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A vision of the road to independence
The road to Virgin Islands independence is a long and winding road that starts with public discussion, and debate, leading to a referendum, where two thirds of a territory's citizens vote for independence.
But even before any type of independence, there will be a move towards greater autonomy by Overseas territories, and the consolidation of a Confederation of Independent Overseas Territories of the UK.
OTs must unite, in order to possess the type of power that unity alone can generate.
If residents vote for independence, then after independence is granted, there will need to be formed a Confederation of Independent Territories that will be led by two indigenes: a Native Governor-General, and a Native Super Premier. In other words independence must come in the form of a Confederation of Overseas Territories.
Both leaders of the Independent Confederation will be appointed by committees comprising representatives of all the OT Legislatures, and an OT council of Premiers.
Independent Territories that are part of the Independent Confederation will be led, like today, by a governor and a premier. The one difference: the governor will be a native of the islands appointed by a committee made up of all three arms of government: judiciary, legislature, and cabinet.
Now, British Overseas Territory Citizens, including British Virgin Islands dwellers, appear sceptical of independence. This is fully understandable. Independence is a huge change in the status quo and calls for the political management of great matters of state: and the key questions on independence are these: what are the social and economic benefits of independence to Overseas Territory citizens? Will the quality of their lives improve or decline after independence?
OK. The first factor driving public scepticism is constitutional. Who will keep the executive arm of government in check in the absence of the Queen? How will the doctrine of separation of powers - a great centurion for keeping tyranny at bay- operate?
Then, will OT citizens be better off after independence? How will their new statuses as citizens of independent territories from Great Britain affect their global statuses? How powerful will the newly independent territory passport be? How will independence impact the territory's relations with the UN, USA, UK, European Union, and a host of global organizations such as the WTO- World Trade Organization?
A more common question asked: will a territory such as the British Virgin Islands be able to keep the US Dollar as its main currency? Who will guarantee the security of a newly independent territory with no current army or coast guard?
How will newly independent territories govern their external affairs? Independence will mean a seat in the United Nations; ambassadors to the USA, UK and European Union; and a string of ambassadors and embassies around the world. How will territories pool resources to ensure the viability of independence?
The preceding are all matters that must be discussed, addressed, and decided, before even a referendum can be held.
Any move towards independence will not be driven by commentators or individual politicians, but by a willing public after hearing the various arguments in a very public forum.
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11 Responses to “A vision of the road to independence ”
Moreover, IMO the VI must pursue some measure of economic independence before pursuing political independence. Like other OTs, the VI has a myriad of vulnerabilities and challenges, including: resource-poor, high import/low export, small domestic markets, heavy dependence on a narrow range of products, limited ability to influence domestic prices, remote from major markets, limited economy of scope and scale, small but growing population, heavy government involvement in economy, limited energy, telecommunications and transportation capacity, highly vulnerable to external economic and environmental shocks, vulnerable to natural disasters(disaster prone), fragile services economic base.....etc.
Further, maintaining the dollar as the legal tender currency would be the least of the VI worries if it were to attain political independence. Dollarization can be employed. OTs confederating as a political unit is an option but much further debate is needed. The cost-benefit of political independence must be fully explored before jumping into the pool.
you need to learn
some grammar.
To the outside world. We have nothing to offer them and they have nothing to offer us.
Stay with Britain because we don’t trust our politicians to keep out of the cookie jar