Self-Determination plea unanswered by UN after 4 years
Despite a four-year freeze, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has continued to press the United Nations (UN) for assistance with the territory’s efforts at achieving some measure of self-determination and possibly independence from the United Kingdom.
“I want to restate once again, that the British Virgin Islands would be most grateful for the support of the relevant UN agencies and departments to assist us in our efforts to raise the awareness of the people of the islands on the process of self-determination and the options available to the non-self-governing territories,” Premier Wheatley said in a speech to the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee yesterday.
The Premier also hinted at the lengthy wait the BVI has had to endure in the absence of a positive response to a request to have the UN’s C-24 visiting mission in the territory.
During his speech, Dr Wheatley reiterated the request for the visit and said it was first made as far back as 2019 and has featured in consecutive resolutions adopted by the UN.
“Between 2019 and 2022, we have seen no movement in this direction,” the Premier stated while acknowledging that the current C-24 Chair is likely hard at work on the request.
But the Premier also alluded to the urgency of the BVI’s quest for self-determination, noting that the territory will soon arrive at another historical juncture in which further constitutional advances must be considered.
He made reference to the ongoing constitutional review and stated that this will conclude in the very near future.
“Once completed, the people of the British Virgin Islands, the territory’s government and the UK government will have to prepare to engage on the next constitutional steps in the self-determination process,” the Premier stated.
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Mr primers,why are you so obsess with independence?and there are so many other important issues to deal with.right now let self determination be the last thing to discuss right now. are you trying something fishy.there is something fishy you up to.leave this topic alone please.we are not ready for this.
Something is seriously wrong with this man.
You are not head of a communist country before you go to the UN or anyone else asking about OUR independence consult the people first and find out if it’s what WE want.
In the 21st century all dependent country should be made to be independent. As for BVI, we have been doing better than most. Of course you will never please everyone nut it is time to be independent
Fix schools
Fix the roads
Fix power & alternative energy
Fix the drainage/flooding
Fix the pension fund & retirement benefits
Fix NHI
Fix the incinerator & waste management
Fix clean water supply
Fix crime & drug trafficking
Fix airport & sea ports
Fix statutory boards
Fix jobs for youth
Done? Then you can apply for independence..please and thanks
What is he talking about, doesn’t he know that internal self-government for the past 50+ is a form of self determination? What they are doing to ruin this country is part of the self=determination that they are seeking, to be dictators and put the people in slavery worse than ever before. Because when you free and still can’t live in decent society at home, and can’t make a decent living because of the economy, and your government is just about looking out for self, nothing worse than that.
is the answer. In this ‘plea’ the UN is deliberately ignoring the politicians for one simple reason: UN is not the correct forum. Please make your minority ‘plea’ to the UK not the UN!
Maybe you and your friends can keep your hand out of the cookie jar and put back what you and your friends illegally took.
Only then you will have some credibility.
Right now, you are a crook. Just like your oversized predecessor.
If we did a poll right now I’m pretty sure it would reflect that the majority of the people of the BVI does not wish for independence from the UK at this time. So why is the Premier so obsessed with something that it’s clear that the majority of the population does not wish for… who he representing? We want our roads and drainage systems fixed! We want stable supply of water and electricity! We want our schools to be in decent condition conducive to learning! We want accountability and transparency when it comes to the spending of public funds… not to mention the gun violence…. obsess yourself with that before you reach to independence is how I think the majority of the public feels about this.
Just call a referendum on independence. The UK will be delighted I’m sure.
