VI must decide on date for referendum on status under UK- E. Benito Wheatley
Mr Wheately was at the time speaking at the Frederick Pickering Memorial Lecture Series Part Two: ‘Decolonisation’ at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College on June 6, 2021, Via a presentation entitled “Decolonisation and the political future of the British Virgin Islands.”
What direction should VI take? - Wheatley questions
According to Mr Wheatley, the territory over the past seven months has heard quite a bit about the next steps in the constitutional advancement of the Virgin Islands.
“Many good ideas have been shared about what additional provisions can be made to the existing constitution; what tweaks can be made to the Westminster model of Government to reduce friction in the political system; and how we can find a better constitutional balance between the Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom (UK).”
He said serious concerns about Global Britain has also been shared, including what this concept means for the Virgin Islands and other Overseas Territories (OTs).
However, according to Mr Wheatley, “The single most important decision for the people of these Virgin Islands, is what year, at the very latest, a referendum on the future political status of the Territory will be held.”
Focus should not be in Independence Only
While Mr Wheatley said the referendum should not be on independence exclusively as there is also integration and free association options, he applauded the Virgin Islands Youth Parliament (VIYP) for debating the question of self-determination and the options to consider.
“However, ladies and gentlemen, the immediate priority is not which option we choose. We will cross that bridge when we get to it. Rather, the question is: When will we choose?” he said.
This decision he says will place more emphasis on where the territory is in its stage of growth and development as a Territory.
Timeframe & deadline needed
“If we do not set a timeframe for a referendum, then there is no deadline to work toward. Without a deadline, there is no impetus to prepare for a referendum or to make the necessary adjustments for the potential outcome.”
According to Wheatley, the VI cannot afford to avoid the issue any longer, given that the uncertainty has become a continued hindrance to the territory’s ability to prepare for its longer-term future.
"I believe that we must call for a referendum on the political status of the Territory to be held no later than 2030," Mr Wheatley said.
See full presentation below:
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17 Responses to “VI must decide on date for referendum on status under UK- E. Benito Wheatley ”
The people of the territory must be allowed to go to their various poling stations and cast a vote
under these conditions you will get a more accurate decision of the people by the people for the people
simply give us all the applicable options on a ballet paper and let the people vote
13 elected member should not make any decision on behalf of our people
5 cabinet people can not chart a way for the people
just as there is a schedule day to vote into office political candidates therefore let us vote for what we as people want as it relates to the United Kingdom
what are the viable options
Self-determination can mean independence, free association.......etc. Government must develop a menu of self-determination options and hold a referendum soonest on a path forward. That path forward may be the status quo, depending on what a majority of the people want. The Referendum can be held with the next general election or it can be a stand alone election. However, whenever or how the Referendum is held, the ‘For’ option should attain a large majority, if not a super majority, of the registered votes cast, not just a simple majority. Brexit was based on and determined by a simple majority slightly north of 50%. Referendum hanging, it leaves the VI hanging. Referendum settled, the VI can get on with next chapters of their growth and development, the way forward. As a reference, Bermuda, a sister OT, held an independence referendum on 16 August 1995. With a voter turnout of 58.8%, 73.6%(37, 841 registered voters) voted against independence. A close look at economic independence is needed before the VI jumps into the ocean of political independence.