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To recolonise a country in 2022 is just not acceptable– Julian Willock

- Former Speaker maintains CoI recommendation to suspend VI constitution is undemocratic
Former Speaker of the Virgin Islands House of Assembly (HoA) Julian Willock has maintained that the CoI recommendation to suspend the constitution in the Virgin Islands was never acceptable in a modern society and would have gone against the principles of democracy. Photo: GIS/Facebook
Following the conclusion of a hastily called Commission of Inquiry paid for by the UK Government, lone Commissioner and UK national Sir Gary R. Hickenbottom included the suspension of the constitution as a major recommendation to carry out reforms in the VI. Photo: VINO/File
Following the conclusion of a hastily called Commission of Inquiry paid for by the UK Government, lone Commissioner and UK national Sir Gary R. Hickenbottom included the suspension of the constitution as a major recommendation to carry out reforms in the VI. Photo: VINO/File
Speaking on a Bermuda radio talk show,
Speaking on a Bermuda radio talk show, "Motion to Adjourn - Territories Talk' on October 13, 2022, the former Speaker highlighted that VI was not going to let the UK take over the territory without a fight. Photo: Facebook
HAMILTON, Bermuda– Former Speaker of the Virgin Islands House of Assembly (HoA) Mr Julian Willock has maintained that the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) recommendation to suspend the constitution of the Virgin Islands was never acceptable in modern society and would have gone against the principles of democracy.

Speaking on a Bermuda radio talk show, "Motion to Adjourn - Territories Talk' on Thursday, October 13, 2022, the former Speaker highlighted that the VI was not going to let the UK take over the territory without a fight.

“This has been consistently resisted by the majority of the people, both the business community and the political class. And everyone has said that while we know the territory has got certain things wrong, just like others have got things wrong in their development…. suspending our Constitution is a no no,” he remarked 

Following the conclusion of a hastily called Commission of Inquiry paid for by the UK Government during the height of the global Coronavirus pandemic, lone Commissioner and UK national Sir Gary R. Hickenbottom included the suspension of the constitution as a major recommendation to carry out reforms in the VI.

Fight for democracy continues - Willock 

However, according to the former Speaker, that just was not acceptable for the VI and the direction it is heading.

“In 2022, to recolonise the country is just not acceptable in a modern society where everyone is concerned about freedom and where we have people all over the world fighting for democracy.”

He pointed to Ukraine and Russia conflict and remarked that the big fight there is for their [Ukraine] own democracy, not to be invaded by Russia.

Mr Willock maintained that other countries around the world, using examples such as the UK, France, Uganda, Bermuda, and Trinidad and Tobago, have gotten things wrong in their development.

“The US now is fighting for their own democracy, where there are people who don't feel, who don't respect the democratic principle, and like we in the Virgin Islands, we are also fighting for our democracy from our administrative power,” he said.

UK holding gun to VI's head?

The UK has held back on imposing direct rule on the VI but has an Order in Council on reserve that gives the unelected Governor the power to suspend the constitution and run the territory.

Many see this as reeking of colonialism and even racism, while some have said the UK is holding the Order in Council like a gun to the VI's head.

A VI delegation to the UK next month will be encouraging the colonial power to remove the Order in Council.

27 Responses to “To recolonise a country in 2022 is just not acceptable– Julian Willock ”

  • nonsense (14/10/2022, 11:26) Like (64) Dislike (9) Reply
    To perpetuate corruption in 2022 is just not acceptable. And how do you know the majority of VI Islanders is against the UK cleaning up the mess? Where is the verifiable data?
    • Citizen (14/10/2022, 13:50) Like (9) Dislike (35) Reply
      All of these Expats who are hugging up the UK needs to move to the UK. Their country already moved away from the UK. St, Vincent, Dominica, Barbados and Trinidad already moved away, Antigua and Jamaica already gave notice to get rid of their colonial master.
      • Yes (15/10/2022, 09:46) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
        and how are those countries doing years after Trinidad, SVG, Dominica all in the toilet with corruption, crime and low wages , Jamaica is in turmoil with crime now the only one doing well is Barbados and they have just began thier journey, check back in 10 years when the BVI will be ready for a vote on Independence and view all these failures, try visiting these places
    • Vincy first ladys (14/10/2022, 18:00) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
      All the talk the VIP used to bring down Myron about a Vincy first lady, they still end up with one in their living room. talk that.
    • Smh (15/10/2022, 09:48) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      only about 10% want the UK to take over, the other 10% want nothing to do with the UK and are blind to the corruption, the rest in the middle want the UK to take over for a couple of years and then let everyone vote the the territory can then become a country. Think about the protests for numbers
  • VG Mon (14/10/2022, 12:05) Like (41) Dislike (15) Reply
    Why do all of the "leaders" think that UK wants to takeover the BVI? There are no natural resources, no direct travel routes, and lots of debt. This is all Crabs in a Barrel and they mad their money train got derailed with the COI and its recommendations!
    • @ VG Mon (15/10/2022, 06:59) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      You obviously haven’t seen that huge ocean, you obviously don’t know the amount of revenue that can generate fishing, regattas etc, financial services (which is what they really want), Tourism. The UK is hemorrhaging (losing) money ever since brexit. Now they are the crabs trying to hold back their BOTs. These islands are worth more than we currently use them for and they know that. This is the same ish Columbus did to the natives, they are savages so when they are taken over it seems justified.

