Residents should decide BVI’s fate
Governor Daniel Pruce said the future of the BVI and its pursuit of self-determination rests firmly in the hands of its people.
During a press conference late last week, the Governor emphasised residents’ crucial role in shaping the territory’s path forward, especially in light of ongoing governance reforms recommended by the Commission of Inquiry (COI).
When asked about the UK’s stance on the matter, Governor Pruce reiterated that the future status of the BVI is “guided by the people of the islands”.
“I think in relation to the British government’s perspective on Overseas Territories across the board, not just the Virgin Islands, that’s well known,” the Governor told reporters. “And the question of the future of the islands and the future status of the islands is something which is guided by the people of the islands. And I think the British government has had a consistent policy in that regard for many years.”
He added: “I think, as the [UK] government has stated consistently in a range of international fora in relation to the Virgin Islands and the other overseas territories, the key determining factor is the wishes of the people of the territories.”
Meanwhile, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has consistently advocated for the BVI’s constitutional advancement in recent years and repeatedly stated that the UK should be more open to the prospect of self-determination options for the territory. Last October, Dr Wheatley emphasised the importance of constitutional development and suggested the UK should grant more autonomy and devolve powers from the non-elected governor to the elected government or independent institutions in the BVI.
A recent visiting mission from the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24) engaged Governor Pruce. However, he declined to give details about those discussions. Premier Wheatley promised to inform the public about his meeting with the C-24 at a later time.
Last year, Premier Wheatley addressed the Fourth Committee during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He highlighted the importance of the annual UN resolution on the BVI as part of the UN’s broader mandate to decolonise the remaining 17 non-self-governing territories, including the BVI.
Premier Wheatley detailed the UN’s process for adopting the resolution, which involves input from territories at regional decolonisation seminars, drafting a resolution by the C-24, and subsequent approval by the UN’s Fourth Committee and the General Assembly.
He pointed out that while the United Kingdom, as the administering power, does not participate in the C-24, the BVI government actively engages in the process by sending representatives to these meetings. The Premier also emphasised the BVI’s commitment to self-determination and called for UN assistance in understanding options for achieving full self-government, including integration, free association, or independence.
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Right about now we need a snap election
The BVI needs help!
Get rid of these corrupt and lazy politicians as the country has ZERO future at the moment!
No to independence,
If thats what youre asking.
The future of the Islands and their people, though not in favor of the latter, lie not in the properganda of the UK,EU, US and their domineering cohorts for another thousand years, or their domiciling expats and spies.
Hence, along with immediate political, financial and educactional assistance, these islands need freedom to choose their path forward.
Amen.
Residents don’t have the right to vote AFIK. That said, it is true that voters decide on the fate of the Territory. They have done so on numerous occasions and consistently at that. Regardless of party, those elected have been unable to fix the problems of the Territory and have only perpetuated cronyism, corruption at the expense of the public purse for decades.
He added: “I think, as the [UK] government has stated consistently in a range of international fora in relation to the Virgin Islands and the other overseas territories, the key determining factor is the wishes of the people of the territories.”
If this is so, and if the UKis oeratingon clean and uright premises, how can one then account for the legislation being remmed through the HOA on a daily basis sure footing the UK interest in every aspect of the political and financial business of these Islands?
Seems quite arbitary and hypocritical, does it not?
Problem is these are not just corrupt politicians. It is a culture that’s deeply insecure. The people running this place are members of what, yesterday only, was a very small community where everyone knew everyone and most were related. Old time BVI people are desperate to hold on to that old time sense that whatever happens here is happening because they make it happen. They know what the right things to do are to make this territory better, but they won’t do anything that seems like it’s taking orders or even advice from outsiders. Meanwhile, the place is flooded with outsiders, so the more of them we have, the more our old timers dig in their heels to hold their ground and not let them dominate any aspect of life here. So it is a government stymied by the dictatorship of a tiny community, and wilfully opposing any advice or solutions from outside in case it makes them look like they are weak and under someone’s control.
It’s a recipe for disappearing dollars, an abundance of potholes in all of the infrastructure, and of course, government/civil service capture by the greedy/bullies/gangsters.
Insightful. To your point I would add that one of the obstacles is that privileged families who are benefitting from the current status don’t wan’t to give up on what they see as the golden goose, even if it means running the place down to rack and ruin. Lamentable, and to a certain extent cynical because continuance of the present way of doing things does not create much of a future to those from here, their own progeny.
We need a temporary UK take over to address the neglect and waste our government seems to be so good at.
That expensive road resurfacing equipment I have seen neglected and rusting on the side of the road by the salt water in Sea Cows Bay for the last few months is that owned by taxpayers? And is that the best we can do with the road?
No advancement in how this government misuses our money.
Poor you.
WE NEED THE UK TAKE OVER TO SAVE US.
“those elected have been unable to fix the problems of the Territory and have only perpetuated cronyism, corruption at the expense of the public purse for decades.”
The same identically true for all European, US and other capitalist nations worldwiide. None ae pure and squeaky clean.
Take the hypocrisy else where,
We almost became a narco state led by our then Premier. No thanks to independence. A population of 30,000 is very, very small. We can’t even protect our borders or supply police officers, teachers and nurses. And despite so many political representatives the island has many infrastructure and societal problems. I don’t get all this talk about independence. We would prefer an island that is well managed and that works for all. That should be the aim.
