PHOTOS: ‘I was born free!’- VI residents slam likelihood of UK direct rule
Scores of Virgin Islanders and residents on Monday, May 2, 2022, took to the streets of Tortola against the likelihood of UK Direct rule as a recommendation coming out of the recently concluded UK-sponsored Commission of Inquiry (CoI), and its report published on Friday, April 29, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
A man signs a petition objecting to direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Activist Amberly Crabbe speaks during the demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Virgin Islands heroine Patsy C. Lake addresses peaceful demonstrators outside Government House on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Scenes from today's May 2, 2022, demonstration against likelihood of UK direct rule in the VI. Photo: VINO
Virgin Islanders take to the street to protest UK direct rule. Photo: VINO
More phrases included, 'United we Stand', 'Yes to assistance', no to Dominance", "We say no to Uk rule', and 'Forward ever.' Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
Demonstration against the possible imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday, May 2, 2022. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Scores of Virgin Islanders and residents on Monday, May 2, 2022, publicly demonstrated their objection to the likelihood of direct rule by the United Kingdom (UK) as a recommendation coming out of the recently concluded UK-sponsored Commission of Inquiry (CoI), and its report suddently published on Friday, April 29, 2022.
Some of the phrases on plaque cards included, “I was born free”, “No UK direct rule,” and “as for fixing my problems, UK start with your own.”
Other persons carried cards that started, “No UK direct Rule, 'Not going Back in Chains”, “I will not surrender our rights”, and “No UK dictatorship.”
More phrases included, "United we Stand", "Yes to assistance, no to Dominance", "We say no to Uk rule", and 'Forward ever."
The first public demonstration was held outside the compound of Government House and, according to reports, larger demonstrations will be held over the next couple of days.
Meeting on CoI report ongoing
Currently visiting the VI is UK Minister for the Overseas Territories the Rt. Hon Amanda A. Milling for high-level meetings on the Commission of Inquiry Report and its recommendations.
Hon Milling who arrived on May 1, 2022, said she will listen to the people of the VI and their representatives ahead of the meetings.
“I am here to listen, and to understand. It is important that we are honest and open with each other when discussing the CoI Report and the issues it has identified,” she said, according to a statement released by the Governor’s Office.
The meetings with Hon Milling took place in close proximity to where the demonstration was held.
The protestors have demanded a meeting with Hon Milling, as they want to know whether direct rule is a done deal and her meetings with elected officials and other stakeholders are just formalities.
The general sentiment is there is no need to suspend the Virgin Islands Constitution; however, the UK can assist the government to implement the other recommendations in the CoI Report, including commissioning investigations against possible corrupt practices by elected and other officials.
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30 Responses to “PHOTOS: ‘I was born free!’- VI residents slam likelihood of UK direct rule”
Now think about how some of you treat the expats. Some of you work them like slaves. You hire them for one thing but if you have more than one business, they have to work at all of them for the same pay. If you own your own house, they work for the business and you have them cleaning your yard..
Some work them 365 days a year, no day off. Slavery was abolished 1834 but some of you still behave like it exists.
When you all see things happening to you, the first thing you all will say is somebody work obeah on you.
I am guessing you're a non-white person trying to deepen racial divisions.
So many people claiming to represent so many other people in these times. Very few people standing up and saying "this is my point of view. I will listen to yours." We can disagree on some or all things. We can debate our different points of view. But you want to boil it down to stupid yes/no, up/down, in/out, black/white arguments.
For instance, what about the majority of people who want BVI to rule itself but want all the corrupt and criminal to be cleaned out?
You marching for that? Or are you marching to keep the criminals and corrupt people in power? Why, because they're black? Is that enough for you? Or because you benefit from their actions? Both?
We see you, wolves, wearing a sheep skin to hide your own personal dirty, nasty business.
Most people out there have their children in private schools... why? Because they know Government schools are not good enough. So come again with these signs about "Our Children", we need to ask the citizens who cant afford luxury and private schools. These are the citizens who know whats really going on.
Do you support the status quo? Do you want more Great Walls of Tortola like the highschool one of Walwyn. If this place goes independent you can rename the channel from Francis Drake to "Cocaine Highway "
You wouldn't even be in this position if your leader hadn't SOLD this whole country to the DEA and I bet some of them were white.
oh! the irony...
everyone sees how much of a wolf Miss Jones really is
Once businesses were able to open or expand without paying outrageous bribes, the work permits and house building followed. Now the country is pulling in DOUBLE per person than prior to direct rule, and they have been given back the priveledge of their local governance with supervision.
No matter what the end result, our UK governor must at the minimum take control of the Accountant General's office, with oversight accounting happening in real time with ALL contracts and budgets.
Path are they that have done, continue desire to continue doing.
How do we expect good governance to happen, if we continue supporting corrupt politicians as the VIP is?
The UK have no intention of ring the BVI will an iron fist. Our own politicians are by far out greater enemies of our best interest, not the UK, as many want us to.believe.
Many politicians, especially those that are now in power, are those that are spiking racist passions of many, do that they would be able to continue robbing us of ours, our children, and Grand children needed finance I compassionately.
Is this truth too hard for many of us to recognize?
My people, especially the youths, it is not the best thing to be ruled by others, but if you were look at our current problems carefully, you will clearly see that our internal problems are mainly financial ones, and those that we have trusted are deceivers of our best interest, especially the present administration currently now in power.
Truth is not without proven evidences. If you don't believe me, examine the evidences, and if some of you still failing to believe me, ask our current Premier, of he care to, he will help your doubts.
Oh, before I forget, I urge yon not to trust Hon. Natalio Sajande Wheatley either. Why not? You may asked?
Answer: Because he to like his boss is very deceitful. We are in desperately in need of better political leaders, every if we need to a elect some of those that have made past mistakes, not too serious mistakes though deliberately for personal financial gain,
that now have our best interest at heart not only their own, their personal family's, and special interest friends.
Beware of novices, certain family members, relatives included, and easy money seekers our our valuable finances.
leader
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