Time to discuss ‘Independence’—HoA Speaker Moses
The matter was again recently addressed by Speaker of the Virgin Islands’ (VI) House of Assembly, Ms Ingrid A. Moses, while in the Cayman Islands for the a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference held from June 15 – 23, 2018.
Speaking with the Cayman Compass, Ms Moses said the UK law on beneficial ownership was another “direct hit” on the island, and had prompted new discussion on independence.
According to the VI Speaker, independence is a difficult issue in the British Territory, but many now feel it is something that has to be discussed.
“We haven’t had a serious discussion on self-determination but all these matters have come together and that is starting to happen. We have to have a conversation so that persons are not afraid of what they don’t know,” she said.
Hurricane UK
The VI Speaker told the Cayman Compass, the UK had given the VI a $400 million loan, which would have to be repaid, to help with rebuilding after the hurricane.
“Now they are trying to shut down the industry that would have helped us be able to pay it back,” she said.
The VI derives 60 percent of its government income from financial services and the Territory’s Leaders, including Premier, Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, have indicated they will oppose any move toward introducing a public beneficial ownership registry until it becomes a global standard.
Ms Moses reminded the VI Constitution guarantees autonomy on domestic matters and as such was preparing to challenge the order in court.
“I call it Hurricane UK,” added Alvera Maduro-Caines, another VI politician in attendance at the conference.
Self-Government
The Cayman Islands 2018 CPA Conference, also saw participation from neighbouring Bermuda’s, Thomas C. Famous MP, who spoke to that country’s experience, with the Cayman Compass.
The Bermudian politician—also a Virgin Islands News Online, Columnist—told the Compass that Bermuda’s constitution puts it in a stronger position than other territories when it comes to challenging the UK over beneficial ownership.
“We have said no, we are not doing it. We are not going to take orders from England. We will open up our books when everybody else does, when it becomes a global standard. Our constitution is a little bit different to the Cayman Islands. It is 50 years old and provides for self-government. We can’t be governed by Westminster,” he said.
Leverage
He believes similar leverage is unlikely to be granted to the Cayman Islands before 2020 – the deadline set by the UK for its territories to introduce public beneficial ownership registers or have it imposed on them through an order in council. “Let’s be realistic,” he added.
“If Britain is telling the overseas territories, we want you to open up your books; they are not going to give you a constitution that allows you to say no. They may give it to you afterwards, but not by 2020.”
He warned that even with a stronger constitution, Bermuda would have to fight, potentially through the courts, to defend its right to self-governance.
“If Britain really wants us to open the books, they are not going to back off. We will have to fight and say our constitution doesn’t allow it, but that is still going to be their desire.”
Mr Famous believes Bermuda and other Overseas Territories will ultimately have to push for independence if they want to control their own destinies.
Total Sovereignty
“I personally feel Bermuda is heading towards total sovereignty because the UK will, in one way or another, continue to impose its will on us,” he said.
Though independence is a stated long-term goal of Mr Famous’s party, the Progressive Labour Party, the island’s Premier David Burt has indicated it is not on the immediate agenda.
Mr Famous said the population was still split on the issue, but he believes more people are beginning to question the relationship with the UK
“People realize the days of being dictated to by England need to come to an end,” he added.
VI Discontent, Protests, Boycott
The Cayman Compass reported a similar atmosphere of discontent fermenting in the VI, where residents boycotted the Queen’s Birthday celebrations in a show of protest against the UK
Many were already unhappy at the level of support they received from the UK in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria last year.
The UK decision itself also saw resident’s taking to the street by the thousands in what was the VI’s largest protest demonstration in its history.
Close to 5,000 persons took to the streets in Road Town, Tortola, on May 24, 2018, to protest the move by the UK Government.
A petition has since been handed over to the UK Government through its Representative in the Territory.
The demonstration was held in wake of the UK House of Commons and House of Lords supporting the amendment to the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill, demanding that only Overseas Territories located in the Caribbean operate registers of beneficial ownership.
The Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill, has since received the Royal Assent and became an Act on May 23, 2018.
The VI Government says it will only comply when the standard becomes a global one.
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25 Responses to “Time to discuss ‘Independence’—HoA Speaker Moses”
Let BVI government keep the people informed as to what is happening and how it is being daalt with . Not after the fact “ bvi proverb” shut d door after d horse bolt
NDP must and will go!
Can we please start behaving like rational human beings, and not so emotionally deranged?!
http://isj.org.uk/neocolonial-intervention-in-the-caribbean/
I've been saying the same thing for years now. Independence is a very serious thing and as small country we need to the think this through and through. Don't be like our other Caribbean brothers and sisters and haste to independence because we don't like being told what to do. Before we start with this look at them carefully, look at the their pitfalls and a succession so we can chart the right course if we do go that route. What happen is to many of us continue to allow persons who only think of themselves and their wants and needs in the right now right here and not for the future to lead us astray. These persons should not be allowed to chart the course for an entire nation. Also look at Jamaica, Trinidad and Guyana, three of the largest and mineral rich countries but over 2 million citizens from each country live outside of them. That is 2 million each. And if you look around you would realize that more citizens from these independent nations live in dependent countries and smaller one at that that even citizens of the said country. To me this says a lot about their choice for independence and I have friend from some who have personally said to me they think they took independence to early.
What I suggest is we lobby for a seat at the table in the House Assembly in the UK similar to that of those in the US Territories. Let pool our resources together and make a case as to why we should be seated in the house. Independence should not be our only option.
BVIslanders have this crazy idea that the BVI is something like the wider world. But we forget that we are absolutely tiny in real world terms. To get all pride-filled and start strutting around like a big-man insulted - it's madnes and all based on delusion from oversize BVI ego.
By standards of any country in the world we are the size of a small suburb or village. Think about it like this - almost all the voters are related to each other or a member of government or civil service. In other words, loyalties are more powerful than principles because someone is your relative and you won't let the family name get stained. Or look at the fact that we only have one high school, so everyone in the whole civil service, politics and local community - they all went to the same school! We are a small village and even though we might have the pride of a large continent, let us not forget that in the wider world, our chances of prospering and our grandchildren prospering, are tiny.