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OECS blasts UK imposition, reserved Order in Council for direct rule in VI
The OECS Authority made the statement on Thursday, July 13, 2023 and came as part of the Authority’s Seventy-Third (73rd) meeting and discussions of the Situation of the Virgin Islands.
The OECS said it celebrates the historical, cultural, legal, economic, political, and familial bonds that the Virgin Islands shares with the OECS family in the Eastern Caribbean and congratulates the people and Government of the British Virgin Island on the peaceful, free, and fair General Election held on April 24, 2023.
Re-election of Dr Wheatley welcomed - OECS
It added that they “welcome the reappointment of Dr. The Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley as Premier of the British Virgin Islands and his Administration's continued implementation of governance reforms in the best interest of the people of the British Virgin Islands while hailing the commitment of the democratically elected arm of Government to continue public consultations on proposed reforms that will directly affect the people of the society.
As it relates to the COI reform process, the OECS said it hails the Government of the Virgin Islands' progress in implementing the Framework for Implementation, Recommendations, and Other Reforms.
However, the United Kingdom was called upon remove its Order in Council in reserve to immediately impose direct rule over the people of the Virgin Islands at its discretion.
No UK impositions - OECS
The OECS said it further “Urges the United Kingdom or the Governor on the island not to bypass the duly elected arm of the Government to undemocratically impose legislative and policy changes on the people of the British Virgin Islands.”
Meanwhile, the OECS Authority said it further encourages the United Kingdom to provide the Government of the Virgin Islands with any requested technical assistance to support governance reform.
The OECS in its message to the UK also reiterated that colonialism has no place in modern democratic governance in the Caribbean and encourages all concerned to agree a clear and responsible path for the people of the Virgin Islands to achieve a full measure of self-government in line with the UN-sanctioned options available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGTs) under international law.
Finally, the OECS Authority called for the people of the Virgin Islands' inalienable right to self-determination enshrined in the UN Charter, and reaffirmed by the UN Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, to be respected and the international principle of self-governance to be upheld in the islands.
The OECS reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Virgin Islands at annual sessions of the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation (C-24), UN Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonisation), UN General Assembly, along with the C-24 regional seminars on decolonisation.
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36 Responses to “OECS blasts UK imposition, reserved Order in Council for direct rule in VI”
The hypocrisy in this place makes the damn darg sick.