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‘I say no to Independence!’ – Edmund G. Maduro

- said the territory cannot manage on its own
Edmund G. Maduro, the host of the EGM radio talk show has slammed utterances by Minister for Education and Culture the Honourable Myron V. Walwyn about the territory heading towards independence, saying that the Virgin Islands would not be able to make it on its own away from its mother country. Photo: VINO/File
On his show aired last night July 2, 2015 on ZROD 103.7FM, Maduro said that the decision to seek independence from Great Britain would be a foolish one and that the impacts of such a decision could be far reaching. Photo: www.worldtimeattack.com
On his show aired last night July 2, 2015 on ZROD 103.7FM, Maduro said that the decision to seek independence from Great Britain would be a foolish one and that the impacts of such a decision could be far reaching. Photo: www.worldtimeattack.com
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Edmund G. Maduro, the host of the EGM radio talk show has slammed utterances by Minister for Education and Culture the Honourable Myron V. Walwyn about the territory heading towards independence, saying that the Virgin Islands would not be able to make it on its own away from its mother country.

On Territory Day celebrated on June 29, 2015, Minister Walwyn had said the territory is heading towards independence and that persons must start fostering a greater degree of national pride and togetherness needed for such a step.

On his show aired last night July 2, 2015 on ZROD 103.7FM, Maduro said the decision to seek independence from Great Britain would be a foolish one and that the impacts of such a decision could be far reaching.

“If we are going to think about going independent there are a number of things that we have to evaluate and make sure that we have those things under good control before we could ever be so hard hearted to break away from Great Britain under whose good governance we have been for hundreds of years,” he said.

“I Edmund Gregory Maduro appreciate very much the leadership we have been getting from the United Kingdom Government. I don’t care what anybody says. I am not going to get up like a crazy person and ask for independence,” he stressed.

He said the territory cannot go independent with the expectation that “we can protect ourselves against external [forces].”

The talk show host also said the territory has it very hard to take care of its internal security much less its external security.

“When you see what is happening with big nations trampling little nations, can you see the BVI being independent? The major quality of independence is being able to protect our people against outside aggression. I want you all my people to look at the value of Britain being our chief executive through Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” he said.

“Yes, we may ask for further internal self-government, yes we may ask for the ability to elect our own Governor. But I beg you my people, please do not let ignorance lead us astray, do not let ignorance make us say Britain we don’t want any more of you,” he pleaded.

22 Responses to “‘I say no to Independence!’ – Edmund G. Maduro”

  • ccc (03/07/2015, 08:44) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
    First time i agree with edmund
  • 1 Love (03/07/2015, 08:51) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
    Edmund: "...the territory has it very hard to take care of its internal security much less its external security."

    I agree!!!!
  • Agree (03/07/2015, 09:11) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    MR MADURO I agree with you how in this day when there is war raging all over the world plus we don't have a thing that we can sustain our selves with can the minister tell what Caribbean country doing good since they more away from the UK his parent ran to the BVI see how so much people flocking here for a better life it seems as if they want to destroy here for their gain the young people see today there is a tomorrow if he so want it then he should go else where he can be free of the UK.
  • Kingfish (03/07/2015, 09:17) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    Mr: Maduro, this is the best thing that you have said in quite some time.
  • wowww (03/07/2015, 09:23) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    I swear this man does change his tongue quicker than he changes his underwaer.
  • Macaw (03/07/2015, 09:28) Like (24) Dislike (1) Reply
    The leadership of this Territory is strongly displaying the characteristics of the dog with a bone which saw its reflection in the water below. Being greedy it snarled and dropped the bone it had, attempting to take what seemed to be more. People be ware. It is foolish to be greedy.
  • Schups (03/07/2015, 09:33) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply

    Edmund we say NO to you. Sit the $%^&^ down with your rubbish man!

  • Vision (03/07/2015, 09:35) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    true mr.maduro and the answer is no.
  • Sim (03/07/2015, 09:44) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hungry for Independence from Britain like the greedy dog with a bone reflected in the stream below.
  • RealPol (03/07/2015, 09:45) Like (11) Dislike (3) Reply


    True, the VI may not get direct monetary support from UK but is not the UK responsible for external affairs and defense? Is not the success of the financial services industry, the primary government revenue stream, due to the stability offered by being under the UK umbrella? What is the value of that stability?

    What the VI has to go independence with? The VI has a dearth of natural resources. It does not have the natural resources to develop either a primary or secondary economy on. Wisdom is not travellling down the failed path as others. Jamaica started the regional independence parade on 06 August 1962 and the flood gates open. And the only regional Anglophone countries that have not gotten independence is the Overseas Territories. But where is the model among the regional independent countries?

    The people in any country is entitled to self determination. Nonetheless, countries have to look at the realities and cost of pursuing independence. For example, last fall a plurality of residents of Scotland,a much larger country with more resources, resisted breaking away from the UK and going independent. The VI is not ready for independence and will not be any time soon. Let’s focus on developing a strong and sustainable social and economic infrastructure. Let's follow Maslow's hierarchy of needs: basic, psychological and self-fulfillment.

