Internationalist Dr. Max Hilaire left an indelible impression on the audience as he assertively addressed the subject of International Law and the Right of Non-Self Governing Territories to Self Determination. His lecture was intended to provide information, heighten awareness and give clarity to issues and possible alternatives to Independence and not necessarily to advise the Virgin Islands on whether to seek sovereign statehood or otherwise. Photo: Provided

Lecturer at HLSCC Natalio Wheatley, regurgitating the lecture of that night at which he was present, said Dr. Max Hilaire had seemed somewhat critical of the financial system of the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO

L-R: Coordinator of Lecture Series Dr. Angel Smith, Coordinator of Auditorium and Special Events Mrs. Linette Baa, Internationalist Dr. Max Hilaire, President of HLSCC Dr. Karl Dawson and Lecturer at HLSCC Natalio Wheatley. Photo: Provided

"Internationalist Dr. Max Hilaire left an indelible impression on the audience as he assertively addressed the subject of International Law and the Right of Non-Self Governing Territories to Self Determination. According to Dr. Hilaire, his lecture was intended to provide information, heighten awareness and give clarity to issues and possible alternatives to Independence and not necessarily to advise the Virgin Islands on whether to seek sovereign statehood or otherwise.” This was according to a recent press release put out by the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) following an invited public lecture by the professor.

With the Virgin Islands audience being under the umbrella of the United Kingdom, they would have heard some statements from the professor that one would most likely term as being ‘provocative’. Speaking with Virgin Islands News Online, Lecturer at HLSCC Natalio Wheatley said Dr. Max Hilaire had seemed somewhat critical of the financial system of the Virgin Islands, one which has been under the microscope as of late on the international, regional and local fronts.

“He seems to think that the colonial powers were allowing this thing to take place in the colonies as a means of exploitation, having the colonies engaged in things he might consider to be unethical or even illegal activity. So that was his position which I think some people may have found that offensive but it was certainly provocative but it was definitely not offensive to me,” said Mr Wheatley.

The lecuturer and radio/tv talk show host was convinced that Professor Hilaire was very knowledgeable, on a broad spectrum, about colonialism and international law but in terms of the specific situation in the Virgin Islands, “Perhaps he did not have enough specific details about the BVI. I am not sure that he knew enough about the tax information exchange we have done, all of the work we have done in terms of the transparency in terms of anti-terrorism financing, money laundering all of the measure that we have taken to ensure that we are complying with the laws and doing our very best to prevent any type of illegal activities. But I understood exactly what he was discussing,” Wheatley said.

It was noted that without a shadow of a doubt that there were ‘some’ people who were doing some things that can be considered ‘unethical’. “Though it was a small percentage of people, they did expose some people. Example was given of the Finance Minister in Mongolia who had some embarrassing information exposed when the leaks happened and there were other examples where people perhaps didn’t declare resources, assets that they owned through whatever offshore company.”

To the question of whether or not the organisers would have made a bad call on inviting Professor Hilaire to speak on the topic, the learned Collegue Lecturer Natalio Wheatly said the discussion, which reportedly took some circles around the fact there might have been  some form of exploitation from the colonial powers that be, “it seems to be put across as some form of exploitation by the colonial powers by allowing something like this to happen in their Overseas Territories. That’s how it seems to me but I could be wrong but that’s how it seems to have been expressed and I guess that’s why it was relevant. I still thought that the lecture was relevant from the stand point of discussing colonialism. In terms of the specific situation that the BVI is in, we have to discuss moving forward, what’s the best position because the status that we have right now can only be considered colonialism that the United Nations and the professor did make reference to the United Nations declaration towards colonialism. This thing can be considered, it is colonialism and therefore it can be considered immoral and unethical and I don’t think that here in the BVI we should see this as a permanent status going into the future,” said Wheatley.

According the HLSCC press release, Dr. Hilaire had left no stones unturned as he described the harsh reality of colonialism; the United Nations Article 73 which speaks to the Overseas Territories Rights to Self Determination; 1948 Declaration of Human Rights; Rights of the People under international law; the new international legal order; the transformation of the world and the Caribbean. He also cited regional and international cases including a recent international case surrounding the Financial Services Industry in the BVI, which raised many eyebrows and garnered much feedback.

Dr. Hilaire’s view is that the issue of Self Determination is a moral, ethical and legal issue not necessarily an economic one only. He explained that economic status should not be the ultimate factor between colonialism and independence or otherwise but rather a choice that is made based on whether they would want to continually be governed by another with little or no say in their affairs; remain in partnership if they are satisfied with the relationship and progress being made or for the people to seek more control and autonomy of their affairs, which they are entitled to, as they consider their destiny.

HLSCC, through its press release, said Dr. Hilaire’s presentation was met with mixed reviews and he was challenged on some of his views during the discussion. Many questions and comments were posed by the attendees, which Dr. Hilaire welcomed but in the end, everyone agreed that the presentation was much needed and it provided a platform for future discourse.

President of the College Dr. Karl Dawson, according to the release, said the presentation by Dr. Hilaire, and the subsequent spirited discussions that followed, are exactly the type of discourse that is needed on critical issues affecting the Virgin Islands. He also said it is the College’s aim to continue facilitating such activities.

Coordinator of the lecture series at HLSCC Dr. Angel Smith added that the lecture fulfilled its goal as it was intellectually stimulating and provoked various responses from the audience. Many questions were raised which we as a community must now work to find the answers to. The lecture will be broadcast on the College’s television station Channel 52 from next week.