History shows that over the last 100 years the only thing the UK gives all Caribbean Overseas Territories are prisons, investigations, and how to have the local people fight each other and never believe in their leaders and public officers but only them through their governors. From the inception the 1st thing they gave us in each Caribbean Island was Her Majesty Prisons but not Her Majesty schools nor college. As a matter of fact, in BVI they were against the building of HLSCC. I do not hate the UK Officials but their philosophy towards Caribbean people has never been one of fairness and respect. They have always looked at Caribbean people as inferior and they as Superior. There is a lot of corruption in the UK, but they brush most under the rug and the rest, the systems/judiciary deals with it “a kind of a how”. So, the UK nor no country should ever have the power to suspend another country’s constitution and put themselves as the only law of the land. Worse yet, allow non-elected persons to rule a country that claims democracy and good governance as its creed through general elections among other areas. The UK has never clearly documented how OTs can apply and seek independence. This is a clear indication of their ongoing deceit and disrespect. From slavery days they get us to go against each other by playing the corruption card and have us distrusting each other thereby making us to believe we cannot be trusted to handle our own affairs and must rely on them to bring prosperity. Hello? Check all where this happen and ask the people if it worked out in the best interest of that country. The answer is NO! Life got considerably worse. Meanwhile their backyard and now their front yard is filthier than ours, but no one can hold them to account. I am not condoning wrongdoing; I am promoting equality. The Governor is above the laws of the land but yet everyone else is, and he has the authority to look into everyone, but no one can look into him. This is not equality nor good governance. This is not true democracy. How long can you keep a child a child? Worse yet, how can you mandate that a child you neglected to raise and is now a grown adult, be a child again under your sole command? Let the BVI and all OTs strengthen their accountability systems and be granted independence now or the UK will continue to kick the can down the road hoping to carry out many plots to create a deep divide among us so we can block the thought of independence when in fact it is a result of their brainwashing and well organized strategy to keep us in slavery and make us think they are our saviors taking us to heaven when in fact it is the other way around. We have been taking care of ourselves for many years with little to no meaningful assistance from the UK, so let us clean up our act in certain areas and move forward towards independence RIGHTAWAY. We must respect them, but they, nor we, will never see eye to eye with each other in many critical areas because our cultural heritage and philosophy clashes. We have the same education or better than them. We have more people per capita with education than them. So let us stop making them make us keep thinking we are lesser than them and not worthy of trust. We are their equals and our own equals. We are our own saviors. Stop allowing them and others make us feel if we leave to go independent our economy, security, etc. will be compromised. This is the tactics of an abuser who tries to get their victim to feel guilty of trying to come out of an abusive relationship. If the BVI & OTs people are waiting for a perfect time to move forward, then it will never come. Let us march forward towards independence —IT IS TIME!
that has gone unanswered for 20+ years: please can we have an honest, intelligent, honest, competent government?
What the hell is wrong with this man? Can’t he take a hint???
With all our current issues there many red flags regarding his persistence on this issue. Like why?
Full transparency, I’m against independence. BUT his persistence on this matter should at least raise flags for those who are for it.
The Bible has a perfect example of how you can seek greater control over the country, which should of course, be the ultimate goal – show that you can manage the basic stuff first. By this measure, Governments for the past 30 years have lacked vision and competence and so do not deserve to be given the opportunity to manage more.
Given the huge human demand for mind-altering substances, there will be no impediment to stopping the movement of products to market by neither government nor institution.
The huge profits those are inherent within the trade business.
The huge market flow involving trillions of dollars USD, are all significant reasons why the call to fix drug trafficking is but a whimper that falls on deaf ears. It is equivalent to calling foe and trying to drain the ocean. Impossible.
The fact that drugs, both legal, so called, and illegal, so called, are an established business, secretly supported by established executives, regimes, authorities and their economies throughout the world, both developed and developing.
Hence, the religious entity and the sanctified opposition to legality are the only reasons why the business, like alcohol, has not become a fully open and accepted business in every nation and country.
Such will, nevertheless, change with time, just as alcohol did, as the church is removed further away from political power and sway.
All over the US and EU for example, there can be found smoke and vape shops and stores.
Such is but one small example of the human desire and need for mind altering services, and the entrepreneurial spirit, versus the challenge between church, state and antiquated moralism.
The boi always insults us BVI people on international stage.I cringes when this o*iot open his mouth and the people of the BVI.Say your for hundred plus voters no the people of the BVI for whom I am one.Self Governance/Independent who give U any authority to seek such?We the people should be the voice, Boi.
you ain’t no NDP SUPPORTER,your lyrics are the same as the wigged one we cannot wait for the emperor of the 3rd district to straighten your dash out
Whatever side of the fence you are on with this wether you be for it or against it you should still find it disrespectful that the Premier don’t even care to consult with the people or try to get a consensus or a general idea about how the people feel about this before he go abroad telling the UN what the ‘BVI’ wants.
