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Was VI snubbed from meeting with President Obama @ US-CARICOM Summit?

- None of the Overseas Territories with Associate Membership in CARICOM were invited to recent US-CARICOM Summit on April 9, 2015 in Jamaica
CARICOM Heads of Government share a group photo with US President Barack H. Obama ahead of the CARICOM-US Summit in Jamaica, Thursday 9 April 2015. Photo: ctvnews.ca
Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Chairman Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) has bashed the Dr D. Orlando Smith (left) Administration for allowing the territory to be black-listed by France as well as the NDP Administration’s inability to be respected overseas. Photo: VINO/File
Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Chairman Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) has bashed the Dr D. Orlando Smith (left) Administration for allowing the territory to be black-listed by France as well as the NDP Administration’s inability to be respected overseas. Photo: VINO/File
President Barack Obama and Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller during their bilateral meeting. Photo: abcnews.com
President Barack Obama and Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller during their bilateral meeting. Photo: abcnews.com
President Barack Obama visits the Bob Marley Museum with tour guide Natasha Clark, April 8, 2015 in Kingston, Jamaica. Photo: abcnew.go.com
President Barack Obama visits the Bob Marley Museum with tour guide Natasha Clark, April 8, 2015 in Kingston, Jamaica. Photo: abcnew.go.com
We can't stop watching this clip of Barack Obama saying 'Wha gwan Jamaica?' Photo: entertainment.ie
We can't stop watching this clip of Barack Obama saying 'Wha gwan Jamaica?' Photo: entertainment.ie
US President Obama Visits Jamaica. Photo: JIS
US President Obama Visits Jamaica. Photo: JIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- While the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was meeting with the United States of America’s 44th President, Barack H. Obama, for a one-day important summit on April 9, 2015 the Virgin Islands (VI) and the other Associate members of the Caribbean Community had to sit out as they were not issued an invitation.

OT shut out

The VI is an Associate Member of CARICOM, along with Anguilla, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos Islands and Cayman Islands.

Government spokeswomen, Director of Communications Arliene T. Penn confirmed to our news room that “no invitation was extended to the British Virgin Islands to attend the referenced meeting”. 

She then asked us to contact the CARICOM Secretariat for further questions on this matter.

The Virgin Islands is one of the first non-independent countries to join the Caribbean Community as an Associate Member. It did so on July 2, 1991 under a then Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government.

More confirmation that OTs were snubbed

When our news room, yesterday April 9, 2015 contacted the CARICOM Secretariat in Guyana on whether the Associate Members of CARICOM were invited to the US- CARICOM Jamaican Summit with the US President, we were told by a Mr Leonard Robertson, Adviser, Public Information Unit, “No because none of the Associate Members are Independent and do not participate in foreign relations activities in the Caribbean Community. So none of the Associate Members or Montserrat would have been present at the meeting today.”

The regional leaders met on April 8, 2015 in Caucus, before the meeting with President Obama, with leaders such as Trinidad and Tobago’s Kamala Persad Bissessar, Barbados’ Freundel Stuart, Dominica’s Roosevelt Skerritt, St Kitts and Nevis’ Dr Timothy S. Harris and the host country’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller among others.

NDP weak on Regional issues

The main opposition Virgin Islands Party has continued to lambast the ruling National Democratic Party for its foreign policy failures. It pointed to the fact that the NDP has not been engaged in the Caribbean Community or the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

In a national broadcast last year, VIP Premier in waiting Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) promised that only high level officials from his administration will attend these meetings, including him.

Hon Fraser has also bashed the Smith Administration for allowing the territory to be black-listed by France as well as the NDP Administration’s inability to be respected overseas.

In addition, the international press has continued to write negative articles about the VI, from labelling us as a money laundering jurisdiction to our hostility to press freedom.

