Education programme on self-determination critical- Special Envoy Wheatley
Special Envoy Mr E. Benito Wheatley, during his presentation at the recent C-24 conference in New York, June 9-10, 2025, a Special Committee on Decolonisation, said, “The duly elected government of the BVI has followed up on this recommendation with a request for assistance in delivering such an education program. In further fulfilling its mandate and obligations to the BVI, the Special Committee must engage among its own members and the UN system to secure the technical assistance and resources requested by the BVI government.”
An education programme, he added, is important to the process of decolonisation, not just because there is a need for factual information about the various political status options, but also because colonialism has a psychological dimension.
“Not only is colonialism a system of political inequality in which one party wields power over another, it is also a psychological condition in which the colonised people have been persuaded to believe the administering power is justified in exercising power and authority over them because they are incapable of ruling themselves.”
Fear-mongering by sceptics
Mr Wheatley added that “fear-mongering” by sceptics is taking place, whereby the people of the territory are told their societies will fail if they are left to their own leadership.
“Their leaders are often described as corrupt and incompetent. All the good that has been accomplished by local leadership is totally left out of the picture.”
Evidence used to support this is the mischaracterisations of independent Caribbean countries as unsuccessful or failed Black nations after independence, while “prosperous and successful” Caribbean nations are seldom mentioned, he said.
“The idea that the duly elected government of the BVI and other territories cannot be ultimately trusted to govern their own people is also used to justify the stationing of foreign governors in these territories to oversee their decisions.”
An education program on self-determination is critical
Mr Wheatley said that to reverse this “psychological condition” that has been caused, an education program and self-determination are needed.
“It can also help to dispel the myths that the people of the territory are incapable of being sovereign over their own affairs. This is false, and the people of the BVI must have the confidence in themselves to take control of their destiny and remember that it is they who have largely built their country.”
He reminded that the VI has received no financial transfers from the UK to fund its budget since 1978.
The UK, Mr Wheatley added, should also be a constructive partner in the process.
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17 Responses to “Education programme on self-determination critical- Special Envoy Wheatley”
Constant travel, Hotels, meals, etc…
Assume we receive some value for this?
If you don't want the free holiday you can even go into work heck
Y'all moving like you're forced to celebrate it
Education is not what we need from the UN.
We need freedom from the oppression from our present colonial style leaders right here in the VI.
We need protection from the elite group of people here who think the island is theirs to take for themselves.
Just like the planters before they want it all for themselves off our backs.
The rhetoric you hear now is to call call us stupid. They try to make it like we can't decide for ourselves so they can say they have to decide for us.
They now want to brainwash the people.
There approach is as corrupt as these elites are in Government.
Have y'all seen our leadership after irma?
Have y'all seen our leadership during coi getting lawyers with our tax money?
Have y'all seen our leadership with there schemes bviairways, pier park, COVID grants, bi water, barges as security that didn't even deploy, scholarships to fake students, 1 year and half going still working on Hodges creek road, Andrew selling the bvi out with his friends and family to enrich themselves, giving money to partying and vybz kartel but complains or drag them feet on anything positive for the country, complaining to raise minimum wage and failing to ensure proper price control, giving tax break for essentials during Corona but watching the supermarkets keep the prices the same while getting more profits.... , renting out to family and friends for government departments instead of fixing their infrastructure.... Certain areas got no running water after certain time of the day for decadessss. Sewage running on the roads, politicians calling certain guys "business men" , The list long long long and out weighs most of the "positive things" for all parties.....
If y'all allow these crooks to get independence them yall deserve everything that comes after it.
We had a whole march for things we complained about everyday but no one should up so imagine when independence happen our politicians WILL get away with everything under the sun with no one to hold them accountable cuz right now y'all not doing it
Only tried to reign them in.
I don't need no one to fear monger me cuz I can see and understand all the nonsense y'all politicians been doing for donkey years. I will be a fool trust you guys after you failed the people again and again.
Plus we have several Caribbean countries that went independent and look at their current status. You all will be fools to see others tried something before and failed miserably but still end up following that route.
Look at the crime rate in those countries. Look at the nationalities running from their independent home countries to better places
But carry on. I will not feel no remorse for anyone if the politicians get their way with independence. It's like feeling bad for someone who keeps giving a thief their money to hold despite their track record. I will read the news from a new home and shake my head. Good luck