The United Kingdom (UK) has abstained from the United Nations Fourth Committee’s vote on the draft VI/UN resolution supporting the Virgin Islands' right to self-determination. Photo: UN/File

From left: CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC) Chairman Sir Hilary M. Beckles, and the Virgin Islands' Special Envoy, Mr E. Benito Wheatley, at the United Nations in New York. Photo: Office of the Premier

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has declared its unequivocal support for the full decolonisation of the Virgin Islands (VI) at the United Nations (UN) Fourth Committee at the ongoing 81st Session of the UN General Assembly; however, the United Kingdom (UK) has abstained from voting. Photo: CARICOM/Facebook

CARICOM's stance at the UN 4th Committee has also placed the decolonisation of the VI firmly on its reparatory justice agenda, a cause which has been backed by the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC) led by CRC Chairman Sir Hilary M. Beckles and CRC Deputy Chairman H.E. Ambassador David Comissiong.

According to a press release from the Office of the Premier, the declaration was made in a CARICOM statement delivered by H.E. Ambassador Dr Mutryce Williams, Permanent Representative of St Kitts and Nevis to the UN, at the committee’s 7th plenary meeting in New York.

According to Ambassador Williams, “Our Heads of Government have endorsed the work of the C-24 concerning the British Virgin Islands and supported continued engagement with the decolonisation process there. We further note the important steps being taken by the British Virgin Islands as it readies its people for full self-governance. As the negotiations for a pre-independence constitution are underway, CARICOM encourages continued constructive dialogue between the United Kingdom, the BVI, and the United Nations, with particular attention to democratic participation, good governance, economic resilience, and the political aspirations of the people concerned.”

UK abstains from vote

The results of the Fourth Committee’s vote on the draft BVI UN resolution supporting the VI’s right to self-determination were 157 in favour, 2 against, and 5 abstentions.

The UK abstained.

The United States and Israel voted against the resolution.

The draft VI UN resolution next advances to its final stage of approval with a final vote by the UN General Assembly to reflect the will of the international community.

CARICOM backs reparatory justice for VI

Regarding reparatory justice, the Permanent Representative went on to say, “The revised Ten-Point Plan for Reparatory Justice advanced last month by CARICOM during the 3rd Regional Conference on Reparations represents a comprehensive and forward-looking framework that situates reparations as a matter of justice, accountability, and sustainable development.” She further stated that “the work of decolonisation must therefore extend from political status to economic opportunity, social justice, and reparatory justice.”

In his address to the Fourth Committee, Premier of the Virgin Islands, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), thanked CARICOM for its steadfast support for the full decolonisation of the VI; while BVI Special Envoy Mr E. Benito Wheatley, in his statement, thanked the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC) for their advocacy and the inclusion of decolonisation as a new pillar of the CARICOM Ten-Point Plan on Reparatory Justice.

The VI is an Associate Member of CARICOM and one of the 17 remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGT) under the remit of the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation (C-24), which is chaired by Saint Lucia.