‘I cry for those who are colonised around the world’- Dr the Hon Wheatley
The Minister’s calls came in a statement Celebrating the birth of VI’s first Chief Minister, H. Lavity Stoutt and released by the Government Information Service (GIS) in its entirety on March 23, 2022.
“I cry for Ukraine, but I also cry for the BVI and I cry for those who are colonised around the world, whether formally or informally, and I cry for freedom because colonialism is a relic of the past,” he said.
Dr Wheatley added, “and we must build a world with equality among nations, no matter how big or small, and no matter their race, language, or geographic position."
The Deputy Premier stated that H. Lavity Stoutt was a warrior for freedom and thus, he recognised the fundamental conflict in the world between coloniser and colonised and sought to fight for the aged old prize of liberty and justice for his people.
“He fought for the freedom to grow and develop in the world and meet your full potential existing among a community of nations living in harmony. Those accomplishments have relevance and value based on what they represent for our burgeoning nation.”
We should be 'champuons of our autonomy'- Dr Wheatley
Dr Wheatley remarked that the late Lavity and others have therefore become a symbol of what we the VI should aspire to be as champions of our autonomy.
“And that is why we have taken the bold step of creating additional holidays, such as ‘the Great March and Restoration Day’ and ‘Heroes and Foreparents Day,’ so we might acknowledge and celebrate others who are champions in this fight for self-government, for economic development, for social upliftment, and ultimately, for freedom."
He admonished persons to study the life and work of H. Lavity Stoutt and other nation builders and freedom fighters, “And we must perpetuate that which we praise. We must become what we celebrate today. You must be Lavity. I must be Lavity. Be Cyril. Be Ralph. Be Willard. Be Orlando,” he added.
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27 Responses to “‘I cry for those who are colonised around the world’- Dr the Hon Wheatley”
We should make you the minister of complaining!
The VI was a little sleepy hollow and by some the poor house of the West Indies for much of the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Century. Dissatisfied with the state of the territory and frustrated and disappointed with lack of availability and inequitable distribution of resources and services, Anegadian and national warrior/hero Theodolph Faulkner led the charge for change, improvement, and progress by leading a massive march (The Great March of 24 November 1949) through Road Town, the VI capital city, from the Band Stand to Government House to protest and seeking redress of a myriad of simmering issues. The Great March resulted in a)reinstating the Legislature (1950), b)1st modern constitution, c)direct voting for some members of the Legislative Council and d)universal suffrage (prior to 1954, voters had to own property and pass a literacy test).
Moreover, Theodolph Faulkner and others started the race and passed the baton to the former and 1st Chief Minister Hamilton Lavity Stoutt, former Chief Minister Dr. Williard Wheatley, national hero Noel Lloyd and Positive Action Movement (PAM) , former Premier Ralph T. Oneal, among a host of other unsung heroes. These heroes advanced the VI from a little sleepy hollow and poor house of the West Indies to having one of the highest standard of living, quality of life and per capita income in the region. The race is still in progress. And this generations of Virgin Islanders like their predecessors have the burden and responsibility to pass the baton to the next generation(s) in a good position to continue the race. This current generation of Virgin Islanders have a number weighty issues to address, ie, self-determination, constitutional review, economic strengthening and diversification, environmental protection and preservation, climate change, disaster preparedness and readiness, effective governance, historical preservation, health and education change and improvements, Ist World infrastructure improvements(water, wastewater, stormwater, roads, telecommunications, ports, social services, natural resources and land use management, recreation and sports, public safety (police, fire), food security, rising cost of living, housing, etc.
YOU AND PRAY FOR THE BVI
The rise in violent crimes is alarming and concerning and it must be such to all VI residents. Crime is a quality of life and standard of living issue that is not going to be solve solely by politicians and the RVIPF; it must be solved by the community. And it is not going to be solved by just treating the symptoms; the root cause(s) must be identified and rooted out. Additionally, though jail is a method for punishing people who violate the laws of the territory and violators should pay for their crimes. iIn my view, the territory cannot jail its way out of this sordid problem.
Moreover, not too longer ago, the VI was a low/no crime community. Locking homes, cars, etc was rare. It was relatively safe to walk out late at night. The jail, for most part, was relatively empty save for the few habitual offenders. Something change.
To solve/lower the rising crime rate, the community must identify what changed and take action to address it. It will be a heavy lift, for in my view, a number of factors contributed to and influenced the change. There is no one panacea for solving this weighty problem that is impacting the whole community, ie, black and white, upper class and working class (poor), locals and expats, residents and visitors, Tortola and sister islands, etc. The whole community, ie, government, law enforcement, schools, churches, NGOs, social clubs, parents and guardians, etc, must work collectively and collaboratively to addressi the crime issue. Committees are too often overused in addressing problems. When used as delaying tactic, they often result in poor outcomes. Nonetheless, for the crime issue, I suggest commissioning a cross functional add hoc committee to assess the crime issue and provide short/term and longer term recommendations. There is an urgency of now so the ad hoc committee must report out in short order no later than 6 months. In the interim, if one sees something, one should say something. But be smart and safe.
[Let’s lead like eagles, not careen off the cliff like buffaloes]
I imagine you will then say “no Uk will be our protectorate” .. are we then independent?
It’s easy to say these words but the consequences are large and you will be crying then for sure.
The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007,expressed that a [born-here] person belong to the Virgin Islands, if that person is born in the Virgin Islands, or born outside of the Virgin Islands, and at the time of the birth his or her father or mother was a British Overseas Territories Citizen by BIRTH]".
We are not colonized by UK.
We are British Overseas Territories Citizens, with our own Constitution, and we are now full-pledge British Citizens.
It is people in public offices, in the BVI, who do not want to manage public offices, according to law, and in accordance with the Constitution.