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Governor's statement on slavery reparations ‘derogatory’- Elroy A. Turnbull

- says H.E. Governor Jaspert is just being a ‘pawn & messenger’ of UK policies
Calling the Governor of the Virgin Islands (VI), H.E. Augustus J.U. Jaspert a pawn and messenger of policies of the UK Government, Former Educator Elroy A. Turnbull has labelled the Governor’s recent statements on slavery reparations for the territory as derogatory. Photo: VINO/File
On Monday, September 7, 2020, during an interview with 284 Media H.E. Augustus J.U. Jaspert said paying reparations to the VI for acts of slavery and the slave trade is not the position of the UK at the moment while calling for relics of slavery to be preserved in the territory. Photo: Facebook/File
On Monday, September 7, 2020, during an interview with 284 Media H.E. Augustus J.U. Jaspert said paying reparations to the VI for acts of slavery and the slave trade is not the position of the UK at the moment while calling for relics of slavery to be preserved in the territory. Photo: Facebook/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI - Calling the Governor of the Virgin Islands (VI), H.E. Augustus J.U. Jaspert, a pawn and messenger of policies of the United Kingdom (UK) Government, former educator Elroy A. Turnbull has labelled the Governor’s recent statements of slavery reparations for the Territory as derogatory.

On Monday, September 7, 2020, during an interview with 284 Media, Mr Jaspert said paying reparations to the VI for acts of slavery and the slave trade is not the position of the UK at the moment while calling for relics of slavery to be preserved in the Territory.

H.E. Jaspert pushing UK policies – Mr Turnbull

According to Mr Turnbull, speaking during the Thursday, September 17, 2020, edition of 'Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM, “We have to recognise that the Governor is a messenger of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In addition to that, he is a pawn, he doesn’t have any power of his own, despite what many people feel and think.”

Mr Turnbull,a  former Chief Education Officer, continued, “In the context of being a messenger, what happens is when Governor delivers messages they like to sweeten it up or stir it up, according to their own feelings. That has happened,” he said.

Many have said the Governor's take on the controversial issues showed a lack of sensitivity to the subject, particularly in a Territory of descendants of slaves.

The Governor's statement has since sparked condemnation in sections of the VI, with many calling for an apology to be issued by the Governor.

According to Mr Turnbull, Mr Jaspert said it is clear and obvious that the UK policy is that they are not going to be giving reparations to any of their Territories.

Reparations statements ‘derogatory’

“One of their high officials, I think, sometime earlier this year mentioned that [no reparations] in Jamaica, and the Governor [Augustus J.U. Jaspert] said it here, in my opinion, in a real derogatory kind of way, in my opinion,” he related.

Mr Turnbull said in the context of the VI, some Virgin Islanders running to the Governor’s defence is as a result of them not understanding the role of the Governor and the functions he serve on behalf of the UK in the VI.

He said Governors are selected and briefed on what missions the Crown is trying to achieve in the Territory ahead of deployment, including alleged briefings on local news, grassroots activities and local politics.

23 Responses to “Governor's statement on slavery reparations ‘derogatory’- Elroy A. Turnbull”

  • Ghost (21/09/2020, 12:54) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    Again!!!.. if the Gov. was going to apologize he would have done it already .. why are we beating a dead horse.. and like I said prior “even” if he apologizes does this mean his apology is sincere?
  • @ Elroy (21/09/2020, 13:17) Like (20) Dislike (11) Reply
    Since you know so much, why don’t you submit your qualifications to England and apply for the position of Governor of the BVI.
  • pat (21/09/2020, 13:25) Like (3) Dislike (13) Reply

    it's time the public start to speak out about this ra***t man still in office HE MUST GO FAST

    • mad max (21/09/2020, 15:03) Like (45) Dislike (2) Reply
      You wouldn’t know what to do if you really got a racist governor. This man is certainly not racist.
  • NezRez (21/09/2020, 13:44) Like (13) Dislike (7) Reply
    Apologize for what? He is clearly relating to us what the U.K. told him to say. He knows we aren't getting crap from them, and he said it plain and simple. You all keep forgetting that he was put here to govern over us and report back to his boss, so stop acting as though you are shocked. We will forever be treated as second class people as long as we don't get our independence from them. So cry all you want, they don't give a rats behind about Black people, and are just waiting for the right time to swoop down, knock all of the locals out who think they are in charge, with their own people. The handwriting has been on the wall forever, and when they decide to, the people from the U.K. can come here and do what they want, buy what land they want just like the locals now. We are so stupid fighting our own brothers and sisters from other islands (which is what they want) that we can't see the full picture. Where there is no unity, there is no strength. Stop attacking each other and stand solid to build us up so we can survive independently together. Right now we are building up, so when everything is in place, they will swoop down and tell all of our leaders here to go to hell. Times Up Pinheads! We better stop fighting each other and break away from sucking on the mother's tit just to get scraps. Now all of our brothers and sisters from other islands will be laughing at us because you were warned to STOP IT!
  • Never forget (21/09/2020, 14:44) Like (2) Dislike (15) Reply
    Again there is no place in the bvi for racism he MUST APOLOGIZE
    • @ Never forget (21/09/2020, 16:30) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
      You realize having a difference of opinion is NOT racism or being a HATER as some quick to call it.