    A better course of action is working closely with the UK for more direct self government, ie, direct control of civil service, police.....etc.
  • pat (03/07/2015, 09:58) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    BVI will never be able to stand on its own two feet given how the government works. There is no cohesiveness or consideration of the benefits for the people, fixing infrastructure- water, electricity, trash, development benefiting investors without getting more benefits for locals. There is no core leader problem-solving protocol or peace-making to move forward. Oversight is still needed when it comes to conflict of interest and big money buying elections.
  • waylox (03/07/2015, 10:17) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    Leh he go back to Antigua if he wants independence.
  • rattie (03/07/2015, 10:52) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    mvw better cart he ram back antigua with tis independant chatter
  • STHELLUP (03/07/2015, 11:02) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    When will we the Virgin Islands cease to be 'young things who cannot leave our mother?"

    The Minister said prepare for independence; He did not say let's go independent now. The day will come when we must talk about self-determination, yes. What if the UK were to wake up high and dry and say, I am leaving you in six months, what would we do then? Grope in darkness as a people without hope? We would survive!!

    Let us find ourselves in a position where preparation meets opportunity.

    1. We should have a study to see the pros and cons of independence;
    2. We should have a clause in our Constitution that states how we can get there;
    3. We should have a new Constitution that reflects what an independent VI would want as its highest law of the land;
    4. We should have a plan for defence and UN association;
    5. We should have a solid plan of how to run an independent nation.
    6. We should never be caught asleep on this subject
    7. The UK should never have greater autonomy on us than they have now
    8. We must remember and know the history of how the Virgin Islands came to be
    9. We should know the role of our forefathers in the formation of this nation

    So, don't knock the Minister because he said prepare for independence. Who want to be under a nation continually whose Monarchy engaged in the slave trade of our ancestors and gave birth to these islands in the name of greed for King Sugar and cheap labour? At some time we must rid ourselves of that past.

    We are a resilient people and we will survive with or without the UK. But as we can slowly see the creeping in of the hands of the slave master upon us, shouldn't we jump off the slave ship before we are again enslaved?

    I say, in that decision day, it would be better were we independent than to see a full rule of UK over our heads again. Wake up, Virgin Islander, nothing is wrong in being prepared. The ancestors are speaking, take heed!!
    • ListenUp (04/07/2015, 13:45) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      'The ancestors are speaking" but only those who sold one another, the most of you are listening to. More in the mortar than the pestle.
  • Wes (03/07/2015, 11:05) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    Most times I consider Edmond a wind bag. Here mehson he is right. All of this Independence hogwash talk needs to stop. The only purpose as I can see it is so that they have no accountability for their actions.
  • STUDYINGYOU (03/07/2015, 11:09) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    UK got us to study? It is only studying us when the big nations call us money launderers. We are so brainwashed thinking we cannot do without a bunch of white people who just got us for cheap labour to give them sugar for their "tay." Your mother used to say, "keep from bad company," but we continue to think that that UK is good for us. Sorry, but I taking my chances with my own people than the hands of the slave master. I wish they say one day, "we got too much problems in the EU; we can't study allyo no more, and let's see what we going to do, run behind them begging them to take care of their child? We have reached the age of majority, go and become the men and women you should be, leave your mother's nest, VI because two congos can't be in the same hole and two women or man can't live in the same house.
    • Silly (03/07/2015, 11:59) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      We cant even keep our electricity and water on, raw sewage running in the streets, corrupt officials, we have to have white people to teach us how to be civil to tourists. Thank god we have the UK, AND by the way, you must have never been to the UK, it looks more like Pakistan and Jamaica than it does a Europeon country.Look at all the carribbean independant islands, full of guns and drugs and crime, I for one dont want to live in Trinidad, Jamaica, Antiqua etc, you be shot to death.
    • tooth&claw (05/07/2015, 08:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      So is the UK our mother or our slave master? or is a mother a slave master, or a slave master a mother. Your confusion is confusing me!
  • wake up call (03/07/2015, 11:36) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    When a child has reached of age most of the time they may leave their parents home to fend for themselves,sometimes they stay as to ganar knowledge, skills, behaviour,finance,etc before venturing out.So one day the BVI will have to come out from under the shelter of good old England.Do you think after living with your Mother for 90 years and she not gonna live forever so what are you gonna do, you cant live off her pension as she is no more so you have to go out and fend for yourself as you may want to follow her soon after. Nothing last forever.The same goes for England and the BVI
  • joe (03/07/2015, 14:26) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    finally we agree on something my brother ,you are speaking the truth.
  • chad (07/07/2015, 11:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    All this talk about independence, I want the minister and whoever else to explain to me exactly how this country will function. We export nothing so we can't sustain ourselves there. We rely on tourism & Financial Services both not as strong as they once were but still holding on. What will happen to all the outside businesses? Will they close their doors and pull out from BVI? If that's the case how will ppl survive? What form of currency will we use, is it the US dollar still or we have to find our own? Who knows we may end up having to join Caricom and be just like our fellow Caribbean neighbors using EC which would mean folks will have no further need to live here.

    Can you imagine being governed by the ppl we have as ministers who are pompous, selfish, greedy, egotistical and the list goes on? My God, it's only then they will do whatever they damn well please with no one to oversee nothing. No wonder plenty of them pushing to go independent


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