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We can't run from 'knee on neck' metaphor - Dr Wheatley

-said imagery of George P. Floyd killing is now symbolic of oppression & power struggle
Weeks after a cartoon by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) spark some outrage in the Virgin Islands, Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley aka 'Sowande Uhuru' said the death of George P. Floyd and the imagery surrounding his death is now symbolic of oppression. Photo: VINO/File
VINO on Monday, June 15, 2020, had published a cartoon that tied directly into social commentary made by Honestly Speaking host, Claude O. Skelton-Cline on the Tuesday, June 9, 2020, edition of his popular radio show. Photo: VINO/File
VINO on Monday, June 15, 2020, had published a cartoon that tied directly into social commentary made by Honestly Speaking host, Claude O. Skelton-Cline on the Tuesday, June 9, 2020, edition of his popular radio show. Photo: VINO/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI - Weeks after a cartoon by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) spark some outrage in the Virgin Islands, Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley aka 'Sowande Uhuru' said the death of George P. Floyd and the imagery surrounding his death is now symbolic of oppression.

Speaking on the Thursday, July 30, 2020, edition of the Honestly Speaking show he said, "It has to do with the relations between the power structure which has been controlled by white men, and the oppressed people around the world."  

Hon Wheatley continued, "that metaphor of having your knee on your neck, which became a big debate here in our society because of that metaphor." 

Bigger picture 

VINO on Monday, June 15, 2020, had published a cartoon that tied directly into social commentary made by Honestly Speaking host, Claude O. Skelton-Cline on the Tuesday, June 9, 2020, edition of his popular radio show.

In that episode, Skelton-Cline had told his listening audience, "every time the United Kingdom uses its cohesive powers, that's a knee on our collective neck. Every time the United Kingdom threatens us or gives us an ultimatum, that's a knee on our collective necks." 

The cartoon depicting Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert as a representation of the UK and original commentary led to a small section of the VI community reacting in outrage and sparking social media conversations.

A few persons connected to political parties in the VI opposition had also publicly vowed to shut down VINO by attempting to bully advertisers to discontinue advertising with the publication.

Own up to metaphor - Dr Wheatley 

Now according to VI politician and scholar, the 'knee on neck' imagery is now something much bigger than what sparked it, "One group of people having their knee on the neck of another group of people for four, five hundred years is something we cannot run away from, we have to own up to it."

"The United Kingdom has been a nation that has oppressed people all over the planet and they have to come to grips with it and they have to repent of those sins and pay reparations."

He called for the UK to provide material evidence that it is seeking to repair relations between itself and oppressed people, including the Virgin Islands, as a starting point for correcting opression.

14 Responses to “We can't run from 'knee on neck' metaphor - Dr Wheatley”

  • trrefdrfds (01/08/2020, 11:51) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yessa ..the truth rise to the table once again...u cannot hide from it it is history deal with it
  • asking for a friend (01/08/2020, 11:54) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply

    So are those uncle toms going to apologize to vino for the cartoon bull s**t that they tried?

    • My girl (01/08/2020, 12:09) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
      Ikr, those two salty dry biscuits at BVITB... we sticking with VINO.
  • see above (01/08/2020, 11:57) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is a good example of POWER CORRUPTS ALLL,listen to this minister his words have changed since getting into power. It was his grand father that told the UK the BVI no longer needed any money or grants from them anymore, look how that worked out after Irma. Think before you speak
    • josiah'sbay (01/08/2020, 12:24) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      I don't understand your reference to his grandfather, what do his grand father have to do with anything?
      • UK (01/08/2020, 14:32) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        all his references refer to the UK not giving any money to help not giving grants not helping the ZBVI with money, it was his grandad that told the UK that the ABVI didn't need anymore. is that clear enough for you to understand now?
  • bvi (01/08/2020, 12:18) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    The minister is right again!
  • @see above (01/08/2020, 13:59) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    wat he have to do with his grandfather....u just a hater
  • @see above (01/08/2020, 14:02) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    U hate the man because u hate his grandfather.....it personall with u take ur problems out our country affairs....getaway...that minister got more heart than u and so many
  • @see above (01/08/2020, 14:05) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    but let me tell u something his grandfather is mines to and u talking pics that man make brick without straw..u heard clown
  • slow clap (01/08/2020, 14:52) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    so does that mean thw BVI governmeny has a knee on the collective necks of everyone whonis not from here....bullying the down islanders...preventing expats from thriving ? good for the goose good for the gander...
    get away from all this uk oppessed bvi.....
    work out solutions with them.....therr is no getting away from the fact that this is a dependabt territory of the UK..
    government should quietly crwate a path forward to self governance with an end game of full indipendance..dont ride on the back of george flloyd to get your points across..be smart....think long game and stop with all the white man bull and down island bull....stop picking fights to further your own careers...get the job done slowely but surely.
    you all need to concentrate on the bigger picture closer to home...its now august 1st and still there are loads of people..bvislanders...fully qualified who havent got any unemployment assist yet...givernmebt grants......people who have been without wages since lockdown......if it werent for friends helping them out they would ve begging on the street...and all government want to talk about us uk this and george flloyd that...its bull. government dont understand the hardship that everyone is going through because they still getting paid. they still have a job...tey still have food on the table..what about us. all talk and no action.....vip loosing my vote next time around...being ignored...im sick and tired of all their talk... ssb is overwhelmed...hon wheatly said over 2 weeks ago that everyone will be processed with in 2 weeks..still we wait.
    we hungry....we frustrated.......they have no udea what its like to have no income....no food...mortgage to pay and have to listen to lost promises.
    even my representative is ignoring us.....how many times do you have the write to them...email them..whats ap them....they just pickin and choosing...
    • @slow clap (02/08/2020, 23:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I guess when expats give the reason that locals should not hold certain positions because they are local and that all locals are lazy and unqualified that the inbread and all the bad things they can think of it is ok. It goes both ways . We fighting against each other but it is only a matter of time when expats from the other isllands won't get a job because there are others who are willing for less. Because they too are willing to live 10 in an apartment so that they can improve their condition back home and so every nationality that migrate here is hating the locals because they want to make that Us dollar fast.
  • black man (01/08/2020, 18:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    So happy vino stood it’s ground on the cartoon
  • IslandGirl (03/08/2020, 15:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The govt got its knee on the necks of us downislanders.

    Oppression. Discrimination. Nature’s dirty little secrets.


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