      Furthermore a crab’s natural habit is not in a bucket. That’s the dumbest analogy it frees the person who put the crabs in a bucket and places all blame the crab who’s simply trying to survive. FIGHT OR FLIGHT
  • unacceptable (14/10/2022, 12:22) Like (28) Dislike (2) Reply
    The fleecing of the tax payers. The conditon of the infrastructure. The fact these islands looks like crap. On & on.
  • Just saying (14/10/2022, 12:32) Like (11) Dislike (46) Reply
    Willock is right yet again
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands. (14/10/2022, 12:38) Like (20) Dislike (15) Reply
    Much respect to you Former Speaker of the House Mr. Julian Willock. We all agreed that the UK has rulership over the BVI. A constitution has guidelines that should be respected and strictly followed, and carried out accordingly. When a country that is being ruled by a higher power, namel the UK government find credible evidence of misconducts by a country that it rules, namely, the British Virgin Islands, been done persistently by its political leaders, in violation of its own constitution, in my honest opinion, the headship country can suspend the construction due to willful violations that doesn't work in the best interest of the people.
    The UK has chosen not to suspend our conversation. They demand of us better governance for the people of the BVI. The CoI recommendations are not unreasonable requirements, though they seem to many among us to very unreasonable.
    Don't forget that our present Premier, and his team of ministers have agreed to fully comply to the CoI recommendations.
    Let us move forward to build, and serve our people with true love for each others welbeing.
    Again, Respect to you brother Julian Willock. Your views are not overlooked by me, and many others.
  • hypocrite (14/10/2022, 12:41) Like (29) Dislike (7) Reply
    To be as stupid as you are in 2022 is not acceptable
    • @ rubber duck (15/10/2022, 01:43) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      You set up fahie you would not get to set up the esteemed
  • reds (14/10/2022, 12:42) Like (14) Dislike (45) Reply
    Willock you got my vote because you the only one talking solutions
  • ... (14/10/2022, 12:48) Like (10) Dislike (34) Reply
    I enjoyed your interview last evening esteemed , deep knowledge that you have. We need you back in government and running a ministry
  • I'm for suspension. (14/10/2022, 12:50) Like (30) Dislike (5) Reply
    It's the only way to fix the BVI and hold law breakers and dishonest politicians and officials accountable...we need change.
  • whose fault is it? (14/10/2022, 12:54) Like (22) Dislike (2) Reply
    Both NDP and VIP to blame
  • asking for a friend (14/10/2022, 13:10) Like (15) Dislike (15) Reply
    Who is going to investigate Ranking and Collins?
  • What are you talking about?? (14/10/2022, 13:26) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
    " A hastily called Commission of Inquiry" Really? I don't think so... I think Jaspert had this organized for months!
  • E. Leonard (14/10/2022, 16:50) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    The Age of Exploration, Age of Discovery, which started in earnest in the 15th Century and led by Spain and Portugal but later joined by France, Holland, England and others was about conquest, colonization, power, control, exploitation, expropriation, etc. It give birth to the slave trade, slavery, racial stratification (caste, class) system, colonialism, building empires (British Empire, the largest), building incredible wealth among conquering nations, disproportionate wealth transfer and displacement from colonies to conquering nations, special entitlements, special privileges, deprivation of basic democratic human rights and freedom, etc. Mostly and more egregious is that it ushered in the cruelest period in human history, ie, genocide, violence, murder, dehumanization, atrocities, etc. for colonies, indigenous people, and enslaved people.

    After the formation of the UN in 1945 after WWII, there was a robust decolonization effort. From the original list of 72 non-self-government-territories (NSGT), 17 remain, including [British] Virgin Islands (VI), and United States Virgin Islands (USVI). The aim and purpose of the robust decolonization effort was to afford all people the right and freedom to pursue self-determination, ie, independence, free association, integration, etc.

    The Age of Decolonization needs to relentlessly forge ahead, not retrenched into recolonization. The UK and other ‘Administering Powers’ must provide the guidance, support, and assistance to push NSGTs toward a full measure of self-governing. The lights have gone out on colonialism, an extractive institution, a zero sum operation, etc. It must be the dawn of a new day, a new era of human rights and freedom, equalities, democracy, etc.
    • past (15/10/2022, 20:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The past is the past. Focus on the past is not going to change anything. It is unhealthy and just wasting time. We to look forward, not backward. Telling the UK about their nefarious behavior is not to shame them or cause them to show any guilt. They are not going to lose a £. Too much time on the past and not enough on the present and future. Give us some fixes for the future.
  • New colonisation (14/10/2022, 17:17) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    The present crop of leaders are only interested in subduing the steps taken by the UK to protect the interest of their subjects/citizens in the Territory because the UK intervention disrupts their new colonial attitude and power dynamic which is grounded in greed and corruption. If they were truly interested in justice and equity the items listed in the COI would never have been allowed to have taken place. They equally participated and in one way or another profited by the many atrocities and still continue to benefit wherever there is a loophole that allows them a la the issuing of contracts. Eventually they will be caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Not if but when.
  • josiah'sbay (14/10/2022, 21:39) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    We are not being recolonize we are in a continuing colonize state. For those of us who missed it "Administrative power" equal "Colonize power". Suspending the Constitution is either a bluff or part of the UK's agenda. If its a bluff we need to call it. If it's a part of their agenda it needs to be challenge. Let them show just cause for a suspension of our Constitution. We've wasted a lot of money on lawyers that didn't do much. We should hire lawyers who are verse in the UN charter and knowledgeable constitution experts to let us know how our arguments would stand up against the UK's actions. Our Government should never have given up any governmental or Constitutional power without the Constitution being suspended.
  • Norris Turnbull (16/10/2022, 18:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ain't no white man any where will give up economic control or any control over a people except the people rebel angainst the grip and control. Bitch now


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