Premier hints at public campaign on self-determination
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has hinted that a public campaign could be coming to educate the nation on the legacy of colonisation and push for greater self-determination — a matter that has been central to his administration’s mission.
Speaking on the Virgin Islands Voice broadcast this week, the Premier revealed that he intends to ramp up public conversations around emancipation, decolonisation, and the BVI’s political future.
“I’m going to be speaking a lot more about emancipation,” he said. “Persons have called on us to have more of a conversation with the community about colonialism, decolonisation, self-determination, and I’m going to be speaking to persons about that.”
Dr Wheatley said the dialogue has already begun, referencing his remarks at the 2025 Emancipation March and Celebration Service.
“If people didn’t hear what I had to say … it’s a good idea to go back and listen to it. Perhaps we could play that speech on the radio, so persons can remember what was said. We’re gonna have some conversations about emancipation, decolonisation, and self-determination — so that is on the way.”
Greater self-determination has been one of the defining policy themes of Premier Wheatley’s tenure. Since taking office, he has repeatedly argued that the BVI must shed the constraints of its non-self-governing status and establish a more modern political arrangement with the UK.
Though this doesn’t mean full independence, the leader has maintained that there are a number of options, such as free association, that would give the BVI more control over its internal affairs.
Over the past three years, he has:
- Declared that “we’re not fully free” while denouncing colonialism as morally indefensible.
- Pushed for constitutional reforms to close what he calls the “fundamental contradiction” in the BVI’s governance arrangement with the UK.
- Stressed that while he personally supports independence, no decision will be made without a referendum.
The move towards public dialogue about self-determination comes amid lingering scepticism from some sections of society about whether the territory is ready for greater autonomy or independence.
Critics, including some members of the House of Assembly, have questioned whether the push for self-determination has broad public backing and whether residents fully understand its economic and governance implications.
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All because of the pressure coming from Hon. Walwyn and the opposition on it. Natalio and his brother believe they own the BVI. Who gave them the right to go to the UN on our behalf without our approval looking for independence? This man has to go.
The primire need to go.
We welcome the Premier’s call for national dialogue on emancipation, decolonisation, and self-determination. But let it be clear, such discussions must be grounded in transparency, not advocacy. The full spectrum of options from enhanced autonomy to free association and full independence must be laid bare, with their respective pros and cons weighed honestly and without political imposition. The people deserve a conversation, not a conversion.
Will this mean the premier giving up his us passport?
must be
No. You only talk of Independence. You Campaign will be aimed at brainwashing people you have labeled led “dumb” VIslanders because they don’t understand.
Now you want to Campaign. That is not the same as educating.
You have only one goal Independence and Dictatorship. Fraser even referred to Dictatorship Government in the COI.
Here you are carry forward Colonial style Government disguised as Independence.
Fortunately the VI people are not dumb and they know despite your Campaign there are other and most likely better choices.
Choices that fit better with the UN C24 and Self Determination than your idea for at new Colonial Dictatorship.
Self Determination and Indepence are not the same thing as you pretend.
The UN and the VI people and the UK all no that.
There is only one dumb person in the conversation and that be P487 the VI’s very own I Govern in SECRECY Dictator.
for the small ignorant minority who supports these politicians and their independence plans….. i just wanna remind you
USA No longer taking birth right as citizenship…..
Your future generations has no access to UK Esther
yall will be another little Santo Domingo running from bvi to find a better life with your limited passport so you might end up running places legally too…what a sight that will be!
anyways my plans done set i done got my dual citizenship of bvi/uk so i will be running UK if that turns ever comes
i hope when the politicians get independence and take yall money and deposit it into another bank of asia yall will learn but it will be too late. good luck. only the elites and their family and friends will survive.
only way i see bvi thriving is with that 3rd pillar going into overdrive and them actually investing for the betterment of the community as a whole but even that comes with a lot of cons (killings, betrayals, fights, greed etc etc)
btw for independence here’s a list:
we have no military! i guess the drugman an 13 yr olds going be the military lmfao
our “Reliable power, water, waste management.” is a complete joke. (sweage literally running on the roads, water always out and digging up roads, and electricity??? big sunny tropics and no investment in alternatives with big lines running over we head like Philippines
our “Public health systems and hospitals.” are a joke
our “Education Schools, vocational training, universities” are a joke (sex drugs at schools, gangs, someone almost brought a gun, 13 yr olds with ak 47, youths going to listen to artist singing about sex drugs gangs and violence)
what will be yall national dollar? vi dollar? or USD (DOUBT). will vi dollar have a good trade value despite not having any exports??? also USD value is droppinggg
we got a Skilled workforce?? → In government, finance, healthcare, education, etc. check the government sites……… they struggling to find local skilled works gotta outsource! cuz them neglect the youths! everyone wanna be rapper,gangster,drug lord, small business owner targetting youths and sending a message about 3rd pillar life, prostitutes’, babymamas for criminals, party animals
Civil service → Trained administrators to run ministries and programs. have yall seen our civil services? rate there performance on scale 1-10 (locals only no visitors who dont see them on a day to day basis)
Transparency & anti-corruption measures → Build trust in the new state. —-do i really need to say anything on this?? bank of asia, bi water, airplane scheme, pier park scheme, eshs wall, head coach???, covid grants, scholarships, plenty business in money laundering, coco port, barges to patrol waters, young people with fast boats and rental business but no job or credit history, cops arrested for helping drugman, a song played out during corona “stop that watchy watchy”….., etc etc etc
Cultural & National Identity………have yall seen wa the younger generation deem as the new bvi culture???? people with mask that has peep holes resembling gunman…. we always have dudes dress as banker robbers with fake guns in them hands…..minors dress like prostitutes, artist sing vulgar songs about sex, drugs, gangs and violence (google dancehall music), performing sex acts on the roads in public, burning weed like them dont have no plans for the future, fights breaking out over woman/man/gang wars etc, minors drinking rum and fainting from alcohol poisoning…………………………………………………..while their parents present!!!
International Relationships—– who we got? caricom? and all the corrupt Caribbean countries? lol! wa all them flights out the country was for? jokessss
Stuffing those white envelopes, come and get it.
No phones/cameras to take photos of voting sheets should be allowed in booths.
Slavery destroyed us and built the great and rich nations of today.
Religion divided us and divided we are laughing stocks.
Ignorance controls us as it rules what should be our intellect.
Truth scares us and we fear it.
Fear imprisons us because we do not know it.
The narrow thinker feels that the outcome of independence would be the loss of our ability to create, manage, or negotiate safety for ourselves.
Shut up
I see lots of things we could lose. The finance business, tourism, investment, the passport, etc . We know the corruption would rise, gang warfare would become worse. Imagine there had been no one to help when the prisoners broke out after Irma.
What we would gain is some notional idea of “ freedom “. To do what?
I have to be convinced that the majority of lives would be somehow better.
That is going to be a hard sell.
you can run back to america
Waste of time.
We ain’t interested.
Raise yuh hand if you want to lose your U.K passport.
Go sit down.