Circular accuses Governor of treating VI like a colony
An circular shared via WhatsApp and across social media and signed by ‘Concerned Citizens of the Virgin Islands’ has accused Governor Rankin of treating the VI like a colony without rights to self-govern and demanded the release of the report.
VI's Self-governance violated?
The document noted that while the United Nations Charter Section 73 provides for the VI to be on a trajectory towards self-governance, it said the withholding of the report does the opposite.
“It is blatantly clear that based on the decision of the Governor, in this instance, to withhold the report of an inquiry conducted on behalf of the people from the people, and to decide which items in the report will be available for public review, gives the appearance that we are still being treated as a Colony; as children who need the guidance of a parent, the vicious legacy of a stereotype that has since passed.”
The authors then went on to chronicle that the journey towards self-governance began when the fore-parents of the VI demanded that territory was given the right to govern themselves through the restoration of the Legislative Council in 1950, and continued in 1977 when Hon Willard Wheatley stopped accepting Grant-In-Aid from the United Kingdom (UK).
“Therefore, the whole process speaks to the disrespect of our constitution and our duly elected representatives, as well as our journey towards self-determination,” it added.
Transparency & the CoI report
It remains unclear who is behind ‘Concerned Citizens of the Virgin Islands’ however, the circular highlight that a major theme during the COI hearings was ‘transparency' and the report should be transparent.
“Yet, when it comes to sharing the results of the COI report, Governor Rankin is less than forthcoming. How is this any different from accusing our elected representatives of the same?,” it questioned.
The ‘Concerned Citizens’ then called for the principles of good governance to be exercised in the review and distribution of the report.
“It is our understanding that one of the purposes of the recommendations of the COI is to help the country establish good governance legislation and practices. If we the people, are unable to review the full report, we will not be able to gain the insight needed to hold our elected officials accountable for good governance and management of the country,” they said.
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43 Responses to “Circular accuses Governor of treating VI like a colony”
That’s why the COI was not called earlier. To call Jaspert a racist for merely passing on the position of the British Government on reparations, something he would have no say on, is ridiculous. The purpose is of course to divert attention from the wrong doings of the accusers.
If the VIP and the opposition know what is good for them, they better meet with the public before going down there.
We are fed up and need to review the contents before anyone leave this place.
Stop blaming a whole race for the actions of their ancestors! Continuing the blame is a sure way to continue the divide.
Under the UN charter, the UK is the Administering Power tasked with guiding the VI towards a full measure of self-governing, ie, either independence, free association or integration. How binding is the UN charter(s)? What are the consequences, if any, for not putting forward a good faith effort in guiding remaining none-self-governing territories toward a full measure of self government? Is the UN a paper tiger in need of a complete overhauling and revamping? Below is an excerpt from the UN:
“The Charter binds administering Powers, namely "Members of the United Nations which have or assume responsibilities for the administration of territories whose peoples have not yet attained a full measure of self-government", in the language of the Charter, to recognize that the interests of dependent territories are paramount, to agree to promote social, economic, political and educational progress in the Non-Self-Governing Territories with due respect for the culture of the peoples concerned, to assist the peoples in developing appropriate forms of self-government, and to take into account the political aspirations and stages of development and advancement of each Non-Self-Governing Territory. Administering Powers are also obliged under the Charter to transmit to the United Nations information on conditions in the Non-Self-Governing Territories. The United Nations monitors progress towards self-determination in the Non-Self-Governing Territories.”
Moreover, how farther is the pending CoI findings and recommendations going to setback the VI in the right of the people to pursue self-determinatio? The people have a right and must be given the opportunity to decide its own political status, not an imposed status. The choice with options should be given to the VI people through a referendum, as Bermudians had in 1995. The era of, the pathogen of, colonialism needs to come to a close.
The UK owned the BVI, not us. That is why this country is call led the British Virgin, not the Virgin excluding the B for British. It is also why we must accept the IK's appointed governor as our Top Official Leader. It is also why we are anwerabe to the the UK for how our finances were been, and are being by our political leaders presently.
