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Caller: Independence makes no sense

Speak Out BVI caller says sustainable economic foundation needs to be in place before talk of independence
Many might have felt that Premier Smith put the matter of independence for the VI to bed at the last sitting of the House of Assembly, but the debate rages on. Photo:VINO/file
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – One caller to the Speak Out BVI radio show, felt that discussions of Independence were premature at the moment, especially if the Virgin Islands did not have a means of creating money for itself.

The show was aired last evening September 11, 2012 on a local radio station and was hosted by Doug Wheatley.

“Right now we are in an economic situation with tourism and financial services,” the caller expressed.

The caller questioned the advantage of going independent at the moment versus how the territory is at the moment.

“How can you be independent if you don’t have a sustainable economic foundation?” asked the caller.

We have got to find solutions, educate people on how the country can make money in sustainable fashion, he continued.

“How are they going to cover the infrastructure, the projects?”

“If the government can’t make money, independence don’t make no sense!” he declared.

Minister for Communications and Works, Hon. Mark Vanterpool declared at the Emancipation service during his Sunday morning well address on August 6, 2012 that “the VI continues to be dictated to by the government of the United Kingdom.”

He added it was “Time for the management of our own affairs to be in our own hands, rather than depend on guidance and instructions from those who live away from us, who may wish us well, but not tell us what is well for us. Conversation needs to begin, for us to light our own destiny, identity, self -determination and pride as a people.” 

Ever since the Minister’s address, there has been a flood of debate surrounding the issue of whether the VI is truly ready for Independence or not. Talk shows and news sites have fanned the issue with views coming both for and against the decision. 

Many may have felt however, since the Premier, Hon. Dr. D. Orlando Smith, announced in the House at its most recent sitting on September 3, 2012 that the UK has not and is not being approached on the matter of independence, that the issue was essentially put to bed. 

The debates somehow, continue to rage on, a sign that many feel passionately about the issue and are insistent on taking steps to having the issue of self-determination (as it is sometimes referred to) at the forefront of the agenda. 

In the meanwhile, the discussions progress over a thorny and possibly divisive issue that is seemingly headed to nowhere. 

 

16 Responses to “Caller: Independence makes no sense”

  • fox (12/09/2012, 09:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    me sick ah tis indepenence talk dat aint going no where!!!
    • Soon to be an American Citizen (12/09/2012, 10:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      misson fox, I glad it aint going no where. I have another nine months before I become an American Citizen. As soon as da happen, I gone to join all the other Tolian who jump ship before we sink. Tortola going hell in a hand basket and I can't wait to get out. I going go join Obama, he got more hope for me than my own government. I here wukin for government and for wah I see going on in here, there is no hope for me and there certainly aint no hope for my children and grandchildren dem. So leh me move aside let the Jamaicans, Trinidadians, Guyanese and the white people dem pass. In the next 20 years after we done kill off each other, dem gonna be the ones runnin deh show. So ayo hold up lil longer til I get out. Because if we catching hell now we ain't independant, what goin become ah we when we independent????
      • cnn (12/09/2012, 21:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        i agree country down the drain and with dem new belongers them just issue it means troble again for we!
  • port project (12/09/2012, 09:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    come one Mark will be ok not to worry!
  • daddy firday (12/09/2012, 10:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I cannot believe people still getting work up over this. We done agree Mr. Vantepool was just mad and like a kid in a candy store just wanted his own way…you all leave this thing alone.
  • Sandmanindy (12/09/2012, 12:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We can’t get a hospital done in 15 years and 100 million and so many projects unfinished or over run….do we really want this discussion now? We simply are not ready for this.
  • The Mind (12/09/2012, 12:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    While I agree that the BVI is NOT ready for independence, I do know it is high time to start talking about it. It is time to start looking at the possiblity in the future. If we are to go independence, it makes sense to plan plan years in advance for it. What about greating developing our farming industry, boosting out Tourism, looking any possible natural resources that could be developed, any possible factory that can be development, working with the kids in school(high school, college etc.) to get them onboard with all the necessary academic and technical training etc.; so when independence we will certainly be adequately prepared for it, all of us. W we can't forever just take what UK hand down to us.

    • BVEye (12/09/2012, 13:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @The Mind -
      Are you seriously serious? Or you just making joke?
      Our farming industry can't feed us, let alone anyone overseas. Not our farmers' fault. Our land area is just too small and steep and unproductive to feed the number of people on island these days.
      'boosting tourism'? Now there's an original idea. You don't think this whole nation's mission since 1962 has been to boost tourism? That's all we got, my friend. All we got aside from som money laundering business and a side line in cocaine running.
      'Natural resources that can be developed' - what you want to do, quarry the whole island away? Or maybe sell dead coral? Restart the copper mine?
      'a possibel factory that can be development' - a factory factoring WHAT? The same air that Sowande and Cormwell talking about? Maybe is you going start that crazy business off.
      What you independence dreamers don't seem to account for is that the BVI is the size of a very small little town in a big developed country. A very small town or village. So if we go around pretending we can be a nation we just fooling ourselves. Start your factory and gather all those natural resources you talking about and I guarantee a whole year's worth of whatever we produce wouldn't even fill one ship, let alone contribute to world economies on any scale at all.
      We didn't get our independence in the 1950s/60s because we were considered too small to survive in the world economy. The UK didn't want us, but they had to keep hold of us or it would have been injustice to the population to set them adrift like that. The same still applies now. We still tiny - a nano economy.
      If we're smart we use that, and our strategic alliance with the UK, to our best advantage and to help make us a strong sustainable future. But only if we smart.
      • Polisci (12/09/2012, 22:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        @BVEye, I fully agree with your logic. People like The Mind only dreaming and I hope that they will not get the opportunity to impose their wishes on the whole population. We are definitely not ready for independence, there is too much fighting and injustice against our own. When the mindset changes sincerely towards being more tolerant of BVIslanders then maybe we could start the talks of planning for independence, or perhaps associate statehood.
    • billyb (12/09/2012, 14:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      To The Mind: When and if Tourists stop coming here for any reason, WHO WILL FEED YOU????? You think people could just up and be independant just so because they feel like it????? SSSSsttttrrrupppes!!!! WHAT NATURAL RESOURCES YOU TALKING BOUT??? Show me where it is!!!! I sure you don't even know how to plant a banana slip, yuh dere talking bout natural resources. strupes
  • Virgin Gorda (12/09/2012, 12:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    i for independence the governor must go!
  • my two cents (12/09/2012, 15:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    the NDP with there current plans will set us back when it comes to the consideration of Independence
  • smart man (12/09/2012, 23:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    how can we ask for independence when thus far the BVI has not had any great national struggle and great victory????. Only then the issue of independence can be holy and a auspicious day for us to achieve


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