Hon Fraser calls for referendum over Governor's request for additional powers
Hon Fraser made the statements during an Opposition press conference on January 9, 2023, when the Opposition Members of the House of Assembly announced they stand in solidarity with the Government against the governor's request.
“I am tired and amazed at the insensitivity of the British. But even despite the current revolt by black people, specifically in the Sahel Region of Africa, namely Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, against neo-colonialism, this governor is doubling down on the colonisation of the Virgin Islands," he said.
Calls by the Governor for more powers to execute CoI recommendations in the VI as laid out in his Fifth Quarterly Review published on January 5, 2024, have united both sides of the House, as the request has been described as one that will take the VI decades back in its constitutional advancement.
Governor's move 'An act of aggression' - Hon Fraser
The Governor has said he was disappointed at the rate of reform ahead of an already revised May 2024 CoI Reform Implementation deadline and has reached the conclusion that he must request additional powers to help ensure the Framework Agreement proposed by the VI Government is delivered.
According to Hon Fraser, “Fellow Virgin Islanders, this is existential an act of aggression designated to discredit the government of the people of the Virgin Islands."
The long-serving legislator said such an action, if successful, can cause irreparable damage to the territory's reputation and set the territory back decades in "terms of our constitutional advancement."
He said moving forward, he is proposing to both the Premier and the Opposition Leader to immediately convene an extraordinary sitting of the House of Assembly and introduce a revolutionary resolution for debate, denouncing the governor's proposal to seek additional powers. which he said will undoubtedly require the suspension of certain sections of the Constitution or parts thereof, and undermine a sitting government.
“This action will give all thirteen elected members the opportunity to demonstrate to their constituents, which in effect is the entire territory, what their positions are on the matter, while at the same time explaining to them why they should do the same."
Hon Fraser added that the resolution should also call for a referendum that would clearly convey the position of the people of the Virgin Islands, the very people whom the Governor says he is acting in their best interests.
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14 Responses to “Hon Fraser calls for referendum over Governor's request for additional powers ”
Abolitionist Frederick Douglass: “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” Two of our national heroes Theodolph Faulkner and Noel Lloyd demonstrated unequivocally demonstrated that it takes struggle to make progress. Virgin Islanders want things on a platinum platter. They want change but they don’t want to sacrifice to effect change, hoping that a magic wand can be waved and voila, ie, there it is. Things are not going to happen or change on fantasy. Things will change with all hands on deck effort, people must jump out of their/our comfort level in the wagon and start pulling/pushing the wagon in unison as a group towards a define goal. Progressing towards and approaching the goal requires effective organizing, planning, unity, etc.
Referendum are valuable tools but they should not be cast about Willy nilly. Whatever happened to the same -sex marriage referendum? Is it another case of overpromising and underdelivering? Is it a case of all hat but no cattle? Is it a case of swirling dark clouds, pealing thunder, flashing lighting but no rain? What is needed soonest is a referendum on self-determination,ie, independence, free association, integration, etc. Bermuda had a referendum on independence in 1995. The VI and people needs some stability on political status. They cannot have stability with the UK having absolute power, which is what Rankin fired the first salvo across the bow about. Virgin Islanders must set aside their differences and work close up collectively, cooperatively, and collaboratively for the good of the VI and people. Others are not interested in our best interests; we must do it for ourselves. Organize,plan, lead…It is time and opportunity for rock solid, exemplary leadership. Let’s get ah dun!!
The status quo is plainly not working for a large number of people in the BVI and the BVI continues to suffer from declining infrastructure quality, declining educational standards, fewer opportunities for Virgin Islanders and Belongers. The fact that the Hospitality and Financial Services industries are not overwhelmingly staffed by Virgin Islanders is a real shame, and there are a number of reasons for this, a leading one of which is Governmental policy failure with regard to investment in education (few people receive the education required for these industries) and infrastructure (those who do prefer to leave the VI for opportunities elsewhere). This is ultimately what the CoI hoped to address.
Direct rule cannot and should not be the solution, but the Government needs to come up with an alternative solution - which it has to date failed to do.