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Hon Walwyn falsely accuses Premier Wheatley of only pushing independence option
It was during the continuation of the Second Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) on February 13, 2025, that Hon Walwyn, who appears to be continuing his mission to become Premier of the Virgin Islands despite being rejected by the people when he attempted to do so in 2019, asked the Premier who gave him the “authority” to move forward on his mission of self-determination.
Hon Walwyn also falsely accused the Premier of only pushing the option of independence. The Premier has repeatedly stated in many forums that the decision, whether independence or the other available options, will be up to the people to decide.
It was Deputy Speaker, Honourable Stacy R. Mather (AL), who had initially grilled the Premier on the extent of public consultation in the push for self-determination.
The Alliance has been trying to show the public that they are united by using the tactic of frequently yielding for fellow Alliance members to ask supplementary questions.
Walwyn Challenges Premier’s Authority
The exchange quickly intensified when Hon Mather yielded to Hon Walwyn, who then openly challenged the Premier’s authority on the issue, outright accusing him of unilaterally advancing independence as the only option, despite self-determination encompassing various forms, including free association or integration.
"Madam Speaker, when the Premier speaks of self-determination, he speaks specifically of independence, which is one of the tenets of self-determination," Hon Walwyn said, as he demanded to know under what authority the Premier was pursuing a specific form of self-determination without first consulting the public.
"Can the Premier tell me, where did he get the authority to move forward on this mission that he's on, and he has not consulted with the people of the Virgin Islands to find out their wishes and what form of self-determination they prefer?”
Premier exposes Hon Walwyn’s untruths
Premier Wheatley immediately clapped back, refuting claims that he was steering the country towards a predetermined outcome and was vehement, "Let me correct the member; I have expressed on many occasions in public forums that the people of the Virgin Islands have a choice as it pertains to what option they choose.”
Reiterating for members—and the general public at large— again arguing that the Virgin Islands’ current political status was not a legitimate option but rather a colonial arrangement, Dr Wheatley was adamant, "Our present arrangement is not an option, our present arrangement is colonialism.”
Citing historical struggles for self-governance, he contended that decolonisation was an international obligation under the United Nations (UN) Charter, to which the United Kingdom was a signatory.
"The United Kingdom themselves have signed on to that obligation, and all nations around the world have stated clearly that colonisation must be a thing of the past.”
He further pointed to a report by the International Advisor on Governance and United Nations expert, Dr Carlyle Corbin, which speaks about “the democratic deficit that exists here because we have an unelected governor assuming the authority that he does in the Virgin Islands.”
'I also get authority from my foreparents'- Premier
The Premier also invoked the legacy of his Virgin Islands lineage who had fought against colonial rule, telling the House, "I also get authority by my foreparents who have been fighting here since slavery to advance the people of the Virgin Islands in their interest of becoming full human beings with dignity and not subject to colonialism.
“Anybody who disagrees with us having our full human dignity can express that but I will also express my views, on behalf of myself and my ancestors who are buried here, and who sweated and died here and who were enslaved here.”
Hon Wheatley’s response drew ‘applause and pounds’ from other Members of the House.
Hon Walwyn had no response.
See related article below:
‘I am not leading the country to independence’- Premier Wheatley
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11 Responses to “Hon Walwyn falsely accuses Premier Wheatley of only pushing independence option”
Now, I acknowledge everything boils down to timing, and we have a lot of work to do to get ourselves in a position for self-determination such as shoring up our economy, and getting our infrastructure up to par, but our goal be it intermediate, or long should be to one day free ourselves from the tentacles of the colonialism.
This will not be easy as there will be naysayers and detractors amongst us who are comfortable with the status quo. Nevertheless, it should be in our national interest to walk in the path of self-determination one day.