You telling me that gay marriage deserve a referendum but INDEPENDENCE don’t deserve one!? The UN right to ignore his slow a** (sturps teeth)
I not going to lie I nervous about this upcoming constitutional review because these self servers will stop at nothing to keep the gravy train running.
so seriously, you think they will take us seriousLY when some many major issues not dealt with? they can see we not ready. SMH
Excellent overview, clearly this government is not fit for purpose, totally ignoring it’s main responsibilities whilst concentrating on trivia in the grand scheme of things.
Mmm….wasn’t there a crooked drug dealer playing premier back in 2019 when he approached the UN? I wonder why they’ve not written back yet?
Today you all have shown your incompetence again with ghuts not cleared during Hurricane season. All you people in Government are concerned are to fill your and your cronies pockets and fly all over the planet 1st class. The UN has no say about whether we will become independent and why would they care? New High School flooded but at least we had a free concert, much more important.
We have been given a chance to self determinate the moment we have an opportunity yo provide input into what laws are passed and how money is spent as a country. How are we progressing these capabilities under this and past administrations? Terribly
Come on Sl** Wande sound like a leader and not the Sl**est Premier we have ever had.
@IT IS TIME!You just wasted your time writing BULL CRAP>
OK Dr G. Take a chill pill. Look @ stability. Look @ our recent leaders.
To, It Is Time; There is but one disagreement with your prose, piece comment(s). They should have been separated into paragraphs format according to your ideas. It is known that compressed narratives is hard to read despite the contents..
Meanwhile, your writing is excellent, and so are your facts.. Just try to get your ideas separated into paragraph format. It will make your writing easier to read.
Last, all that you have written is truth, factual and truth-proof.
Hence, it a pleasure to read truths and facts. It also indicates that there are others out there who are similar of thoughts.
Keep writing facts and pointing out truths and factual historical facts.
HA, HAAAAAAAA. POOR THING. Words of desperation feh sho. What a poor defense to truths and facts. Shameful indeed.
Sir, where are you?
Continuing evolution of self determination is a worthy PROCESS and GOAL to be pursued by a 21st century BVI. But not forced on the people by a clearly obsessed premier and his special envoy brother (nepotism again?), constantly petitioning for independence at the many UN and regional (OECS) that they spend the people’s money to attend. They have NO MANDATE!!!
Instead, there is now an endless list of issues that this government needs to address, a few of which are INFRASTRUCTURE, schools, water and electricity, public safety/gun violence, roads, schools, public health, NHI, etc, etc, etc …..
So, Premier, attend to the things that desperately need the attention of you and your government. Enough of the posturing. Please and thanks.
Anybody else notice BVI News willfully leave out parts of the Premier speech where he say “the UN has a responsibility to assist the British Virgin Islands and the other Non-Self-Governing Territories in helping to raise the awareness of their people on the UN sanctioned options to achieve a full measure of self-government, including integration, free association and independence.” You see how them leave out all the self-determination options in the article to give the impression he only want independence. BVI News have an agenda against the man.
Another indicator of how the English, here and over there, thinks and feels about us, though e knoe all along, is prolific use of the thumbs up and down feature on the comments on this site. It so abundantly clear somtimes that it is so. expecting and thus laughable.
The thumbs down on the comment submitted by IT IS TIME is an eloquent example of that.
Be very careful with that. Better think about currency, passports, financial,visas, assistance etc. Visa to go U.S.V.I. and everywhere else…you guys had no idea of the privileges that other Caribbean people envy….be very careful.
You need to know where these Virgin Islands have come from and who helped…the British did a lot for both the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean at large. (Was it to salve their conscience, I don’t know…but they helped a lot!) Don’t let ignorance become your bliss…and the (Proudfoot) report never said the VIs was to become a bird santury!
A native Virgin Islander to the Nth generation