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UK Citizens voting in the OTs
On Thursday, July 7th, 2022, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson finally resigned. Or claimed he would resign. Undone by his own cabinet members, who realising that their own credibilities were now at stake, decided to jump ship.
What does this mean for the United Kingdom Overseas Territories of Anguilla, Bermuda Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Virgin Islands?
In reality, it means very little.
No matter who sits as Prime Minister, the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) mandate does not change.
So, no one in the OTs should get overly excited about a change in leadership. The top contenders for future Prime Minister will follow the same mandates of Global Britain as set out in the Foreign Affairs Committee Report of 2019.
Expanding the franchise
Recommendation 9: " The UK Government should initiate a consultation with the elected governments of the OTs and work with them to agree a plan to ensure that there is a pathway for all resident UK and British Overseas Territory citizens to be able to vote and hold elected office in territory."
As examples:
1) An Accountant in Georgetown, on a work permit, would be able to vote, and run for office, in the Cayman Islands.
2) A British Lawyer in the Virgin Islands would have as much voting rights as indigenous Virgin Islanders.
Can anyone recall this Foreign Affairs Committee coming to the OTs to ask our opinion on this matter? Perhaps we missed that invite.
As we speak, there is a desire, by some, to change the Constitutional Order of the Cayman Islands, to allow Non - Caymanians the right to vote.
One of the persons, behind that report, is Tom Tugendhat, Tom is now running to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK PM). Tom Tugendhat was the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee that wrote that report.
Does it sound as if views us as equals?
Colonialism lives
Over the last year or so, there have been several bills put forward by either UK Members of Parliament or members of the House of Lords, that would have an adverse effect on the people of the Overseas Territories.
More to the point, these persons have never once spoken to the people of the OTs about their proposals.Essentially, they retain the colonial mindset that a small group of persons in London can decide and dictate what should happen here in our islands.
That in itself, is a clear definition of European dictatorship, not democracy. Ironically, the very same democracy that they so proudly boast that they are defending in Ukraine.
The Overseas Territories cannot legislate what happens in the UK. So, they have no moral rights to attempt to legislate what we do and the laws we create.
In a few days, weeks, or months, Boris will be gone. But make no mistake, Colonialism lives.
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13 Responses to “UK Citizens voting in the OTs”
The British didn’t just show up here last week. They been in charge of these islands since the 1500s.
Are you pretending they should have no involvement in the territories they have owned since before slave days?
It is the practice of one country exerting control, power, etc, over another country, people, etc. Typically, it is large, powerful country(s) exerting control over a small and weaker country(s). The colonialists typically impose their religion, language, culture, customs, system of government, economic system, etc. on the local people. The colonialists pursue colonialism to their benefit by using local resources and people and to the disadvantage of local people. Colonialism stills has its grip, tentacles on the VI and other OTs. Colonialism and democracy are at odds with and don’t operate in unison with democracy. Take note of the many democratic deficiencies in the constitution of the VI and other OTs.
Every UK resident has representation in Parliament, having input on bills being debated. The VI and other OTs have no representation in Parliament, yet, for the most part, they must abide by bills passed in Parliament. A populace must have input on laws that it has to live with and by instead of the powerful pushing its will on the weak. Indeed, it is relentless majoritarian rule. Might is right.
Moreover, the OTs are small dots with small populations. Consequently, they cannot adopt some practices present in larger countries, ie, UK, US, etc, without significant, negative impact on the social, political, and economic order in these smaller countries. The issue at hand is UK citizens wanting the opportunity to vote almost instantaneously in OTs election. For example, a few hundred people being added instantly to the electoral role in a small locale like the VI has the potential of quickly and adversely disrupting the community’s norms and social order. Consequently, the addition to, the growth of, the electoral rolls should/must be a planned, programmed, phased, etc process. The issue of reciprocity will come up but this issue must be balanced against the adverse impact on small extremely small locales, ie, VI/BVI.
“indigenous
adjective
originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.”
VIrgin Islanders came from Africa and were resettled here. They are definitely not “indigenous”. You cannot re-write history and facts!