‘I say no to Independence!’ – Edmund G. Maduro
On Territory Day celebrated on June 29, 2015, Minister Walwyn had said the territory is heading towards independence and that persons must start fostering a greater degree of national pride and togetherness needed for such a step.
On his show aired last night July 2, 2015 on ZROD 103.7FM, Maduro said the decision to seek independence from Great Britain would be a foolish one and that the impacts of such a decision could be far reaching.
“If we are going to think about going independent there are a number of things that we have to evaluate and make sure that we have those things under good control before we could ever be so hard hearted to break away from Great Britain under whose good governance we have been for hundreds of years,” he said.
“I Edmund Gregory Maduro appreciate very much the leadership we have been getting from the United Kingdom Government. I don’t care what anybody says. I am not going to get up like a crazy person and ask for independence,” he stressed.
He said the territory cannot go independent with the expectation that “we can protect ourselves against external [forces].”
The talk show host also said the territory has it very hard to take care of its internal security much less its external security.
“When you see what is happening with big nations trampling little nations, can you see the BVI being independent? The major quality of independence is being able to protect our people against outside aggression. I want you all my people to look at the value of Britain being our chief executive through Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” he said.
“Yes, we may ask for further internal self-government, yes we may ask for the ability to elect our own Governor. But I beg you my people, please do not let ignorance lead us astray, do not let ignorance make us say Britain we don’t want any more of you,” he pleaded.
.png)
Follow Us On
22 Responses to “‘I say no to Independence!’ – Edmund G. Maduro”
I agree!!!!
Edmund we say NO to you. Sit the $%^&^ down with your rubbish man!
True, the VI may not get direct monetary support from UK but is not the UK responsible for external affairs and defense? Is not the success of the financial services industry, the primary government revenue stream, due to the stability offered by being under the UK umbrella? What is the value of that stability?
What the VI has to go independence with? The VI has a dearth of natural resources. It does not have the natural resources to develop either a primary or secondary economy on. Wisdom is not travellling down the failed path as others. Jamaica started the regional independence parade on 06 August 1962 and the flood gates open. And the only regional Anglophone countries that have not gotten independence is the Overseas Territories. But where is the model among the regional independent countries?
The people in any country is entitled to self determination. Nonetheless, countries have to look at the realities and cost of pursuing independence. For example, last fall a plurality of residents of Scotland,a much larger country with more resources, resisted breaking away from the UK and going independent. The VI is not ready for independence and will not be any time soon. Let’s focus on developing a strong and sustainable social and economic infrastructure. Let's follow Maslow's hierarchy of needs: basic, psychological and self-fulfillment.
A better course of action is working closely with the UK for more direct self government, ie, direct control of civil service, police.....etc.
The Minister said prepare for independence; He did not say let's go independent now. The day will come when we must talk about self-determination, yes. What if the UK were to wake up high and dry and say, I am leaving you in six months, what would we do then? Grope in darkness as a people without hope? We would survive!!
Let us find ourselves in a position where preparation meets opportunity.
1. We should have a study to see the pros and cons of independence;
2. We should have a clause in our Constitution that states how we can get there;
3. We should have a new Constitution that reflects what an independent VI would want as its highest law of the land;
4. We should have a plan for defence and UN association;
5. We should have a solid plan of how to run an independent nation.
6. We should never be caught asleep on this subject
7. The UK should never have greater autonomy on us than they have now
8. We must remember and know the history of how the Virgin Islands came to be
9. We should know the role of our forefathers in the formation of this nation
So, don't knock the Minister because he said prepare for independence. Who want to be under a nation continually whose Monarchy engaged in the slave trade of our ancestors and gave birth to these islands in the name of greed for King Sugar and cheap labour? At some time we must rid ourselves of that past.
We are a resilient people and we will survive with or without the UK. But as we can slowly see the creeping in of the hands of the slave master upon us, shouldn't we jump off the slave ship before we are again enslaved?
I say, in that decision day, it would be better were we independent than to see a full rule of UK over our heads again. Wake up, Virgin Islander, nothing is wrong in being prepared. The ancestors are speaking, take heed!!
Can you imagine being governed by the ppl we have as ministers who are pompous, selfish, greedy, egotistical and the list goes on? My God, it's only then they will do whatever they damn well please with no one to oversee nothing. No wonder plenty of them pushing to go independent