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Premier Fahie attends UN meeting on 'eradicating colonialism'

- says UN ‘C-24’ Grenada seminar 'most productive'
Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said he had a productive meeting when regional leaders met at a UN Special Committee on Decolonisation seminar held in Saint George’s, Grenada. Photo: Team of Reporters
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), left, sits with Mr E. Benito Wheatley, Special Envoy of the Virgin Islands (VI) Government. Photo: Team of Reporters
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), left, sits with Mr E. Benito Wheatley, Special Envoy of the Virgin Islands (VI) Government. Photo: Team of Reporters
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), right, shakes hands with Her Excellency Ambassador Keisha A. McGuire, Chair of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation and Permanent Representative of Grenada to the United Nations. Photo: Team of Reporters
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), right, shakes hands with Her Excellency Ambassador Keisha A. McGuire, Chair of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation and Permanent Representative of Grenada to the United Nations. Photo: Team of Reporters
SAINT GEORGE‘S, Grenada – With external regulatory pressures mounting on the Caribbean region and especially on British Overseas Territories (OTs), Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said he had a productive meeting when regional and other global leaders met at a UN Special Committee on Decolonisation seminar held in Saint George’s, Grenada.

The meeting, held May 2-4, 2019, had amongst its agenda, a plan to accelerate action in the implementation of the third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, spanning 2011-2020.

Eradicating colonialism

Under the theme “Implementation of the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism: Accelerating decolonisation through renewed commitment and pragmatic measures”, Hon Fahie said as part of the mission, he met with the Committee Chair, with whom further meetings were held on behalf of the Territory

“I had a most productive meeting on behalf of the BVI with Her Excellency Ambassador Keisha A. McGuire, Chair of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation and Permanent Representative of Grenada to the United Nations. The meetings with our regional counterparts and other non-self-governing territories from the Caribbean and Pacific region as well as members of the Special Committee of the United Nations were all very productive,” the Premier said.

The Special Committee, also known simply as “C-24” has a mission to declare and grant independence to colonial countries and its people.

According to the United Nations, a total of 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories remain under the Special Committee’s purview and these include American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States Virgin Islands and Western Sahara.

VI performed with distinction – Premier Fahie

“The meeting welcomed the update provided on the Territory's [VI] progress and noted our development objectives,” Premier Fahie noted while saying the VI delegation; which included Mr E. Benito Wheatley, Special Envoy of the Virgin Islands Government, performed with distinction.

Taking recent developments in the Caribbean, Pacific and other areas into consideration, the meeting reviewed the situation with respect to the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, including the issue of support from various organisations within the UN system and other organisations.

The Special Committee will consider the Seminar’s conclusions and recommendations at its June 2019 substantive session, and subsequently, transmit them to the UN General Assembly.

7 Responses to “Premier Fahie attends UN meeting on 'eradicating colonialism'”

  • clap clap (06/05/2019, 10:23) Like (10) Dislike (7) Reply
    We finally have a leader who believes in Caribben people and our agenda
  • cromwell (07/05/2019, 07:47) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    This writer is a little confused, why would the Premier attend such a venue. No one is forcing colonialism on the BVI, independence from the UK is readily available, in fact, they would probably encourage it. So, why not just take it.
    • NeedTheAnswer (07/05/2019, 11:11) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Cromwell.....Can you answer the question, why independence isn't a path we have taken if as you said it is readily available.
      • cromwell (07/05/2019, 13:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        No I can't answer that question, hence, my own question of why the BVI had not gone that route.
  • E. Leonard (07/05/2019, 18:08) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Under Article 1 of the UN charter, the VI People has a right to self-determination, including independence. The right provides VI people the freedom to chose its political status.......etc. If the VI wants political independence, the UK cannot stop it. The question is, is the VI ready for independence? IMO the VI should pursue economic independence before political independence. Political independence without economic independence is not truly independence. As the saying goes, he/she who has the gold set the golden rule. Whoever controls the economy run things. In the dawn of the Integration movement in the US, many cities were led by people of African descent. However, they didn’t have major control of the economic resources, posing a challenge to their effectiveness. In any event, a majority of VI people through a referendum should decide if they want independence. The issue needs to be settled. If not independence, the VI needs to pursue other self determination options.
  • Sceptical (09/05/2019, 01:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Seems many of those territories on there are not in a current “colonial “ situation as such and have extensive self-governance with little input but plenty of protections from their mother country. Puerto Rico however, not on the list, is treated very badly by the US. Of course PR governments have been no saints and have ruined the economy with extreme socialism and allowing illegal trade to flourish. Chagos treated appallingly.

    How about we have initiatives to link the listed territories as well as Caribbean nations and Coomonwealth nations to increase trade and common purpose because the might of China, India, ASEAN, Russia and the US put the smaller nations and more fractured world at distinct negotiating disadvantage


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