50 Responses to “Was VI snubbed from meeting with President Obama @ US-CARICOM Summit?”

  • ooooo (10/04/2015, 15:32) Like (4) Dislike (17) Reply
    another ndp success
    • chad (10/04/2015, 16:07) Like (27) Dislike (2) Reply
      to "oooo" maybe you not old enough or your memory maybe bad. So let me reminded you it was Ralph that decided not to be part of CARICOM as an full member. case they didn't want the "island people" to freely move about the VI.
      • (.)(.) (10/04/2015, 17:30) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
        We still don't
      • Outlaw (10/04/2015, 18:29) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply
        @wow. The VI cannot be a full member because we are still under british rule so the decision could not have been made by RT, we just like the blame game
        • Peng (11/04/2015, 13:55) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
          please but Anguilla is a full member....and is also an Overseas Territory,..what sense you make. Ralph never wanted to be a part of caricom, so how can you show up to a meeting as part of caricom...please...
  • Bandit (10/04/2015, 15:41) Like (14) Dislike (11) Reply
    Take that. And you want to be in CARICOM. You are not independent. lol
    • @Bandit (11/04/2015, 11:49) Like (9) Dislike (5) Reply
      Yes, but, BVI independent enough to help all the nationalities, including those of CARICOM, who come here. And, when the funds are sent "home" from BVI, that is helping.
      • hey bandit (11/04/2015, 17:07) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
        If you went to school even at a primary level, you may have learnt something about migration and why people do. One of the reasons is to better their lives. It has been going on for hundred of years. Much respect to your forefathers who suffered hard to give you what you have now. They were treated like dogs in the usvi. Immigration used to send them back in the morning and by evening, they were back because things were so bad here.they worked hard in Santo Domingo and used to sent the same funds you are talking about to feed their families here. Stop behaving like everything was made here. You should be angry with the people who treated your fore fathers badly. Go talk to the older folks one of them the man who owns the small bar in paraquita bay. Maybe then you will appreciate what you have and look at other people differently and at the same time get an education.
      • Independent Lady (12/04/2015, 21:39) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Empty vessels make the most noise
  • pat (10/04/2015, 15:54) Like (16) Dislike (22) Reply
    What would olando tell a us president....please go sit down
  • rewrsdffds (10/04/2015, 16:02) Like (18) Dislike (27) Reply
    We are not independent but we are better off than most of the independent countries and we don't have to go there to look work.
    • Observer (10/04/2015, 16:26) Like (22) Dislike (4) Reply
      "It is better to be thought of as a fool than to open your mouth and remove ALL doubt."
    • Jim Bob (10/04/2015, 16:39) Like (19) Dislike (3) Reply
      TO OK, moomoo without brains you not going to those islands to work don't mean you better off than them, take a good look in the mirror again, look hard and tell me if you guys really better of than them, i don't think so.
    • @ ok (10/04/2015, 18:17) Like (7) Dislike (11) Reply
      Better off never after the 2011 general election the people are worst off very worst off....ndp must go
    • black boy (11/04/2015, 02:27) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
      I agree 100 percent. We are much better off financially..
    • mmmm (11/04/2015, 07:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Thou fool and thy stupid comment. The BVI did it in the past and continue to do so - running off to the U.S...... Now say Glory be to God we do not need to do it now. In the future consider before you let off
  • Worst Govt (10/04/2015, 16:06) Like (6) Dislike (6) Reply
    VIP is to blamed for this!
  • MJ (10/04/2015, 16:22) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    @ ok you are a jack@@@@S
  • ooooo (10/04/2015, 16:24) Like (19) Dislike (5) Reply
    if he was a chinese the whole cabinet would've gone
  • Observer (10/04/2015, 16:25) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Is the VI a member of CARICOM?
  • Yes (10/04/2015, 16:27) Like (33) Dislike (7) Reply
    But people from the BVI do not consider themselves "Caribbean" they love chat bout down island people and all that mess so one must assume they from somewhere else
    • @LOL (11/04/2015, 12:02) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      Of course BVI is in the Caribbean region. And, where are the other Caribbean islands located geographically from the BVI? Is that not "south"? South is down from north, hence, "down island" reference. But some of you are bent on mischief-making. If you were so steadfast in chatting about the airline connections and fares, everyone would be better off.
      • geography (12/04/2015, 14:57) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
        Jamaica is not south of the BVI and yet are considered island people in the BVI. Call a spade a spade. Geography is not the reason why many are called down island. There is too much prejudice here towards our Caribbean neighbors.
  • virgin gorda (10/04/2015, 16:31) Like (16) Dislike (5) Reply
    Oh well at least fraser will meet hillary bam
    • OneLive (10/04/2015, 22:11) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
      Jamaica, Trinidad you large! When you think of the Caribbean. Jamaica and Trinidad first come to mind. These here two strong fruitful countries with competent people. They fought, they pay the price for independence.....Freedom.... These countries strength, bravery talent intelligence are recognized throughout the world wherever you go.
      • Trinichic (13/04/2015, 02:26) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
        Well said don't mention carnival Culture n of course beautiful mixed ladies no wonder they call us a rainbow country That being said I love the VI still #proudtrini#proudmixbreed
  • Stopit (10/04/2015, 16:38) Like (20) Dislike (6) Reply
    The organizers of this meeting knew exactly who they wanted at the meeting. If no 0TS were to be there, so be it.
