If we go independent ‘we not dumping the UK’ – Hon Fraser
While the relationship is still rooted in colonialism, Hon Fraser used Barbados as an example, having had its independence on November 30, 1966, but only recently ‘dumping’ the UK on November 30, 2021, when it officially became a republic.
“And that’s only severing the ties with the crown,” he said during the Fourth Session of the Fourth House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands on January 18, 2022.
Barbados will have healthy relationship with UK - Hon Fraser
“But they going to have a healthy relationship with the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is still going to have their embassy in Barbados, they still going to give them financial aid whether they ask for it or not,” he said.
He said in the case of the VI, the quest is for the people to call themselves ‘truly free’.
“Truly in the sense that you are not beholding to another man,” he added.
“And it’s the job of the Government to promote this, if they so believe in this, if they so desire… it’s their job,” he added
He said legislators and the Government have a huge responsibility to play in the process.
VI in need of change - Hon Fraser
Hon Fraser added that in the 22 years as a Legislator, nothing has changed in the House, “Nothing, even the furniture is the same, they didn’t even find it in their selves to give us some good chair, the same old chairs, Mr Speaker.”
He called for action towards change, ‘change is challenge and if you are afraid to meet a challenge it's only because you are afraid to meet a challenge.”
Hon Fraser said the VI opposition is prepared to work with the Andrew A. Fahie (R1) administration to achieve change in the VI, as he called for more education of the people to make them allies of the cause.
Hon Fraser added that the Speech from the Throne had to be delivered by someone who has nothing in common with the members and staff of the HoA and who was not elected.
“This is probably the last best opportunity that you will have to make this push,” Hon Fraser said.
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23 Responses to “If we go independent ‘we not dumping the UK’ – Hon Fraser”
look around and you will see people comes to the territory and became very productive
as a people we can not get along (listen to house of assembly conventions...
the commissioner of inquiry we as a people(local) are very very instrumental in it being here
stop blaming others for our short comings our forefathers survive slavery and went on to build a prosperous BVI
look at us now
You may have been born here, but, you do not own the territory, so, if you want independence perhaps you should find somewhere else to live and bang that drum.
What partnership? Until the philosophy of one man believing that he is superior than another is finally and permanently abandoned and discredited. Until that day comes only then will the Virgin Islands be independent. B***n them the Babylon slave masters and colonialist. F!*& next time.
The VI, one the 17 remaining non-self-governing territories, under the UN charter can pursue self-determination, including independence. With independence, it can choose to go it alone or it can voluntarily free associate with another country. For example, the Federated State of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands have a Free Association agreement with the US. Further, the Cook Islands has a Free Association agreement with New Zealand. Moreover, the Crown Dependencies, ie, Guernsey, Isle of Man and Jersey, are self-governing, although the UK maintain a possession of them. On the other hand, Overseas Territories are British colonies with a constitutional link with the UK with limited self-governance.
Moreover, the Throne speech is a colonial relic; it is time to ditch it. Of what value having the Governor read/deliver a speech that he/she (someday soon perhaps the VI will a woman governor or a person of color as governor) may have only a remote connection to. The Premier should be given a state of the territory speech. And Governor should, if desired, deliver a Throne speech indicating the UK plan of action and milestone support for the territory in the current year and beyond. In the up coming constitutional review, this should be an item of interest.
Look at how late we are because of being afraid to stand forward or take off the suits. Our successful financial services industry was a result of leading the way.
Fresh politician gets in thinking they will make change, 22 years later there is no change. I think he is & seriously frustrated. The old furniture is the same... what a dead world.
We need a spiritual liberation from this mess because as a self sustaining society having chased a paper dollar into a realm of unsustainability the very definition of success becomes corrupt and hallow. Financially enslaved every artistic actualization is capitalized and subject to inflation.
We need a change of aspiration. Paradise.
It can’t come from dollars we’ve had many of them pass through and owe many of them. Eventually there will be a life tax to ‘improve standards of living’.
How about achieving a balance between assured sustainable living in the village, to which there was no choice in the past including for the arrawaks and homeless in the city of entertainment which everyone eventually will be by playing a rigged game.
We can talk big based on our ego and the timeless principles of self governance, but can anyone actually explain how we 16,000 BVI people would benefit from becoming the smallest fry in the international ocean? Maybe the smartest independent mind would see this colonial hangover we have as our best opportunity in the face of terrible options.
Willing to hear all answers in favor and against it...
Those ancestors sacrificed so much physically mentally and endured. Now in 2022 all we have to do in the fight for freedom is call for greater autonomy but some persons gasslight it to be an evil act to call for.