in the Privy Council. Knowing the culture and the players of the BVI. I agree it is an Insurance to make them follow through on what the Government of National Unity signed for without our approval. The UK knows that the deadlines of some of the recommendations are a bit unrealistic and am sure is willing to work with them But not having that paper there is a no no.
Do the job you promised to do or please get out.
That was simply put ?/ I hope he get those other puppets who sat in the road and do like the cOach did and go on down ? their knees and really mean it / U cannot fool God
You have no right to disrespect the premier! Don’t be one track minded! A new strategy can see better results for the VI.
well he is correct about the statement in regard to feeling like slavery, as it is him and his people that have sold us yet again and now the UK needs to sort things out, they in office and before have sold us to this end, while they all roll about like rockstars in their multi million dollar houses, on governemt wages…..
READ ALL THE COMMENTS MINUS ONE OR TWO..THere is where 99% of the whyte people in the UK and the BVI truly stands.
Obviousy no mental or intellectual evolution have occured within them since the 16th century.. Sad, sad, sad indeed!
Do right for the people stop making us hungry .stop bullying us with these stupid speeches .
Just shocked these people are still in power, wasting 8 Million on lawyers instead of using it for the benefit of the country and then talking about slavery. You people are the one’s keeping us hardworking people enslaved.
Hi. Why interfere with an opponent when they’re doing a great job of self destructing. It’s a great movie!
Unfortunately the slaves in this instance are the residents and the slave masters those government officials who are corrupt and have been taking advantage. So in fact The Premier has enslaved us all and we are hoping the U.K. will save us from his slavery.
But as in all years the politicians will play the division us v them game to win votes. It’s shameful.
The race and slavery card that the ex prem was known for.
GAME OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get the snacks, sit back and enjoy.
Trow gas on fire…and see whappen !
Mesonn ya day’s done…. sorry for yu.
Africans sold their fellow beings to the European and so has the premier. Wasn’t he the one who orchestrated the arrangement?
Africans sold their fellow beings to the European and so has the premier. Wasn’t he the one who orchestrated the arrangement?
Your ex-premier is literally in prison for drug trafficking and you’re still blaming the white man for all your problems. Unreal.
Really. Your forefathers were taken from Africa in chains and became slaves for 4+ generations…and that is compatible to what!?
Govern the country. Do it in a way that is transparent.
Slavery…WTF!?
Mr Premier Sir, The people of the BVI want accountability and for the corruption to STOP! With the COI’s recommendation, it’s less likely for the corruption to continue! Playing the slavery card is just a red herring! This country should be far better off than it is right now. Independence breeds corruption so don’t even go there with that suggestion! Please get on with the job and stop complaining! If the COI didn’t step in the BVI was on the path to becoming natures little Narcos!
None sense, lies and projecting you are engaged in. However, there are many who know the truths.
1) Cuacasians/white/yhite or what ever your ancesters chose to call themselves sold and bought each other for centuries in slvery. That is fact.
2) 99% of the human beings that were placed onto ships bound for a brutal life of slavery were hunted down and kidnapped by white Europeans with guns and bullets. He did not need the African to sell him shyte! He was not that type of human to begin with. He took whatever he wanted from where ever he went by force, death and genocide. Those are the truths.
3) The 1% of Africans that left Africa to be thrown into slavery were usually prisoners of war. Some others were loaned out as domestics, a trick the white man played on the kings at the time. Those are the facts. Now go do some searching for literature with the truths, though hard to find, and learn those truths.
Your kind will not befooling us anymore.
Many persons never call BVI their home.after many years of benefitting…just here in transit I guess….
I don’t think this blogger is a BVIslander.
our politicians and the bizarrely prolific political commentators keep holding us back with this mindset but more importantly with their false equivalence, urinate all over the graves of those who were in actual slavery here and in the region, and those who remain enslaved and indentured and being trafficked around the world today – including those who are trafficked into the BVI