Dictatorship vs Self-Determination
“I see a bad moon arising
I see Trouble on the way.”- Credence Clearwater Revival
Over the last week, anyone who truly loves the Virgin Islands, the Caribbean, and freedom, has had a heavy heart.
Not unpredictably, the Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson-led United Kingdom Government has used the pretext of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to launch an attempt to “suspend” the Constitution, or should I say “Constitutional Order” of the Virgin Islands, and impose direct rule from London.
Anyone who has studied the Colonial history of the Caribbean knew that this was never going to end well.
Former Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert, and others, put in place a plan to divide the people of the Virgin Islands and by extension, the Overseas Territories. Once the British launch a CoI to this level, it generally is not for altruistic purposes.
Nevertheless, now is not the time to dwell on “We told you so.”
Hypocrites
This is where we are in history, and there are some things that we have to be crystal clear about:
The UK is not interested in “Good Governance”. If they were truly interested in accountability then where is any evidence that they themselves practice it. Look no further than what is going on in “Jolly Ole England.”
- A Prime Minister that mislead his own Parliament
- A Finance Minister that withheld that his wife was avoiding paying taxes
- Contracts for billions of pounds of PPE given to friends of the ruling party
- Cuts in Benefits for the most needy
- Rising costs of living
- Conservative MPs jailed for child molestation
- Conservative MPs defending child molestors
- Threats to privatise departments of the UK Civil Service
All of this happening over the last three months. So, let's ask ourselves, who are they to speak about virtue and or accountability?
Self-Determination
Here is the thing, we do not need those who fail to hold themselves to account, attempt to exalt morality over us.
We have regional organisations that can and will assist us, as they have always did.
- OECS
- ECLAC
- UKOTA
- CARICOM
Lest we forget, they were the same ones who assisted us when Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck in September of 2017.
Here at home, let's face some facts. We have to do the following:
- Be honest about systematic shortcomings
- Institute stronger checks and balances
- Hold those truly guilty of crimes accountable
In doing so, we show ourselves, our region, and the world, that we are truly ready for self-determination.
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15 Responses to “Dictatorship vs Self-Determination”
The Honourable Premier of the Virgin Islands and his Most Honourable Members are blameless. Their leadership commends itself to the People of the Virgin Islands. We can TRUST in THEE. Let's carry on. Nothing much to see here.
Let's go through your recommendations:
We have to do the following: [just who is the "We" in that? Please be specific.]
Be honest about systematic shortcomings [I am not part of the Government; my shortcomings are irrelevant. Surely you are not trying the line of'let's balme everyone so no one is blamed"?]
Institute stronger checks and balances [who is the "We" that is going to do that? A government led by Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley, MHA who happily served in a tiny government led by Criminal Fahie? Can we really trust him not to be asleep at the wheel? Can we trust that any of our Honourable Ministers and Members aren't in on it?]
Hold those truly guilty of crimes accountable [who is the "We" in that? Have you seen the timidity with which the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley and his Honourable Ministers have responded to situation. "Let us pray for the family of Ciminal Fahie etc."]
Have some sense man. Grow up. The rest of us are not 5 year olds. We don't believe in fairytales.
Instead of lashing out at the UK, why don’t you both look at the corruption in your homelands and help them wipe it out. Britain laid the foundation and provided the support, including the umbrella, for foreign direct investment to occur in both Bermuda and the BVI. Who open the door for Bermudians and Virgin Islanders to emigrate to Britain? The UK. Show some gratitude. Now that the BVI is in trouble who is rescuing it and providing better for the BVI people? The UK. Clearly, the BVI people failed miserably to get the job done. Good day mates! Be proud to be British.
In short, colonialism is an extractive institution (both political and economic) with a sordid, harmful, etc, history. The UK invaded the West Indian islands, Africa, east Asia, etc, taking land and resources and exploited labour to work the land for the benefit of the UK. The UK was a key player in the Atlantic slave trade. The key point is colonialism created extractive economic and political institutions in the West Indies that stifled growth in the islands but created inclusive institutions in the UK, building its economy, created dizzying individual wealth, and funded the industrial revolution. The benefits of the industrial revolution did not extend to West Indian islands, though slave labour contributed to its funding and growth. Colonialism and associated extractive institutions was a vicious circle. The legacies of colonialism are not diminishing.
The ill-effects of colonialism are still present in the Caribbean among former British colonies that have been independent for several decades but still struggling. The reach and impact of colonialism are still very visible and present in the VI and other OTs.
There have always been a contradiction between colonialism and democracy in the Caribbean. That contradiction still it seems exist in the OTs. In the VI and other OTs constitutions, the UK still has the decision-making/unilateral power, eg, devolved powers can be easily reversed without consent from the people. Some may call that something other democracy. For example, suspension of VI constitution and employing UK direct rule is dangling over the VI people’s head like the Sword of Damocles. But the people have no say; clearly, it is not a democratic process. Suspending the constitution seemed to have been a foregone conclusion and there a search for justification to give it credence. The arrest of Andrew Fahie was the nail needed for the hammer to do its work. Take a look at the sequence of events relative to the release of CoI. Again, I’m not defending or condoning criminality. The VI people needs to set aside differences and come together to solve its structural deficiencies.