CARICOM says Order in Council is a ‘blunt colonial instrument’
The regional body also reaffirmed its commitment to support the VI at the relevant United Nations fora on decolonisation.
According to a communique issued at the conclusion of the Forty-Fourth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) held in The Bahamas from February 15-17, 2023, CARICOM Heads of Government received an update from the Premier of the Virgin Islands Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) on the governance situation of the VI.
It said Heads of Government commended the Premier and Minister of Finance Dr Wheatley and his Administration for the “good progress” made in implementing governance reforms and firm commitment to consulting the people of the VI in the process.
‘Remove the Order’- CARICOM to UK
They called on the United Kingdom to remove the Order in Council in reserve to impose direct rule on the people of the VI “which is a blunt colonial instrument that has no place in democratic governance.”
Heads of Government also endorsed the United Nations resolution on the Question of the [British] Virgin Islands adopted by the 77th UN General Assembly on December 12, 2022 that, among other things reaffirmed the right of the Territory to self-determination.
CARICOM Heads of Government, according to the Communique, also welcomed the upcoming General Election in the VI that is constitutionally due by May 12, 2023.
Meanwhile, the CARICOM summit in The Bahamas was also attended by the Prime Minister of Canada, The Right Honourable Justin P.J. Trudeau, PC, MP.
Heads of Government also received a virtual presentation from the President of the Ukraine, His Excellency Volodymyr O. Zelenskyy.
.png)
.png)
.png)
Follow Us On
20 Responses to “CARICOM says Order in Council is a ‘blunt colonial instrument’”
Question: Who asked for the CoI? Was there agreement/consensus on the conditions for implementation of the recommendations?
And which CARICOM country would you like to "model" yourself after: Haiti or Dominica?
Of course, you can hasten your demise; independence is always an option. You have loads of "resources", so you should do quite well paddling your own canoe.
By Tafari Zharr
Yep, If yuh HERE-BY register yuh DARE-BY vote
BVI still hot- the intensity of daily struggles, mysteries, afflictions and strains are pouring out in digital streams and we ain’t found piece yet at either thug mansions or church homes.
Second guessing the nature of politics in the BVI is like me flirting with writing this response- but with responsibility requires reclaiming voice . Just reading the world’s news is as difficult as despairing please bad news just don’t thrive in the VI . So I’m still second guessing, I crushed my last couple of notes thinking what’s the point . What I’m not second guessing is the the point is my heart belongs to a VI that seeks to be mortal first and marvelous second - not second rate!
Truthfully, while I was waiting, unready, my pen’s ink got dried-up and the spring ever so rusty. By the time I tuned back in it seems lately everyone has something to say or like me is taking mental notes it’s hard not to witness the pouring of digital depth and frustration incidental to the open surge of willingness from everyday people just venting publicly to get a bit if reprieve or bitch ; of sorts like wet tear drops on a Scantron sheet - the VI people weep: via two words, two lines with their two cents on every issues.
It’s the wear and tear of just how they are coping and living in these times recanting experiences given BVI’s ongoing embattled and current stories. Digital love Documented in a muddy watered, perpetual, political VI where diving in any article on any day is not a simple tour of escaping “the Wreck of the Rhône” to be stranded as if on Robinson Crusoes’s Treasure Island. Displeasure’s the treasure emanating from the chest The only treasure-able thing seems to be the emancipation upon which of the main become the treasured island and empowerment of which treasured son will become triumphant. Look, “Don’t Ask yuh neighbors nuttin’ juss make sure yuh behinds registered to vote!”
Meanwhile lots of testosterone, lots of cerebral candidates making giant Jenga moves with cascading blocks of challenges but hoping each disruption is his bests of works: unsung, last man standing is the goal - to heck with aggravating, torpedoing issues; even if remaining undone or endangering outcomes balancing the political act for fear of plunging blocks all tumbling down - losing is not an option for the parties partners, at large candidates, or the constituents. As Castaway movie implies The climax and mixed cast of hopefuls are headed towards cascading waves intermittently crashing ashore
With big BVILOVE I’m Reminiscent of 1970s political unrests. Turned out those were the-rivaled times for unrivaled men like Lloyd, Fonseca, DecCastro. Wheatley, Penn, George, to randomly name a few. As before, uncertainties with upcoming Elections or no by-elections, who is going to cast a vote have always been determined finally not by expats but by citizens.
Politicians Come through for Citizens! Registered persons local or abroad can normally work and vote- while Expat workers can only work. So, isn’t it side splitting that the BVI’s residence voting policy mechanism (which also continues to thrive on the expatriate-system) would employ an adversarial system of Justice against its own citizens who want to reserve the right to vote which is as traditional in the BVI as events leading up to August Monday parade.
New comer politicians and candidates do not discount our votes. I think It’s almost as if some of us only want expats to be present but now moved the needle to make certain that some citizens be denied the right or be struck off, without even the right to an absentee vote. Truth - the two dance together-Disenfranchisement of either is Ridiculous!
Whereas by excluding and removing live and qualified persons from voting registers even if it may favor political candidates to strategize for winning districts in the short term isn’t it worth reviewing as to what detriment such policies may have and how they may have impacted returning and or absentee voters; with studies on the will of all citizen voters in the long term? Yet, perhaps a blind electoral association for some of the citizens and not all of the citizens is sustainable even if socially objectionable; as the saying goes; yuh nah get it?
I digress, It takes a village to raise a child - it’ll take a village to get us back on track; so many distractions, investigations, and contraptions. I reiterate, obviously, an expat person generally don’t qualify to vote - they work. Disqualifying citizen voters may be disadvantageous since the expats come to work - They do not come to vote so what side VI voters on - specific to VI politics BVI voters don’t vote in other jurisdictions; but disheartening the voter don’t keep the heart of the voting metric beating!
Therefore, unite Alliance Citizen Voters - ACV also known as apple cider vinegar works wonders: a little ACV should be the sacred electoral muscle drink and formula to reshape political strategy towards a more democratic inclusion instead of pointless exclusion.
Ultimately, revisit, revise, and revamp aspects that were unfair but the adept politicians had a favorable formula that also oiled the voting machine for having locals abroad buy into the cultural, social, and political dynamic that’s been so uniquely VI- start saying goodbye to the bad practices of excuses and exclusions and bring back good vibes by Re incentivizing by encouraging VI people to reinvest in the BVI who eventually will plan to come back home. So a lot of other islands in the Caribbean are rolling out programs for building communities up and out so that their democracies can seek outcomes to increase wealth and sustainable development. Like “soon come “ BVI recognize CARICOM!
Persist as you resist displaced voters. Rusty or not - let’s show spectators how courage and kindness can effectively affect change as we work together to impress our counterparts in the Caribbean our own, UK and other global democracies.
It’s hard holding back the pen and perspective that I believe has merit what’s easy is allowing perspective to be silenced at a time when each voice must matter and each vote casted even if not received meritoriously. Compassion And peace might give us ese but power exchanges won’t unless we agree on outcomes we seek.
Let’s not be neither too eager to lose nor too apathetic to win .
TEAR DROPS ON SCAN-TRON SHEETS Copyright (c) 2023. Tafari Zharr
Probably his funniest joke yet.