Stop referring to us as the ‘BVI’, says Opposition Leader
Amid the political tensions between the BVI and the United Kingdom, one lawmaker has expressed that people should stop referring to the territory as the British Virgin Islands.
Opposition leader Julian Fraser said “Virgin Islands” is the correct name and added that he doesn’t understand why people insist on calling the territory “The BVI.”
“These are the Virgin Islands and no matter where you go, who you’re speaking to – these are The Virgin Islands. For the life of me, I cannot understand why people insist on referring to us as the BVI,” Fraser said in the House of Assembly on October 25.
He pointed out that at the recent BVI/USVI Friendship Day celebrations, Lieutenant Governor Tengrenza Roach of the USVI was the only person who correctly referred to the territory as the Virgin Islands. In denouncing the use of “BVI”, the legislator said Virgin Islanders shouldn’t allow the USVI to use the term “Virgin Islands” while they adopt the term “British” as part of the country’s title.
“We need to get it straight. This complex that we have where we think we must yield to the US Virgin Islands and give them “VI” while we take on some “B”, it has to stop,” Fraser argued.
The BVI is a territory of the United Kingdom which means the UK has final decision-making authority in all matters pertaining to the territory. Over the years, locals have advocated for and gained increased powers to govern their own affairs.
But, there has always been tension between locally elected leaders and their British counterparts and those tensions reached new heights under the Andrew-Fahie administration which stood strongly against many of the UK’s proposals and particularly orders given by former Governor Augustus Jaspert, who represented the UK locally.
Before he left the BVI, Jaspert acted on complaints he reportedly received from many locals and ordered a Commission of Inquiry into the practices of successive BVI administrations.
That Inquiry found that the BVI was being poorly governed for many years and recommended that the UK snatch power away from locals in a bid to instil good governance and get the territory back on track.
Though elected representatives have managed to stave off direct rule of the UK, tensions remain high as many people believe it is time for the BVI to sever ties with the UK and avoid similar threats of direct rule in the future.
Still, there are some who welcome the UK’s presence and see it as a bulwark against possible abuse that is likely under the leadership of local representatives.
In the meantime, the UK has stated that it would welcome and facilitate the BVI’s wish to sever ties whenever the territory is ready to make this decision.
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The Virgin Islands are the islands next door my friend.
We are the British Virgin Islands with an English legal system and an English court system with the Privy council which give us credibility and has given us prosperity!
If you want the virgin islands why don’t you hop on the ferry and go to St Thomas as I am sure you hold a US passport!
Stay off the juice. You speak as someone who powder his face with white stuff. Is the USVI not known as the United states. You will never lead these bvi.send a letter addressed to the VI and see if it don’t end up in the usvi. Come on if you don’t have anything sensible to say find a barber. Smh.
B.V.I just means the smaller prettier islands to me. Nothing more, nothing less.
All we are doing is creating divisions whereas success in a global world requires partnerships. We should be leveraging of any Governance UK can offer us, creating deep ties with the USVI but no we’re stuck in the centuries old colonialism and oppression
So there is the Virgin Islands which is comprised of the USVI and BVI. How or why should you change that? Seems like they should be more concerned in bringing in funds which includes making travel more convenient for visitors. Maybe they should open up the Virgin Gorda airport to private planes which are barred right now. That way I could fly directly from Florida to Virgin Gorda
Fraser, you are right. However, you cannot place the blame on those who came to this country without having had a complete education in the subject or on others who lacked proper information due to migration. The British Virgin Islands is its unofficial name, and everyone is familiar with it by that name. However, if we want to educate the general public, we must ENFORCE the use of the Virgin Islands.
So what to call the BVI FSC, BVI FIA, BVI ITA, BVI Ports Authority, BVI Airport Authority, BVIBC (BVI Business Companies). I wonder if he understand the wealth of rebranding that will have to take place if he really trying to drive the point home.
Whatttt??
@Laura
I don’t often agree with Mr Frazer, but in this instance he is right. When the US bought the Danish West Indies they started calling them the “USVI” and in attempt to avoid confusion we attached the “B” to our correct name of “The Virgin Islands” l. All official government documents say “Virgin Islands”, and that is the correct name for these islands!
I remember a elderly telling me this, Donald Decastro saying we are the Virgin Islands. Not bvi I get the differentiation. Fraser thanks for bring this up. Vi up!
You are right Fraser time drop the B and get rid of Rankin and Collin and The UK
Well start by taking the label off all local institutions and assets. This is petty nonsense. Is there nothing better to occupy the mind and time of these HoA members? By the way, the names of nations fall under the International Organization for Standardization. Take a look at https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:code:3166:VG
Correction – That’s the US Virgin Islands.
