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‘Control your destiny or someone will’- Josephine Gumbs Conner
The attorney was at the time speaking as a telephone guest on the Honestly Speaking radio show with Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, touching on topics including the Commission of Inquiry and the United Kingdom's relationship with its Overseas Territories.
'Recognise your value' - Josephine Gumbs Conner
“I urge BVIslanders as I do my own people, to recognise your own value, your value not just individually but your value as a nation.”
She said, “Often, we think of ourselves as why would the British want us? What do we have to offer? and that tells me that you neither understand your history or you choose not to interpret it in as fully as it should be.”
Speaking on the need to be self-determinant and on the value of a community, she called on Virgin Islanders to first get into an independent mindset and to claim value by asserting dignity.
“If you do not see yourself as being a black independent nation moving forward to your own destiny that you are crafting, then I can assure you those others whose destiny they have already determined will simply assimilate you into their progress,” she said.
“I just hope that our people understand that if we do not craft on a daily basis and make sure that our governments are pushing us to a position where we can control our own destiny there will be somebody who will come in and control the destiny not just of you but of generations to come.”
Building a self-determined future
Since taking office, Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), his members of government and even Members of the Opposition, have been pushing Virgin Islanders toward a future of self-determination, telling the populace that if the VI doesn’t lead and police itself, ‘someone will do it.”
Further, the recent Commission of Inquiry called by Ex-Governor Augustus J. U. Japsert, mere days after he exited the Virgin Islands, has been seen by some in the political arena as a cover for a possible direct rule by the United Kingdom, as was seen in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
They have argued this is supported with the knowledge that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) reportedly colluded with the UK media to maliciously portray the Virgin Islands as corrupt and needing UK intervention.
The political pundits have further opined that the move to keep the government in the dark about the CoI was also to catch them on the 'back foot' so they would not be able to respond in time to save the territory's reputation from severe damage.
According to Mrs Conner, “we need to find ways to lift that value and create it so that it respects our culture and it respects us in our fullest dignity and human right to be able to forge our own destiny.”
She further urged Virgin Islanders to recognise their own intellectual capital and to recognise that there is value in community leaders as well as value in the territories by themselves.
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9 Responses to “‘Control your destiny or someone will’- Josephine Gumbs Conner”
Josephine Gumbs Conner, Look who you align yourself with, We as people have values but it would be nice if you can tell us what value we have as a nation that will help us to survive.
We talk about how much we make from the trust companies but if we were self-determinant as you put it the trust companies will be gone., the tourist business is gone at least for the next 2 years please tell us how we will survive.
All of you who are talking about the self-determinant need to shut up, Claude O. Skelton-Cline, and all of you who have your own reasons, but most of the people know self-determinant is not good for us so leave us alone we don’t need your advice.
The time is now we had more to off back then Shure the UK benefit from our offshore banking but the UK also help us in many ways, our Premier made a statement yesterday saying we will always need outside help since you have all of the answers tell us where the help will come from.
These are your words you called on Virgin Islanders to first get into an independent mindset and to claim value by asserting dignity., Lady you just don’t know the Virgin Islanders.
Speaking on the need to be self-determinant and on the value of a community, she called on Virgin Islanders to first get into an independent mindset and to claim value by asserting dignity, Are you from an independent Island?
The BVI Always had a good relationship until this new government, When Andrew A. Fahie couldn’t get the loan on his terms, he started disrespecting the UK and the governor the Fahie government is to be blamed for the Commission of Inquiry., and all of you who are saying it’s a stain on the Islands you are wrong it’s a stain on the government, and whether you like it or not I hope the UK takes over the BVI until next election.
The truth is the UK does not want to rule us or take on our problems our all the expenses we foolishly incur, we are a group of islands with no natural resources other than our spirit and our location however, they can not turn a blind eye to the corruption that is rampant and the drug smuggling that has been allowed to flourish here.
she speaking good that racist G*s was up to no good
Do not confuse nation with state or nation state.
A nation can be defined as group of people who are bound together into a single body, through history, customs, value, language ,culture, tradition, art and religion.
On the other hand, a state can be defined as a patch of land with a sovereign government. BVI is not a sovereign state because it does not have a sovereign government.