UN Ambassador calls out UK’s unwillingness to decolonise VI
Addressing the UN on June 14, 2021, Dr Webson told the UN delegation during a substantive session with the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation (C-24 Session) that the disrespect from the UK comes even as the VI is being considered a ‘low hanging fruit’ for decolonisation.
Ending Colonialism
Dr Webson, who is also chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States, noted, “The British Virgin Islands remains one of the possible… what we determine as low hanging fruits in this process to seek countries to assist in removing and transitioning from colonialism to full self-determination,” he said.
“Madam Chair we are concerned with the recent matters that would suggest that the Government of the United Kingdom does not always fully respect the principles of self-governance, self-determination and the boundaries agreed upon with the long-standing arrangement between the United Kingdom Government and the Island Nation of the British Virgin Islands,” he said.
Dr Webson comment’s come as the UK has been accused of seeking to hinder VI’s progress to full independence in favour of a UK Global Agenda as outlined in their ‘“Global Britain and the British Overseas Territories: Resetting the relationship: Government response to the Committee’s Fifteenth Report,” February 2019 publication.
UK Global agenda
According to the document, “It is time for all OTs to legalise same-sex marriage and for the UK Government to do more than simply support it in... It must be prepared to step in, as it did in 2001 when an Order in Council decriminalised homosexuality in OTs that had refused to do so.”
Another recommendation that has far-reaching consequences is removing belongership status and its equivalents. It said these provisions are wrong and is calling for UK residents to have voting rights and for them to be allowed to run for office in Overseas Territories.
“While we recognise that the OTs are small communities with unique cultural identities, we do not accept that there is any justification to deny legally-resident British Overseas Territory and UK citizens the right to vote and to hold elected office,” it said.
More Concerns over UK relationship with VI
Concerns over the relationship between the UK and VI has also been raised by local media and political pundits who said there are suspicions that a hastily called Commission of Inquiry (CoI) by the former embattled Governor, Augustus J.U. Jaspert, is also a plan of the UK to take control of the territory and impose its policies.
With regard to the same CoI, CARICOM in a statement on February 26, 2021, said, “Heads of Government are cognisant of the disquiet that has arisen among the people of the British Virgin Islands about the establishment of the COI.”
Caricom also indicated that heads of Government were dismayed at the manner in which the CoI was established, with no consultation, or prior communication, between the UK government and the duly-elected government of the Virgin Islands.
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43 Responses to “UN Ambassador calls out UK’s unwillingness to decolonise VI”
It’s not coincidence that the OTs are the richest countries in the Caribbean.
1. Who will assist us in times like these?
We just received a shipment of vaccines from the same. The stimulus funds from the previous lockdown also came from the same.
2. Who will keep the local government's corruption in line?
If you think it's bad now, imagine when they don't have to look over their shoulder.
3. Where will the youth go to University?
Currently there are many avenues through which local residents can study abroad. Particularly in the UK, as citizens, which remains a cheaper (and safer) option than the US.
I'd be interested in a reallocation of responsibility regarding policy but true independence, I'm not sure. Next big hurricane what will happen? We will ask them for assistance from the kindness of their hearts?
I don’t want transgender pushed on children in schools. homosexuals get a pass meanwhile English heaven forbids man to burn corn. Rofl
Homosexuality is illegal it’s 2021 we’re not putting them in jail for being gay but why do we allow them to put a human with a joint in jail???
Imagine we are to the point of a stste of emmergency with our increasing rate of covid 19 cases. We havent done good tracing at all, but yet firrst thing this morning is a cruise ship docking in at our cruise ship port.
Who is fooling who ?, and who are to be blaimed for this assishness?
misunderstood , and disrespected.
Imagine we just sell Anegada or JvD so Fahie and dem can make extra millions.
Decolonize yes. But don't let thieves and gnagsters take over or this is what happens.