VI people must wake up to rethink relationship with UK- Premier Wheatley
This comes as the Premier has been vocal about the powers of the UK to even suspend the constitution of another territory, which he says goes against democracy.
“I don't agree with it in any way, shape or form. I do not agree with the United Kingdom or any other government suspending another group's constitution, it's fundamentally undemocratic,” Dr Wheatley outlined on an October 6, 2022, press conference.
No imposition of Democracy - Premier Wheatley
“You can't impose democracy on someone, even if you suspend the Constitution, the people still have to live here, and we still have to deal with our own affairs,” he said.
Premier Wheatley added that from his perspective, the concept of suspending a constitution is a flawed one that the United Kingdom should abandon.
Premier Wheatley, since taking the helm of the Government of National Unity, has been on a mission to prevent the suspension of the local constitution.
The Premier has however in recent time, become an advocate for a new relationship with the UK, one defined by the UK not having the powers to coerce the territory, but rather, working together with the local government.
“Draft Order in Council or not? The United Kingdom has the authority under the laws in our constitution and the laws of the United Kingdom to suspend our constitution... I believe that we have to move away from our relationship where any government or any group of people can put another group of people in that position,” he said.
New Relationship needed - Premier Wheatley
The Premier said to move away from that relationionship, the people of the VI must be able to wake up and get together, “let's stop fighting against each other and let's work together and send a very clear message that we do not want that type of relationship anymore,” he said.
With the VI going through a constitutional review process, the Premier said it is a 'wonderful time' for the VI to send a very clear message on its relationship with the UK.
“We do not want a relationship with colonial practices… where you take away our House of Assembly and you take away Cabinet and you put all executive and legislature power in one man’s hand who's not elected, for me that's unacceptable,” he said.
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37 Responses to “VI people must wake up to rethink relationship with UK- Premier Wheatley”
most bvi of our people live in usa with green cards and most of them not returning home…….
there is hardly an unity in our society these day every man for himself and quickly pull down. Look around your community. Our folks shoot each other while others come here and develop
listen to house of assembly most of the 13 you elect bring no new ideas stand all day and tear down each other
we need change
listen to me…..
if you don’t live here you should not be allowed to vote: come home vote for a set of waste then jump on delta and go back where you conduct your regular daily business ……yes you have a right to vote
We can say it is the same every where in the world but it's time to take some introspection. All our resource personnel outside and inside the territory must be looked at with a keen eye and must be given proper and attractive packages to keep our people. B.V.I. wake up we are asleep to long. Look at it for example we have the best heart surgeon outside for decades and many more qualified people but no we make BVI to small for them. We couldn't see beyond our nose. All we know is to attract outside resource personnel. So we are sending people to school and giving them to another man's country by forcing them out.
After many years of mismanagement of our finances by political leaders, the UK was forced to come to our rescue. Deliberate mismanagement of the people of the BVI is by far more detrimental to us than as a people, Spiritually, socially, economically, mentally, physically, and educationally.
Dictatorship is dictatorship, colour of skin, nationality or geographically do not matter. What matters to us now at this time is good governance. Things politically speaking, cannot be allowed to continue as usual.
You want the BVI to be govern in line with your ideological mindset. We are desperately in need now of better governance. Changes are needed now. In many, and my honest opinion, those needed changes would not happen to bring about good governance we hope for under your leadership.
But with the recent exposure of almost complete corruption or inability to perform, we need a hard reset.
We need to become collectively mature about the future, then it will be ours.
England does not want to be the parent, but many here give thanks they are, again corruption complete.
They will gladly let us go when we can show responsibility for ourselves, but for sure that is not now.
Fix the car before we can drive down the road!
The people awoke a very long time
You remain in your trance
Election Day we will give you a wake-up call don’t worry yourself
Bloody fool
The once vast, powerful, and incredibly enriching British Empire has been relegated to the annals of history. The UK, overseas territories, and the crown dependencies though technically not part of the UK are promoted as a family.
Nonetheless, the VI is not treated the same as other political/geographical areas in the UK. Like other colonies of the old Empire 1 and Empire 2 , the VI is not integrated into UK. It is supposedly to self-governing but that is a mirage. The center power lies with the UK-appointed governor. The UK as the ‘Administering Power’ role and responsibility is to assist and guide the VI towards a full measure of self-government.
However, that effort is luke-warm and less than robust. Yes, the VI has a constitution that is a power sharing agreement with the UK. The constitution is a dependency model constitution. The UK is responsible for external affairs, defence, internal security (including RVIPF), civil service, and the judiciary; local government, finance and other remaining functions. Nevertheless, the UK- appointed governor has unilateral power through assigned (retained ) power, special responsibilities, reserved power, and the assent power. Few powers are devolved/delegated. And any devolved powers are easily reversible through an order in council action, ie, suspension of the constitution. The VI constitution status is ‘suspended’ and is being held in abeyance. The threat of suspended the constitution is dangling over the head of the VI and its people like the Sword of Damocles.
Colonialism at its peak was an extractive, exploitive, abusive, violent, genocidal, dehumanizing, atrocious, etc, institution. It set up class, caste, etc, system where one class of people was superior to others and entitled to special entitlements and special privileges. It was and is a zero sum operation. Though colonialism may have been scaled back, its basic tenets are still applicable to OTs. The current relationship between the UK and VI have elements of game theory. For example, the threat of suspending the constitution put the VI in a prisoner’s dilemma situation. In the current situation, there are no Pilates. The more things change the more they stay the same. However, the only constant in life is change. Virgin Islanders are expressing a strong desire for change. Nevertheless, if they want real change, they must work collectively, cooperatively, and collaboratively for change. They must advocate and agitate peacefully for positive change. Unity is power and strength . Time to turn talk into positive action like Theodolph Faulkner, Christopher Flemings, Noel Lloyd, etc did.
politician speak that locals played a hand in their demise though the UK has the the power and has for hundred of years: “In the current situation, there are no Pilates. Who is Christopher Fleming. Never heard of him. Is he from Long Trench? In any event, agree that it time to put aside talk and walk the walk. It is time to unite.
You talk about history! Look at what went down last year here...it will be the new history of the BVI unless we change everything around (including the constitution that allowed these criminal politicians to operate here)