‘Time for more autonomy' – Doug Wheatley
He was speaking on his latest radio show ‘Speak Out BVI’ aired on Tuesday February 24, 2015 on ZBVI 780 AM.
A caller asked the host whether or not he thought constitutional reform could bring the Territory closer to self-governance other than independence.
In response, Wheatley said that according to a lot of persons he would have spoken with, anything beyond where the territory is would be independence.
Wheatley said that the recent referendum in Scotland should serve as an eye opener to the possibilities of greater autonomy.
“I believe that the referendum that took place in Scotland is precedent setting for the whole of the United Kingdom and its Overseas Territories,” he said. However, he pointed out that in the discussion that took place nobody said anything about the rest of what comprises the United Kingdom outside of England and Wales.
“I think that there is an opportunity for us to speak with the British and try to move our autonomy, just like how Scotland, England and Wales are going to get more, we the Overseas Territories should get more as well,” he said.
“In the US Virgin Islands they have a delegate to Congress. In the Netherland Antilles they also have somebody in the Parliament [of the Netherlands]. We here don’t have anybody in the [UK] Parliament. I agree with you that there can be some other steps taken besides going for independence,” said Wheatley in response to the caller.
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