Fraser is right on this. USVI was the Danish W.I. when we were always the V.I. The issue is similar to our culture issue. We accept the USA marketing of their islands to define our own lands.
Without the “B”, official or unofficial, this territory would be a backwater. Stop moaning about inconsequential things. Fraser – you and your colleagues have failed to provide this country with the infrastructure and investment needed to provide a firm future. You are focusing on something else to divert attention from your own negligence. Run away and let others have control now. BTW, you only win because you allegedly ship in voters from the USVI who also do nothing to contribute to the future of this country, although they’re happy to have NHI cards and use our benefits without contributing.
Who going to let the government IT department know. Look like Fraser got to tell them to change the website from bvi.gov.vg and boy oh boy, bvinews, look like you in trouble too.
i kind of agree with him. when i go abroad and people ask where i’m from i tell them the virgin islands and THEN i explain the difference between the two groups. at the end of the day we’re one and the same. many of us here have roots there and vice versa so why do we focus on being so divisive…
Fraser is correct and for those who disagree a little research will furnish you with the answer.
Also, serious thought should be given to stop calling Tortola “TOLA “. Who coined such a silly name.
Y’all so clueless.
I’m sure most of y’all have a so called bvi passport….. but wait if you look at it says what. The Virgin Islands…..gasp.
Y’all need find something better to do than always spouting negativity without thinking. No deep dive is needed to know that we are in fact The Virgin Islands >.>
So wah we gon do wid all we tshuts pana?
He doesn’t understand why the territory is called BVI! Of course he wouldn’t. Spent so much time in the USA and only came back to take over the 3rd district from his brother. Being fighting for power ever since for control. We all know the anomalies we live with.Spending the US dollar does not make us US sir. BVI is to differentiate from USVI. So now you know.
The constitution says that the these island that we called British Virgin Ialnds is” Virgin Islands”.
Until we amend and approve the name as Bristish Virgin Islands.
The minister is correct, it is the Virgin Islands and will always be.
This guy has street lights in the roundabout of his brain!
If you wish to disconnect yourself from the “B”, turn in your “B” Passport immediately and take the next boat back in time to the Virgin Islands.
I swear between the past and present jokers in office, trying to rebrand everything to oblivian, and not addressing anything that’s needed. This is what you get when you vote for idiots. Where is the money for the Bulkhead in SCB.
Keep talking, when they come for you your going to be crying for someone to remove you from “B” alo in the Ghut.
Do something for the people’s money you receive, like clean your junkyard first, then do something constructive like resign.
The only reason he knows it was called the VI in the old days, was because he must have been alive back then. I am waiting for the asteroids to come and take these dinosaurs out.
SMFH at the dimwittedness
@ Virgin Islands: that’s not right. We are legally the VI and the others like USVI need to qualify the difference.
We incorporate all of our financial services by the laws if the VI etc. but it’s important that we don’t lose our identity as part of the English system as that we what we have built our successes upon.
Fraser et al don’t seem to be making a legal accuracy point however but seek to cause division. That is what failing politicians do when they are out of positive ideas or will.
Fraser is correct, check your birth certificate,passport, driver’s license etc, the territory’s legal ne is ad said.The Virgin Islands is original and has always meant what you mis-call BVI. The original name of the USVI is the Danish West India Company.
The us virgin islands is addressed as such in their constitution. We are the virgin islands, its in our constitution, and our passport.
You most likely an American so you wouldn’t know this, but the VI was the VI long before the US bought those islands from denmark. The usvi just did a better job marketing themselves while our leaders sat on their hands.
“ there has always been tension between locally elected leaders and their British counterparts”.
But……. The local leaders ARE British! That’s kinda the point.
It’s not colonialism that holds us back.
It’s petty local politicians.
The USVI doesn’t market the BVi. You talk such garbage.
…because most of us have nothing to do with the USVI. Even if we did, that’s not a basis for naming a country!
Lots of people have connections in both Italy and France but nobody renaming them! We are British. They are American. No problem.
You did.
The British Virgin Islands and the United States Virgin Islsnds are two seperate countries. It has always been like that for many, many years. Stop trying to create division, find something constructive to do to help the BVI people!
It saddens me that so many on here don’t understand the implications of us being called the BVI. There is no such country. If you look up the name of our country, it is the “Virgin Islands” That is the official name. Please learn something before you try to talk about someone else’s knowledge.