Walwyn blasts gov’t for ‘arrogance’ in self-determination push
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has accused the government of “arrogance” in the way it is handling discussions on greater self-determination for the Virgin Islands, warning that leaders cannot haul the public “full speed” toward independence without first earning their trust and addressing everyday concerns.
Speaking in the House of Assembly during the debate on the Constitutional Review Commission’s report, Walwyn said that while he supports the principle of self-determination, the government is failing to educate the public properly and is instead conflating self-determination with independence.
“Self-determination is your right. It belongs to us,” Walwyn said. “But we are doing some mis-education inside this House, because we are using self-determination and independence as if they are synonyms — they’re not. Independence is a form of self-determination.”
He stressed that there are multiple paths to self-determination, including free association or other arrangements agreed to by the people, and argued that education must start with leaders themselves before they can teach the wider public.
Walwyn was blunt in his criticism of the government’s approach.
“Stop being arrogant! Stop the arrogance! Listen to people,” he said. “We seem to be wanting to haul the people full speed behind us. They don’t trust us, first of all. Who going to follow ayo to independence when they don’t trust ayo? Fix the things that need to be fixed or get the people with you.”
The Opposition Leader also warned that many residents are too burdened by cost-of-living challenges to engage in constitutional debates meaningfully.
“When I go to the supermarket with $100, I can only get a couple of items. People can’t buy bread, they don’t have water, they don’t have jobs. You can’t expect them to focus on independence talk when they are busy trying to make ends meet,” he said.
He further insisted that any move toward independence or other forms of self-determination must include a referendum to capture the views of Virgin Islanders and not just reflect the wishes of elected officials.
“You cannot take people to independence or anywhere else without a referendum to hear what their views are,” he said. “Call a referendum and you will find out — I bet you ayo going shame.”
Walwyn’s remarks come amid a renewed push by the government for greater autonomy from the United Kingdom. Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has said the ongoing constitutional review is a chance to transfer more power from the UK to the Virgin Islands, including areas currently under the Governor’s control.
Internationally, the BVI has also gained the attention of the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation, which recently called for the full decolonisation of the territory. Regionally, OECS and CARICOM leaders have backed the BVI’s right to decide its own political future.
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I wish I could like this 1000 times.
INDEPENDENCE = CORRUPTION.
There are other choices but they don’t want that. They beneficial from corruption.
We don’t trust none of them including you. All you politicians have done was fatten your pockets and stuck us with the bill. I am tired of this. Then going independent will make it worse for us.
They trying their best to get this thing do without a referendum because they know the people of the bvi don’t trust them and don’t want what they pushing for. I am not convinced that giving people who can’t even explain to you properly where your 5 million dollars disappeared to and why more power and authority is a good idea right now.
There are steps between our current status and full independence, real viable options that deserve public scrutiny. This cannot be a case of leaders force-feeding us their preferred outcome while branding it as self-determination. Citizens deserve to see the full spectrum of choices, not just the one already framed as destiny. That means a deliberate campaign and not just a declaration, where each pathway (free association, enhanced autonomy, independence or a bespoke arrangement negotiated with the administering power) is laid bare, with its pros, cons, and implications. Only then can trust be built. Only then can any move forward be truly ours.
Who’s forcing us to be independent? That’s a choice that we would all have to chime in on, but we can start having those discussions now.
While Hon. Walwyn is Right with His Comments, This Government seems to be Hell Bent on forcing the Citizen into Self Determination. i.e. Independence.
But it doesn’t work like that. the Process of Self Determination doesn’t happen overnight. It is a Long Process. While I am not surprised of the Behaviour of this Government in wanting the People just to follow their Lead, It Must Not happen like that and the people Must Let their Demands be known. This Government is the First V.I. Government who Thinks the People are Fools and Thinking its what they say Goes. This Government has shown clearly that they are Not a Government of Inclusion. They go to the UN C24 Meeting every Year stating that they come on behalf of the People of The Virgin Islands, when infact they hardly speak to the people of the Virgin Islands. This is a Dictatorship Government. I am Not against Self Determination for the Virgin Islands by No means But Not With a Government like the Current one. The People of the Virgin Islands Must Not be Fooled. They will Never want to Educate Us on the Pros and Cons of Self Determination Because they want to Maintain Control over Us and keep Us Blinded. People of the V.I. Need to Stay Woke. Educate yourselves on Self Determination and the Three Options, Then Demand a Referandum to state your Choice. They have Fooled Us enough. Don’t make A Stupid Mistake in making Things Worse. You can Fool Some of the People Some of the Time But You can’t Fool All of The People All of the Time.
The oecs and caricom, should keep out, because this country doesn’t embrace outsiders!!
@For real. Name a country in this world that embrace “outsiders”?
It is my sincere opinion that all 13 of these people have overstayed their welcome. They are not representing the people anymore. They are looking out for themselves. They are setting themselves up with hefty pensions and huge raises, traveling the world and pushing back on term limits and making the Premier position an At Large position, among other things that the people requested at the last constitutional review. It has been a very long 2.5 years where very little is happening but everyone around us in the region is forging ahead. Please people, let’s send a strong message to this lot.
DOESN’T MATTER WHERE YOU BORN , WE ALL LIVE ON THE SAME PLANET A D YHESE YOUNG BRIGHT BOYZ HAVE FOUNG A WAY TO EXPLOIT THOSE WHO IS NOT IN THEIR LEAGUE ,AND THEN THERE IS FAMILY TIES THAT PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN THE WAY THESE PLAYERS ARE DOING WHATEVER THEY LIKE AND GETS AWAY WITH IT BECAUSE IF YOU
TRY TO CALL THEM OUT THE WHOLE FAMILY IS GOING YO FOME AT YOU SO ITS A FAMILY AFFAIR / AND ALMODT EVERYBODY IS RELATED AND WILL PUT UP DEFENCE IN ANYWAY NESSESARY ~ SO WE ARE NOT BEING FOOLED BY THEM / THEY ARE SHIELDED BY THOSE WHO ENJOY THE BENIFITS OF THE ” RODEO ” GAME GAME / AND USES DECEPTION & DISTRACTIONS , LIKE SCAPEGOATING TATICKS ( WHITE COLONIALIST SLAVE MASTERS ) IS AN EXAMPLE THATS FREQUENTLY USED – ETC ALONG WITH SOME OF WHAT YOU SAID.