Independence: ‘I’ve always been having a conversation with the people’- Premier
It was during the talk show VI 360 on Tola Radio VI on September 4, 2024, that Premier Wheatley disclosed that persons told the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation that was in the Virgin Islands recently that he was trying to force the VI into independence or go into independence without talking to the people.
“I want to know if people understand I have been having a conversation about this since I returned to the Virgin Islands,” Dr Wheatley stated, adding that others before him, such as Roy Hodge and Washasha X, were also speaking to the people.
Are we listening?
“This was a conversation that was happening all the time, but the question is, are we listening? Have we been listening?” Premier Wheatley asked.
He continued that others who have been having the conversation about independence include The Rastafari Progressive Inity, the African Studies Club, Ed Ju Enka, Virgin Islands Communal Association (VICA), Gill Trott, and Dr Melvin A. Turnbull.
“But the question is are we listening? Our mission and goal as a people, what it is we owe to our ancestors, what we owe to the next generation, is to reclaim our sovereignty,” Premier Wheatley said.
The leader of government business admitted; however, that more educating of the people regarding independence has to be done.
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36 Responses to “Independence: ‘I’ve always been having a conversation with the people’- Premier”
If the UK was leading us we probably wont be so deep in sh**.
More lies than truth.
Most of the people of the BVI do need to become independence from from people like you, Premier, from leading them into deeper poverty, hardly making ends meet.
Quest for independence from the UK in the short term is no more than a political deceptions in order to control and further mismanaged more of the B.V.I people's finances.
God forbid, "Let God be true, and everyman a liar."
We were very loud about his stupid parties and he laughed and said: “watch me go to work” (he still hasn’t gone to work).
About COI deadlines he said: “it’s up to god”
How we got this fool with about 300 votes as a premier is ridiculous.
Once he will get his independence he will become much much worse and steal without trying to hide it (not that he is hiding it very well right now)
So i aint know what types of ppl u tlking abt Mr. Wanna be premier
The same people that had intentions to do motor cade if Andrew had gotten off?
The same people who sent a letter to USA demanding his release?
The same people who benefited from grants as fake farmers and fisherman?
The same people who shouts free the drew and free West bank aka kills?
The same people who call in on tola radio showing their support for Andrew Fahie even after sentencing?
Maybe the people he spoke to were those who gain benefit from corruption and benefits from the current state of over priced cost of living.
Maybe it's the same people who support the gangs and young men who are involved in criminality
Only those kind of people will benefit from independence.
The rest honest hard working citizens will suffer greatly.
You are only talking to your close friends and family and whoever else that gains benefit from the government poor financial practices
Trinidad and Tobago No. 2 if independence ever come
This will decide he if just talking for political points or serious about positive changes for the country.
When independence talk come up look how quiet the opposition is.
All these people in it together with only goal to be in power to rape the country at our expense
An independent Virgin Islands will have the spiritual & moral fortitude to stand up for truth in this world of lies & secret partnerships. WE can be a beacon of peace in this world, we have the most churches per capiia and a great culture of tolerance. VI landers never killed anti men aka homosexuals and today it is illegal but we dont care because we are tolerant. They kiss and hold hands we couldnt care less.
WE also have lot of murders and cat and mouse game policing the imported cocaine and locking our own people up for marijuana. UK where is the border security????
That whole fiasco is a strain on society forced on us by the "international community" (USA, UK).
The coke would be worthless if it was legal, the marijuana never hurt anyone and everyone can plant it to harvest in three months instead of supporting a criminal gang-land lifestyle that is happy the cops are on their side making sure we dont grow our own weed and skip the gun wielding dealers.
All is part of the empire of lies (USA, UK) who's shadow we live under. The president of Colombia called for an end to this nonsense but the empire wants us to be drug dealer nations which they term drug source destinations, and narco states. All a build up to label the country a NARCO TERRORIST. After that killing financial service becomes much easier, sowing discord much easier, inflicting poverty easy, keeping the country poor easy.