      Many whose ancestors were enslaved are still mentally enslaved with that spirit following them but Emancipate yourself from mental slavery none but ourselves can free our minds.
    • HMMM (21/09/2020, 21:50) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      Do you even know what that word means. The man is relaying the position of the UK. Stop trying to drum up controversy and get a life. That man is one of the best Governors we have ever had.
  • josiah'sbay (21/09/2020, 15:09) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Everyone who try to enlighten us about the situation we're in we attack them. We all repeat the divide an conquer mantra that our oppressor have in place for us yet still we look for reasons to hate our down island brothers and sisters. I find it perplexing seeing our people fighting so hard to keep our former slave masters in power. If you are not sure about our current and former relationship with our colonizers read their history search google the information is out there. At lease make your argument and your support for them make sense.
  • NB (21/09/2020, 15:32) Like (21) Dislike (2) Reply
    Here is another one joining Claude's bandwagon to raise up the ants nest. WE HAVE BIGGER PROBLEMS TO DEAL WITH. Ayo ain't easy. Clearly y'all have nothing else to do....Claude you are a bad influence.
  • Historical person (21/09/2020, 16:03) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    Wht are you following cline Mr Turnbull you taugt me in school and i donot want to see you get into long deep trouble keep away from CLINE The Lord knows that you may not like the effect The Governor does not need to apolixe to who what the lelldoes he know about slanery it is England to apolize and do what is right leave the Governor alone Cline might have to pay for his words but you my dear teacher donot get caught in no conolial melay Cline go read your History books amd find out what really happen so that theBVI get credited. Turnbull be careful with your words yhey can do much harm plenty more than blouse
  • Struppes (21/09/2020, 16:10) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    crap. Hey boss, I don't have no time with this. Me nor my wife working and yes, we from here. Got a mortgage and the tenant isn't working. I know they been trying. School just let me know what all the child need to enter the campus after I done give thanks to God that I didn't have to worry about all them little things for a next few months. It got people with problem out here so. Clause is a big beneficiary of covid. Dude is the only one making it financially. See me in Rite Way trying to buy the cheapest can of corn beef to mix with macaroni because it got to stretch, while he picking up a small piece of salmon from $22.00. While he making noise, the Tresury done have his account number to forward his payiment and meen here he say he giving none of the consultancy money to nobody. In fact, tell me, what is the level of his consultation consulting work? What do we benefit from it. 1,000 jobs in 1000 days, I guess all the security guards we get to look at people door done take care of that. What will an apology from Gus do for us?
  • Be real (21/09/2020, 16:23) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Be realistic. In recent times the BVI was flattened by hurricane Irma completely, so much so that the Royal Navy turned up with thousands of body bags. Ask you self how many million pounds did the British government pumped into the BVI post Irma? Miniscule. Instead Britain said they with Guarantee loans up to 300 million dollars. Then why on earth any one should think that Britain is going to pay Reparation for slavery which occurs hundreds of years ago? Caribbean people get real. Its not going to happen. We may stands a better chance with debt forgiveness rather than reparation.
  • Agree (21/09/2020, 17:48) Like (3) Dislike (13) Reply
    This disgusting pitiful excuse of a ‘man’ so called ‘governor’ must resign immediately & apologize

    He has been insulting and tone deaf from day one

    Sooner he leaves the better AND MUST NEVER RETURN!
  • Tadow (21/09/2020, 19:51) Like (2) Dislike (9) Reply
    I said it once, I am saying it a second time and I will a million times. It's time to get rid of his A-S-S. He has over stayed his welcome.
  • Really (21/09/2020, 20:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    He have three more months who is next what a thing
  • from buckingham palace (21/09/2020, 21:27) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    Are you going to apologize to all the expats from down island who had visited bvi on vacation but just because they were not white from usa and uk,immigration denied them entry,detain them in police cells and deport them next day on the next flight without a hearing before the governor.
    Are you going to apologize to all the expat that were harassed and threatened by immigration because they slept with husbands of bvi women.
    Are you going to apologize for the many times you discriminate against expats because they are black and not white in a blackman's bvi.
    The governor shall not apologize to you antiexpat anti uk and racist black bvi people.
    • Ghost (22/09/2020, 01:23) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ from buckingham.... regarding all you’ve said I don’t know about all that, but as it pertains to the latter of BVIslanders apologizing to Expats this will have to be a 2-way street for some of them look down on us as well..many apologies need to be made on many different fronts: e.g. government need to apologize to us to for not giving us the same salary and benefits they give them when they are contracted to work here..they are treated better than us in this regard.. when whites are hired at times they make better salaries than us doing the same job.. si many apologies needed:.also, it’s not locals disliking expats (all expats I speak of) the pendulum swings the other way as well by some .. we all need to stop with that nonsense and show love more to each other regardless of race.. re: locals and Caribbean expats- last time I checked our skin color was the same.. we have enough racism against our kind for hundreds of years and it’s still going on so why hate and kill our own.. (food for thought)
  • So glad (22/09/2020, 04:21) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply

    Thank you Government for getting rid of this worst governor ever

    Please make a formal complaint to uk

    He should never have been sent here

    Completely undiplomatic rac**t big**

    At least the new one is a diplomat unlike this fake one

  • Rubber Duck (22/09/2020, 05:47) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    Clines houseboy. Another rabble rousing loudmouth
  • JJJ (22/09/2020, 06:10) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Yawn, can we move on..........
  • knowledge (22/09/2020, 08:35) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    The Gocernment cannot get rid of the Governor go and learn your facts the governor can get rid of the Premier and the redt members of gocernment so get your facts correct the Government cannot get rid og thre govrernor. People need to know what the proyacls are before Talking


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