Hon. Vanterpool spells 'independence' at Emancipation Service!
Speaking at the Emancipation Service at the Sunday Morning Well in Road Town on August 4, 2013, Hon. Vanterpool spoke of how the Virgin Islands still has to adhere to its “Colonial Masters” and that the Territory needed to determine its own political status and cultural and social development without outside influence.
Despite his call virtually spelling the word ‘independence’, Hon. Vanterpool said he was willfully not using the word independence.
“Note that I use the terminology, self determination, and not independence, which somehow seems to have a stigma, attached to it, in the context of our own Virgin Islands.”
The self determination, which Hon. Vanterpool said he refers to, “would be our right, as a Virgin Islands people, to decide, our own political status, without outside influence; and freely chart the course, of our economic, cultural and social development over the next 25 years and long into the future spanning many generations to come.”
He also said he was happy to see that the conversation about self determination has begun, regardless of whether persons are for or against it.
The Minister for Communications and Works expressed disappointment that the United Kingdom did not seem keen on going all out to protect the Virgin Islands financial services industry but rather seemed relentless in shifting the goal post in this sector in keeping with international demands.
“Our Premier has reassured Her Majesty's Government, and indeed, the whole world, that this jurisdiction, is interested only in a financial services business that is legal and one that is transparent…With the UK Government apparently now bowing to international demands, we are becoming powerless to determine our own future in our own best interest.”
The minister then asked whether the Territory should allow itself to be plummeted back, to the days, in the 1800's, “when our colonial masters made decisions in their best interest, without consideration for our welfare?”
He also questioned whether the UK Government would subsidise the Territory if it loses its financial services industry. “Will they tell us, what measures, we need to put in place, to make up for the shortfall? I dare say, we will be left to fend for ourselves.”
Hon. Vanterpool said this was the form of slavery and colonialism that still exists today and against which he speaks.
“This is why, I get really passionate, and enthusiastic, around this time, as we celebrate a form of freedom, from which, ironically, we are not really free as we still have to adhere to our colonial masters in their best interest.”
The minister explained that since the abolition of slavery, in 1834, Virgin Islanders have been able to move forward, to this point, with an annual budget of $300 million raised right here on their own. He added that no longer are the people treated as property, bought and sold and forced to work under inhumane conditions.
This he said, however, may be freedom in the physical sense for the past 175 years, but asked if Virgin Islanders are really emancipated from depending on the UK Government's decisions for their lives “and for our welfare? Indeed for our own freedom?”
“As an educated Virgin Islands people, it is high time, for us, to be making, our own decisions, in our own best interest. We can claim freedom not only from slavery in the physical sense but economic and religious freedom as well. For however long it may take, we need to begin the path to self determination now. I submit that there is a certain pride in being able to determine your own destiny and as Virgin Islanders we are a proud people,” Hon. Vanterpool urged.
He also said he was glad that the conversation about self-determination has begun, “as to how we can better ourselves personally and begin to rule our destiny because this is indeed the spirit of emancipation. Let us continue the conversation, on the highways and byways, in our schools and in our colleges, in the media and in our homes, but let the conversation continue.”
The minister further said he was making a call for another round of constitutional talks urgently, aimed at bringing the VI closer to self determination. “Let us not be afraid but continue this all important conversation.”
It is important and interesting to note that Premier of the Virgin Islands, Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith recently stated in the House of Assembly that his Government was not for independence.
The Premier’s message yesterday instead focused on urging persons to use the endless opportunities of being emancipated and the quality of life that can be achieved because of the freedom that was granted many years ago.
He noted that freedom was more than just the absence of oppression and that persons should fully understand and take advantage of the liberty that many of our ancestors died fighting for.
He pointed to the small turn out of youth at the service and asked what this could mean for “our freedom” in the future if the youth are not involved in such activities. Premier Smith then urged adults to get more youths to understand and appreciate the observances of emancipation.
Slavery, he said, ended some 175 years ago but the work of emancipation continues.
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14 Responses to “Hon. Vanterpool spells 'independence' at Emancipation Service!”
yea when you cannot get to do whatever you want with tax payers $$$$$$ of course you will call for independence.... Over $1.5 million on the Geggie Hill Road, $1.2million on craft alive, $1.3 million on Manns Road, close to a million on a hospital parking lot, $600,000 on a retaining wall for a bro...., the transfer of another $1. million from the Ports to a special account and there is more...
NO independence under this gang none
the fact that you are not addressing this shows arrogance and lack of willingness to work with other posters.
you are dishonorable in not doing so.
I still had a lot more confidence in VIP, honestly speaking. From the beginning I never trusted that bunch. At least if VIP was in the bulls*!t that is going on would not be. We are only sitting back and complaining about how this country is running. I think we the ppl should find a way to call an early election and get these ppl out. They are destroying us. The Motion didn't work, let's try something else. We must have a say!!! When he and Walywyn dem done eff up the country they have some place to run; majority of us don't and the set of ignorant moomoo dem put them in power without thinking back on what they did the last four years they were in. It doesn't matter who's in the NDP. I can't believe that some of the ppl was and still is oblivious to what the hell is going on.
there is a reason regulations are monitoring practices. One only has to look at the international financial crisis begun in the mortgage and housing practices. Sounds like he wants to be a tax haven for multi-layered corporations hiding billions from their prospective nations. It's all about money.
If government ignored UK and fixed what they could, were responsible with education, infrastructure etc. and PROVED to UK that BVI COULD BE independent, maybe an argument could be made. But until then, BVI is too immature and inexperienced to be responsible to its people.