Mr. Pruce, you have been a disappointment to the BVI. Are you here enjoying the beach and the premier’s party that not even you have completed your part of the COI?
Governor Pruce, you are a complete disappointment to the BVI. What the F is going on? What exactly is going on between you and the Premier? We have to live here, when your term is up, you will be going back to the UK to live in your Country Estate.
Tortola Belong To Tortola People. Stop Dreaming It Ain’t Going To Happen. Not Then Not Now. Ayo Sick.
These white people believe dem brains big. That’s all I will say.
The only people saying no to independence are people not from here.
If you say not yet that means we continue working towards it.
If you say no, just plain out that means you are not appreciative of emancipation from slavery and what that truly means to be free. That means you can now tell the master to go find another ax to ride.
The same slave master culture is the one dictating our laws and failing to secure our borders. Then saying LOOK LOOK GUNS DRUGS, the same one set up the premier and said LOOK LOOK HIGH LEVEL CORRUPTION. Our own sold us out for trinkets yet again. Now in the form of worthless paper money.
To sell out you need two parties. A trickster willing to take the people for a ride(UK, USA) and someone willing to stab them in the back (ANDREW). But guess what under them (EX-SLAVE TRAFFICKERS), who claim to be saints we will have no ability to decide our fate.
As quickly as they sent soldiers in while we were under curfew, after Irma they will send soldiers in to accomplish their means. There is nothing stopping them except the value of their mask falling off.
The COI, order in Counsil, ministers traveling back and forth is all a distraction. Divide, set against each other, conquer.
Stop the bullcrap, every European nation believes in the right to self defense and defense of their nation. They do not leave it up to another across an ocean or act under a fairytale that we are all civilized because they know their own well.
WW2 is fresh in their mind and here today in 2024 we see how vulnerable people are treated, look forth; Palestinians massacred, Ukrainian men are enslaved before our very eyes: sent to battlefields where they dont shoot for fear of being steeped in sin before their death. Wars in Africa no coverage silence.
We’ve been so brain washed to cheer at people who had hopes and dreams being blown to bits, rather than working the peace angle that goes for Israel & Ukraine.
For us we are brain washed to ignorance to believe in submission to the former master, we are taught to TRUST they will defend us. Listening to the governor I can hear they still beleive in an empire. BOT – British overseas territory comes across different when he says it.
Meanwhile All of this inhumane BS is funded in part by the UK, US, France. The list goes on. All former colonist & slavers.
We need to ignore them do our own thing, and stop fighting each other. We know what happiness means lets work towards it.
Malcom X said the root of the problem post slavery in the black community, is dependence.
Independence is a 100% feasible goal that must someday be achieved for our future prosperity. To be forever dependent on a former enslaver-culture, think about that. Dont forget they enslaved the Irish too. Vicious rap sheet. Its all in the history books look it up.
Independence, really. You can’t even pave a road and you want independence. As soon as Irma left , you’re crying for UK assistance. Yes, let’s go independent, let them take away the US dollar while they at it.
If this is the same people that keep electing the politicians thinking change will happen then we in trouble.
I realised when big drew got held up a lot of people still believe he was innocent even after sentencing. That worries me that these same people think self determination is a good thing despite our current 3rd world lifestyle in 2024
Hopefully the politicians don’t bring in them friends and family from all over to take part in this self determination voting like they do when elections gets nearby
If the people honestly think that self determination is a good thing despite other Caribbean countries who are independent with crazy high crime rates and residents fleeing to the bvi and USA for a better life (Trinidad, Jamaica, Venezuela, Haiti etccc. Then we would have learned nothing and will learn the harsh way after going independent but it will be too late
I want y’all to watch these YouTube content creators from the Caribbean
We have people shouting free the drew and free West Bank AKA Killa…
Y’all sure you want to go independent with those people??? Lool good luck
The resident out up with a lot of nonsense from every government party but we sat down and did not riot or March.
I suggest if there’s something marching and rioting for it would be against this independence nonsense. Cuz then you all will really feel the corruption
is on the loose / you need yo stay on youryello site spew out your racist lyrics / UT with your Trump mentality you playing g bully on this site using all kinds of freaky names to blogg your evilness / this site is not a racist site like yours , now go and flush what you left in the toilet-
including yourself
The time has come for British Virgin Islands to become independent. Businesses have been leaving for years – companies down from 600,000 to about 360,000. If it becomes independent the rest of the businesses and the expats will leave and the money will follow them.
That means no high paying jobs in the Government, no jobs in Immigration and Labour required, no tenants to pay for the huge rents for the rental properties and the electricity bills, no new cars required and no expats to buy the food sold at silly inflated prices. Still there is always the drugs smugglers to earn the money. The Islands will become a Narco wasteland and after he done his time they will welcome Fahie back with open arms.
If the BVI goes independent the UK would have gotten rid of one stress of a colony They wouldn’t have to look out for the BVI anymore because we would be on our own. All we could do is demand reparations. No more UK support and the US Dollar would have to be returned to the US. No more UK passport. I still want independence. Let’s go.