Governor's Office a 'symbol of discrimination & injustice' to VIslanders - Premier
Hon Fahie made this call during the 13th Sitting of the Second session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) yesterday, July 27, 2020, during the start of the debate on the VI's long overdue constitutional review.
Unelected Governor
Even as the VI is self-governing, he said "an unelected Governor is still appointed by Her Majesty the Queen, who presides over a Cabinet composed of a Premier and Ministers who have been duly elected by the people of the BVI to represent them."
The Premier said the appointment runs counter to the rights of free people to govern themselves in a democratic society, with the Governor even retaining powers to intervene into the affairs of the Territory.
"There is inescapable friction in our constitutional arrangements, in which the democratic will of the people of the Territory runs against the monarchial authority of the Governor appointed by the UK."
The Leader of Government Business said in order to shape the Territory's destiny, the constitution should be in the best interest of the people.
Constitution does not stop VIslander from holding post - Premier
Referencing Chapter 3, Section 35, of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, Hon Fahie said there is nothing in the order under the appointment of the Governor, that stipulates the post cannot be held by a Virgin Islander.
“Yet still in seventy years of the BVI's modern constitutional history and in the thirteen years of existence of the Virgin Islands constitutional order 2007, Her Majesty and her UK Government have not seen it fit to appoint a Virgin Islander to the post of Governor.”
He said the points about the Governor referenced is not about independence, rather, about self-governance under the current constitutional arrangements as a matter of principle.
'Invisible glass ceiling' - Premier
According to the Premier, while there are Virgin Islanders who qualify for the post, having been career public servants, innovators of industries and scholars with high-level college education throughout all generations of the Territory, there is no one in the VI deemed acceptable by the UK to hold the Governor's position.
He called the Governor's Office a symbol of discrimination, oppression and injustice against Virgin Islanders, starting with the youngest child, whom he said cannot achieve the highest office in the land of their birth regardless of how hard they study and work.
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40 Responses to “Governor's Office a 'symbol of discrimination & injustice' to VIslanders - Premier”
the premier...when talking about the absolute lack of BV Islanders in the post of govenor..went on to say that he understand that a BVIslander may not be able to sit as govenor in their country but could maybe sit in another overseas territory.....so.im a little conffussed...is this not the same as having anyone other than a BV Islander as govenor in the BVI. what is the difference between having a govenor from as turks n caicos or from UK....so if this present govenor hailed from another overseas territory...but upheld his same positions and discusions as he is now...this would suddenly be acceptible..?..again..im not clear on what would change......
Rinse the mouth while u at it with pinesol
U smell ur display name in a stale form
Aka stale piss
INDEPENDENCE, then you can run your Country the way you want. To allow a Black man to be Governor in the BVI will be playing Russian Roulette with the Country.
This is the worst Governor we’ve had. He and his all w****** office are r******s. Can’t even protect their b**** servants..... he needs to go and his w*****cop too. VI for VI only.
Black,white, orange, green, the duties of any office is going to be carried out no matter what someone's racial background is.
We need to stop using racism as a scapegoat for everything.
Blacks are seen work horses, hewers of wood and carriers of water. Their labor was vital to creating wealth to pass on as inheritance. They cannot fathom Blacks being in leadership roles. Their roles are in subservient positions.