'Self-governance is constitutional mandate, not personal agenda- Premier Wheatley
Not Sowande!
“Persons should pay attention to what the preamble of the Constitution says,” he reminded during the April 30, 2025, broadcast of Virgin Islands Voice Live.
“It says, affirming that the people of the Virgin Islands have generally expressed their desire to become a self-governing people and to exercise the highest degree of control over the affairs of their country at this stage of its development.”
Adamant, “...that is not Sowande,”— using a familiar version of his name—the Premier reiterated, “That is the preamble of the Constitution that represents all of us. Some people make it seem like I'm trying to, on my own, take the country to independence or something like that.”
Additionally, he pointed to the guiding principles of both the Constitution and the United Nations Charter to justify his administration’s position on increased autonomy.
Maintain control
“The United Kingdom, the administering power for the time being, has articulated a desire to enter into a modern partnership with the Virgin Islands based on the principles of mutual respect and self-determination,” he continued, again referencing the Constitution.
To this end, he suggested “Some people get annoyed when we go to the UN Committee of 24, when we go to those UN meetings and when we talk about self-determination; But the UN Charter is one of the things which protects us from colonialism and it protects us from another people seeking to dominate us without us having a voice, without us having a choice, without having the ability to control and determine our own destiny.”
As such, he made it clear that the upcoming constitutional negotiations with the United Kingdom will focus on protecting and expanding the powers already held by the elected government.
“We are going to negotiate very hard with the United Kingdom to ensure that we are able to maintain control of our Immigration Department, maintain control of our Customs Department, maintain control of our Financial Investigation Agency, maintain whatever control that we have now—and not just maintain control, increase the authority that we have.”
Constitutional negotiations to come
Additionally, he noted too that the aspiration for increased self-governance is not a radical departure but rather an idea supported by the findings of the UK-led Commission of Inquiry (CoI).
“The CoI report, Sir Gary Hickinbottom said himself, there needs to be a process for the transfer of authority and responsibilities from the unelected governor to the elected government. And we cannot stay in the position where we are forever.”
With this in mind, he reiterated, “...we have to be able to advance, we have to be able to move forward and that’s why, of course, we are going to be pushing very hard in the Constitutional negotiations to come.”
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7 Responses to “'Self-governance is constitutional mandate, not personal agenda- Premier Wheatley”
The reality for the people of the VI because of you and other corrupt political and elitist leaders is that we are not ready for it at all now.
The second more depressing reality is that we are currently heading in the other direction because of your leadership.
Everyone knows why you want Independence now.
You do not accept that the VI is a Territory of the UK and you do not respect that. What is now the multicultural country of the UK the Territory of the VI is currently a part of.
The disrespectful tone that you and previous leaders and criminals have had towards the UK does not reflect the feelings of the majority of the people of the VI. You know that but keep pushing your agenda, that you now have disengenuously called a "Constitutional Mandate." That is not a reality but another attempt to push your misleading agenda. A referendum would give you the mandate you desire should the people express the wish to push for Independence now.
We all agree we would like to advance.
The sad reality is that we can advance no where whilst you are leading us in the wrong direction.
The diaphanous cloak you wear makes you see-through and it is transparently, crystally, vitreously, pellucidly, lucent that you are pushing your Sowande Uhuru agenda to ensure you and your corrupt buddies have no controls over their actions.
UK also agrees, everyone agrees.
However, most of us agree that we first NEED to become financial mature and responsible.
This is the essential point you keep omitting.
I think we can all agree we are not there yet….
Independent is in fact a political word, but freedom from being bullied by others is our God given right. It is ok to partner with others that have respect for you, even though at times your choice differ from theirs. If political Independence is needful way to be free from political tyranny, (unjust people) I welcome freedom, rather than frienimies, with creaseup fake smiles, regardeless of their ethnic diversity and physical appearance, God our Creator being my guide and strength.
Base on how the B.V.I was governed, and is currently being govern, in my honest belief, and opinion, political, Spiritual, cultural, social change is needed, beginning now, in or to get us on the right path of true prosperity for all the people of the B.V.I.
Like other inpefrect people, I also am. But of the many that I don't know, and those I do know, this is one of many true thing that I know for sure. See bellow, please.
Every person that know, and can remember wrongs that others have done, and have spoken against them. They also know what wrong that they have done, and have spoken against others