Until we get independence from the UK' rule, we we remain subordinate to them, not them to uo..
Is this now clear to those of us who are being eluded by deceptive politicians, and others of selfish mindset?
Further, because a decision maker may not listen to an opinion writer opinion, does that mean that the opinion writer should just be an appeaser and critic? I say no. Why can’t we respect other people’s opinion. No opinion writer worth his or her salt thinks that they will get a 100% approval. That is an unreasonable expectation. Anyone that tries and think that they can keep everyone happy is in for a rude reality.
@UKM, you made bold declarative statement that E, Leonard was talking a lot of bull$h1t. However, E. Leonard stated his opinion but the only thing you countered with was it was bull$h1t. Could it be that he was on point and you had no defense other than to say it was bull$h1t. If you want to play in big league bring the facts to counter other opinions if you disagree, for that would drive a healthy and substantial debate. But if you cannot just STFU.
An circular shared via WhatsApp and across social media
Of course, it confiscated their land, committed genocide, enslaved Africans and natives to work the land to generate huge profits and wealth for it (UK) and rich aristocrats, etc, all at expense of the indigenous people. The now faded British Empire, which covered 25% of globe and comprise approximately 500 million people spread its rule, power and control beyond its border, changing societies, industries, cultures, heritages, history, lives and livelihoods of people, separated families, etc.
The worst part (and it has a litany of worsts) of the British Empire was the horrific slave trade and slavery that was legally sanctioned by the UK. It enslaved, murdered, exploited, dehumanized, brutalized, raped, etc, millions of slaves. Both the slave trade and slavery created huge wealth for the enslavers. The huge profit funded the industrial revolution, other major projects, ie, British Railway, etc, stately houses in London, Bristol, Liverpool, etc. And at the abolition of physical slavery in 1834, the Brutish Treasury appropriated (borrowed) £20 million to compensate slave owners for the loss of their chattel property which they treated an order of magnitude worst than animals. However, to date, neither slave nor descendants have gotten a farthing for the horrific brutality, exploitation, dehumanization, etc. In fact, the UK has yet to even offer a simple apology for slavery to the descendants.
Nonetheless, several royals have been despatched to the West Indies/Caribbean representing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as she celebrates her platinum jubilee (70 years on the throne). However, they ( Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Edward) have all skirted the issue of offering a simple apology for slavery. The UK did give reparations and offered an apology to Kenya for the Mau Mau Massacre. Further, controversial and some say racist former governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, asked by a media BVI house about reparations for BVI slave descendants provided a disrespectful and backhanded response reflective of the UK attitude. Brushing aside the reparation issue, Gus doubled down and suggested that BVI local landmarks bearing the names of white murderers, slave traders, pirates, etc should be retained to preserved history. Gus was neither tone-deaf nor insensitive, for it was probably his deeply felt belief and attitude. Martin Luther King:” Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance.” 10-4.
Moreover, neither slaves nor their descendants got compensation but what they got was racism, discrimination, and prejudice. The slave trade, slavery, imperialism and colonialism created a caste system of racial superiority, special privileges, entitlements, etc, for Whites. Through social ordering, Blacks were cast at the bottom of the heap as inferior with a servitude only role. The racial discrimination, prejudice, subjugation, etc, severely deprived and is still depriving Blacks of opportunities in health, education, employment, housing, military service, sports, worshiping, property ownership and generational wealth building, participation in government and civic engagement, etc. This attitude and behavior have current currency and reflects the UK’s attitude towards non-white OTs, ie, ignoring failures at home but used a quick draw approach to cast aspersions on small dots in the Caribbean Sea perhaps as a distraction. The legacies of the fading Empire and slavery live on—-CoI. The Brits are steeped in projection. Lest not be distracted by the shiny object over there. The UK has the unilateral power though.