No lie I found it very suspicious the Aladin robbery occurred after a important UK/BVI-COI event. EVERYTIME the COI drops... Q some crime ridden bullcrap happens like its scripted.
If god was to reveal all the plots & plans against our Afro-race & all others of a darker color from 400 years ago to today we would march for independence with haste. WE will wait for the AI to wipe us out like they are perfecting in Palestine.
Who do you think created and funds Israel. The USA & UK have the same technology, same weapons & missiles.
WE are not out of the woods yet... independence is a must not only for us but for the world... out of the clutch of world dominators.
If the UK REALLY CARES they will still be there as our friend & ally.
Plus this place is filled with so many foreigners we've nearly lost our culture to dilution. Many of those foreigners look at us as stupid, less than their country and much more. They are happy to say "I am not from here", then turn and want rights quick meanwhile block our march out of colonialism.
The police force is filled with foreign mercenaries, looking a big pay & quick status. Gold chains like a dealer.
what good has that done us over the years??????
Dont get personal with the freedom of a whole people to choose their destiny and get rid of underminers (colonialist). Anyone can waltz in here and boom they are on the constitutional review and all kinds of sensitive positions. The gangs will start walking in from Jamacia, Haiti, DR, Venezuela you name it, Bloods, Crips all welcome if we dont alter our course because under the UK who is responsible for security that is what will happen.
And, nada of my family members, many of whom, still reside in the territory!
And, exactly what was discussed, Premier?
Can you enlighten us?
Do you, Premier, really believe that the country can sustain such a separation from the Kingdom?
DO,, inform us, Premier, of the HOWS, of this development!
..Ausar, is all ears!
Barry say you will hear! God don't like ugly.
All I want is positive change. When this country is running right all will benefit. If you have something constructive to say do so.
And so it is true.
"The UK is colonial and does not care about Caribbean people!"
Also very true.
But what about these arguments:
- There is and never has been a serious blueprint published by these people showing HOW independence can make life better for us BVIslanders. Not the psychological effects of breaking the chains, but the practical effects of being independent and alone in the world as a "nation" with fewer people than many small towns around the world.
- Independence means we need to make an arrangement with the USA if we are to continue using their dollar. What do they say about that? Who has had this serious conversation and can report back to us what the arrangement would be?
- It means we will lose most ofour financial services industry because it exists due to our British legal system.
That is good for our soul – God will look kindly on us when we kick the habit of helping the oppressor to hide the world's money from the struggling masses - bit it is not good for our pockets.
- Our people will have to migrate to other places - like oil-rich Guyana, maybe? - to find work. We will become the same as the 'island people' we think we are above by God's grace. We are not. We once were them, and will be again.
- The CoI is oppressive, the governor is a manipulating arm of the UK government, the police are losing every battle that pops up. And yet, if we go independent, there is no backstop at all that can keep a check on greedy corrupt politicians that want to do whatever makes them and their friends rich. None. They do it. They write the law to say it is ok. We live with it.
- Politicians motivated by money, see above, are susceptible to the endless cash the cartels have available for anyone that helps them. See also, A. Fahie. We will live in a country whose politicians are owned by Mexican transnational cartels, so all decisions made within the BVI will be filtered through the politicians they put in place to run us. This state capture is not a good thing.
There are many more questions and issues around independence that need to be answered. We can look at our destiny from the one-dimensional of 'freedom!' and that is honourable. But ignoring the other angles at play is negligence.
The starting point should not be, is our ego so badly crushed by our past that the highest priority is to regain our lost sense of dignity, no matter how deep into the sewage ditch this throws us? The starting point should be, what future will provide the greatest happiness, health, wealth and well-being for us and our children and their children and all thereafter.
The BVI independence conversation needs to grow up otherwise we will find ourselves like the fools of the UK in their EU referendum, misguided people who voted from the heart and shot themselves in the foot.