    What is the big issue? You aint see where the BVI went on the "Pretty Overseas Financial Jurisdiction List" the other day? We went ahead of all of CARICOM. Tell them tek that. We good for some thing. You aint hear what De Dog say, "we just going them places for a short stick ah fire, and as soon as the fun is done, we going back home where we come from.." Tis BVI, BVI we come from. We aint going UK, Australia or South Africa or CARRY-COME OR CARRY-GO.
  • gee (10/04/2015, 16:46) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    what are the rights and obligations of an associate member? e.g. can an associate member vote or sign a treaty?
  • History (10/04/2015, 17:33) Like (7) Dislike (12) Reply
    If vip was in they would have been invited
    • JACKBOTTOM (10/04/2015, 18:28) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      We got a lot of dunsie-headed bloggers on here buddy. What VIP could have done if no Associate Member of CARICOM was invited. Just show you, VIP only like to be in thing and for a show. Going there to just grin and whenever them catch themselves, they cussing other Caribbean brothers and sisters. Wake up; we are one people. You will soon find out when the ongpong start to fall.
  • Ah saw (10/04/2015, 18:21) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
    It was the vision of a vip government to joint caricum now look like everything else the ndp has killed it
  • jokers they are (10/04/2015, 18:42) Like (5) Dislike (6) Reply
    Ha ha how come the ndp did not send pope, myron, joe jack and the lady with the bad wordd to represent us ha ha look jokes
  • Independent Lady (10/04/2015, 22:01) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
    It was Hon, Ralph T. O'Neal which publicly said "Dead on arrival" to OECS ecomonic integration some years ago when an OECS conference was held here. I stand to be correct it could have been CARICOM conference. It is clear that the VIP is against integration especially ecomonic integration with the other Caribbean countries. (In my opinion is a shame as it is a fact that it is caribbean nationals who work to help in the development of these Beautiful Virgin Islands. I can't fathom what all this hoop-la is about. BVI and other OTs not being invited to a CARICOM summit. The typical BVIslander is snobbish towards nationals from the other caribbean islands of which are full-fledge member states. BVIslanders constantly remind these nationals that they not "born here", that they poor, that the BVI is better than their place, they refer to them as down island people, when children of caribbean nationals are being born in the BVI they are not entitled to get a BVI passport and these children have to go on immigration time in the BVI, and the list can go on. Now the BVIis being snobbed, it is an issue? There is a saying "what goes around, come around" and 'what you give is what you get". In my honest opinion, I don't see the value to CARICOM of having any of these OTs.
  • What? (11/04/2015, 01:35) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    L@st time I checked we wasn't a member. .Of it. Andon't I doubt the president want to meet them no snakes in the grass..
  • farmer brown (11/04/2015, 02:09) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    Good thing the bvi was not invited we would have been embrassed
  • kelo (11/04/2015, 07:29) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    Fraser will mek a good chief....
  • Concerned (11/04/2015, 10:02) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    There are 11 Organs to the revised treaty of Chararamus, which governs CARICOM. BVI and the others OTs except for Montserrat are members of 3 -11. They are not members of and do not participate in Organs 1 and 2. Foreign Affairs and Economic. Just for the record BVI did try to become a member of Caricom but because they did not wish to be part of the two organs they had to remain an Associate Member.
  • kick back (11/04/2015, 15:31) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The ndp like chines thing big money
  • mary j (11/04/2015, 16:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where does this sense of entitlement come fromby the VIP like only them must run the country?
  • yessie (11/04/2015, 17:26) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Fraser is right!
  • Bvi man (12/04/2015, 14:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Much to do about nothing!!!
  • wow (14/04/2015, 11:00) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Ppl only see how it feels when the tables turn on them huh. We don't want outsiders here & always telling them go back where they come from yet because we didn't get invited to an overseas meeting we crying fowl. Oh pls, gov just vexed they couldn't get their photo ops & handshakes with the US president that's all.

    BVI is a place that dogs ppl who not from here & for what. Today if all non belongers pack up and leave, the country comes crashing down, businesses pull out, banks shut down, apartments empty etc. It will be like a lost forgotten place. Don't get me wrong you know, there are some bad seeds that don't deserve being here and yes they need to be sent out with the quickness i'm on board for that but there are good folks who contribute/have contributed. The same speed ppl from here running to the US for better opportunities it's the same with ppl coming here. Why can't ya'll get it through your thick skulls. Bet if the US decide they don't want BVIslanders in their country & they must leave everybody will cry fowl. It's the same thing. I'm from here and it's like I told my teen daughter just few days ago i'm ashamed sometimes especially when I speak with persons not from here and they tell me how they've been treated by my fellow VIslanders. They often ask me if I sure i'm from Tola, how come I don't act like others so negative towards outsiders & my response is usually I need you & you need me so why fight it. My kids don't dare come around me with the "born here" foolishness cause I will personally sort them out for it. I don't want to hear it period! BVIslanders don't want outsiders being here yet it's those same ppl who become our husbands, wives, bfs, gfs etc. If you so hate them why are you forming relationships with them. SMH, swear something wrong with this place.


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