To recolonise a country in 2022 is just not acceptable– Julian Willock
Speaking on a Bermuda radio talk show, "Motion to Adjourn - Territories Talk' on Thursday, October 13, 2022, the former Speaker highlighted that the VI was not going to let the UK take over the territory without a fight.
“This has been consistently resisted by the majority of the people, both the business community and the political class. And everyone has said that while we know the territory has got certain things wrong, just like others have got things wrong in their development…. suspending our Constitution is a no no,” he remarked
Following the conclusion of a hastily called Commission of Inquiry paid for by the UK Government during the height of the global Coronavirus pandemic, lone Commissioner and UK national Sir Gary R. Hickenbottom included the suspension of the constitution as a major recommendation to carry out reforms in the VI.
Fight for democracy continues - Willock
However, according to the former Speaker, that just was not acceptable for the VI and the direction it is heading.
“In 2022, to recolonise the country is just not acceptable in a modern society where everyone is concerned about freedom and where we have people all over the world fighting for democracy.”
He pointed to Ukraine and Russia conflict and remarked that the big fight there is for their [Ukraine] own democracy, not to be invaded by Russia.
Mr Willock maintained that other countries around the world, using examples such as the UK, France, Uganda, Bermuda, and Trinidad and Tobago, have gotten things wrong in their development.
“The US now is fighting for their own democracy, where there are people who don't feel, who don't respect the democratic principle, and like we in the Virgin Islands, we are also fighting for our democracy from our administrative power,” he said.
UK holding gun to VI's head?
The UK has held back on imposing direct rule on the VI but has an Order in Council on reserve that gives the unelected Governor the power to suspend the constitution and run the territory.
Many see this as reeking of colonialism and even racism, while some have said the UK is holding the Order in Council like a gun to the VI's head.
A VI delegation to the UK next month will be encouraging the colonial power to remove the Order in Council.
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27 Responses to “To recolonise a country in 2022 is just not acceptable– Julian Willock ”
Furthermore a crab’s natural habit is not in a bucket. That’s the dumbest analogy it frees the person who put the crabs in a bucket and places all blame the crab who’s simply trying to survive. FIGHT OR FLIGHT
The UK has chosen not to suspend our conversation. They demand of us better governance for the people of the BVI. The CoI recommendations are not unreasonable requirements, though they seem to many among us to very unreasonable.
Don't forget that our present Premier, and his team of ministers have agreed to fully comply to the CoI recommendations.
Let us move forward to build, and serve our people with true love for each others welbeing.
Again, Respect to you brother Julian Willock. Your views are not overlooked by me, and many others.
After the formation of the UN in 1945 after WWII, there was a robust decolonization effort. From the original list of 72 non-self-government-territories (NSGT), 17 remain, including [British] Virgin Islands (VI), and United States Virgin Islands (USVI). The aim and purpose of the robust decolonization effort was to afford all people the right and freedom to pursue self-determination, ie, independence, free association, integration, etc.
The Age of Decolonization needs to relentlessly forge ahead, not retrenched into recolonization. The UK and other ‘Administering Powers’ must provide the guidance, support, and assistance to push NSGTs toward a full measure of self-governing. The lights have gone out on colonialism, an extractive institution, a zero sum operation, etc. It must be the dawn of a new day, a new era of human rights and freedom, equalities, democracy, etc.