As the people of the Virgin Islands (VI) begin to mobilise to demonstrate to the United Kingdom (UK) that they are not in favour of any direct rule as recommended in the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has made it known that it stands with the people of the VI in rejecting direct rule by the UK. Photo: OECS/Facebook
A demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice to send the message that the Virgin Islands is not in favour of any direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK). Photo: VINO
A demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice to send the message that the Virgin Islands is not in favour of any direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK). Photo: VINO
A demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice to send the message that the Virgin Islands is not in favour of any direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK). Photo: VINO
A demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice to send the message that the Virgin Islands is not in favour of any direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK). Photo: VINO
A demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice to send the message that the Virgin Islands is not in favour of any direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK). Photo: VINO
A demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice to send the message that the Virgin Islands is not in favour of any direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK). Photo: VINO
A demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice to send the message that the Virgin Islands is not in favour of any direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK). Photo: VINO
A demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice to send the message that the Virgin Islands is not in favour of any direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK). Photo: VINO
A demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice to send the message that the Virgin Islands is not in favour of any direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK). Photo: VINO
A demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice to send the message that the Virgin Islands is not in favour of any direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK). Photo: VINO
A demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice to send the message that the Virgin Islands is not in favour of any direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK). Photo: VINO
A demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice to send the message that the Virgin Islands is not in favour of any direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK). Photo: VINO
A demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice to send the message that the Virgin Islands is not in favour of any direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK). Photo: VINO
A demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice to send the message that the Virgin Islands is not in favour of any direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK). Photo: VINO
A demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice to send the message that the Virgin Islands is not in favour of any direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK). Photo: VINO
A demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice to send the message that the Virgin Islands is not in favour of any direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK). Photo: VINO
CASTRIES, St Lucia- As the people of the Virgin Islands (VI) begin to mobilise to demonstrate to the United Kingdom (UK) that they are not in favour of any direct rule as recommended in the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has made it known that it stands with the people of the VI in rejecting direct rule by the UK.
According to the CoI Report, serious dishonesty may have taken place in Government and by Members of the House of Assembly (HoA) over recent years and recommended a temporary partial suspension of the constitution. This means that there would be neither ministers of government nor elected representatives and the VI would be run by the Governor.
VI Gov’t & people rejecting UK takeover
Acting Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has said the recommendations in the CoI Report could be implemented without the need for suspension of the legislature and constitution, and has called for a mutual partnership with the UK.
The people of the VI; however, have also been making their objection to possible direct rule known, via various platforms, including meetings and public demonstrations. Such as demonstration was held outside Government House today, May 2, 2022, where approximately 300 persons turned up at short notice. More demonstrations will be held over the next few days.
Direct colonial rule by UK has never worked well- OECS
The OECS also said it has noted the position taken by the duly elected Government of the VI which, while welcoming the recommendations arising from the Inquiry, rejects the intention of the British Government to impose direct rule on the VI.
“It is clear to us that, in principle, it is a bad idea to impose direct colonial rule and the history of such imposition in the Caribbean has never delivered the desired result.”
UK ‘bound’ by UN Declaration
The OECS said it concurs with the elected representatives of the people of the VI that abolition of Parliament with direct rule from London represents a retrograde step in the evolution of the democratic process that is inconsistent with the United Nations Proclamation of Human Rights to be free of colonial rule.
“The UN Declaration on granting independence to colonial countries and peoples - Resolution 1514 of 1960 is an international commitment to which Britain is itself bound.”
OECS urges UK to respect wishes of VI people
According to the OECS statement, the historical responsibility for strengthening governance in the VI must rest on the shoulders of the elected representatives and the people of the VI themselves. “That ultimately will be the guarantee of good governance and full, transparent accountability.
“We strongly urge the British Government to work with and support the elected Parliament in this process of rectification.”
The OECS also said it is willing and ready to provide technical and other support required by the VI as an Associate Member State in addressing the governance issues that need attention.
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38 Responses to “OECS condemns a ‘UK takeover’ of VI”
Who protests while dissing the UK then gets dressed up to go to a meeting later in the day with the UK Rep who came to discuss matters.
You put a dress or lipstick on a oh it’s still a pig.
That’s like telling a rambunctious child you’ll discuss their reprimand from school later and they throw a tantrum instead of awaiting a levelheaded discussion.
All that glitters is not gold. Sometimes we have to take the pain and suffering to learn. Patience is the key to our new beginning. Pray that the will of God be manifested not for UK to rule us and impose their pressures on us.
@Reclaim your people, you need a k**k in your dam mouth. This is not the time to come on here talking sh**. The person is just saying the other brethrens and sistrens from other islands are showing love to the BVI people. We are all in this together, BVI lander or not this is the time for ONENESS...It's not the other island people that have dirty hands( we now see whose hands were really dirty) Go put that in your pipe and smoke ...
OTs-Exit British rule and join their own alliance.
The reason that the government didn’t take the loan was accountability, the UK wanted to ensure the money wasn’t squandered.
You, madam, have a very short memory!!
blog shared similar points. E. Leonard blog was long so it probably get attention. People can read for themselves and make their decisions but he truthfully hard on politicians ( calling them scoundrels), on the BVI and BVI people(noting how they got drunk on their success and lost sight of things) and called for the BVI people to get civically engaged, called for the BVI people to unite among other things. That said, this is not the BVI finest hour. As the old used to say it brought its pig to a fine market, except it was sarcasm for the market is bad. There is song that says don’t cry for me Argentina. Well, we got to cry for the BVI, for it has fallen and reached rock bottom. Now, the people has to come together and climb out out of the people. However, the people must fight valiantly and purposefully to oppose suspension of the constitution and the substituting of direct rule. It must resist being involuntarily dragged back into colonialism. Colonialism is vicious, not virtuous, circle that needs to be closed and flung in the dung heap of BVI history. Unite. Unity is strength. I read a powerful post by RA Skelton on the need for unity in this grave hour. It is long but also a worry read. Give it a read. We must go for more than the catchy melee teasing headlines. Post with melee get more comments than serious commentaries.