VI calls on UK & other Colonial Powers to support self-determination of OTs
Speaking at the recently concluded UN Pacific regional seminar on decolonisation hosted by the Government of Timor-Leste in the country’s capital Dili, Mr Wheatley said,
“We all must work together to make progress on decolonisation. I know it is hard to separate national interests from the process, but an effort must at least be made to work in the best interest of Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGTs)… the Special Committee in its engagement with the Administering Powers should continue to make a priority of dispatching visiting missions where this is practicable. The politics of the process is very complicated and requires dialogue, but no effort should be spared”.
The Special Envoy, according to a press release from the Government of the Virgin Islands on May 29, 2025, also thanked the C-24 for its visiting mission to the VI in August 2024 that assessed the progress of decolonisation and has recommended full internal self-government and a timetable for independence of the Territory, among other things.
More UN support needed
On the topic of the role of the UN system in advancing the self-determination of the Territories, he called for more support from UN agencies to assist the Territories in advancing their sustainable development and climate resilience.
Additionally, Mr Wheatley recommended that the C-24 adopt a draft UN resolution at its June substantive session that would permit UN agencies to utilise their regular programme budget on those Territories classified as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) that are Associate Members of UN regional commissions such as the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
Order in Council is a ‘blunt colonial instrument’
Finally, Mr Wheatley provided the regional seminar with an update on relations between the VI and United Kingdom (UK) and called on the UK to lift the Order in Council currently being held in reserve that can suspend the VI constitution and impose direct UK colonial rule over the people of the Territory if triggered.
He said there was no longer an excuse for the UK to maintain the “unnecessary, undemocratic and blunt colonial instrument” over the Territory with BVI’s completion of the governance reform programme agreed in 2022.
The UN list of Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGTs) yet to be decolonised include American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States Virgin Islands and Western Sahara.
The UN Pacific regional seminar on decolonisation took place from May 21-23, 2025, in Dili, Timor-Leste.
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11 Responses to “VI calls on UK & other Colonial Powers to support self-determination of OTs”
I am sure the majority want oversight of our politicians so they can’t keep robbing the tax payers money.
INDEPENDENT.
Antigua/ Barbuda.
Bahamas.
Barbados
Cuba
Dominican
Dominican Republic .Grenada. l..
Haiti.
Jamaica
StKitts Nevis
StLucia
St Vincent/Grenadines.
Trinidad/ Tobago
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TERRITORIES
Anguilla
BVI
Cayman Islands
Montserrat
Turksand Caicos
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St Barts
Monaco
Looks to me like a case of Misery wanting Company
Further, the UN “Special Committee on Decolonization, also known as C-24, is a United Nations committee established in 1961 to monitor the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. It examines the status of Non-Self-Governing Territories and makes recommendations to the General Assembly.” It seems as if the UK stop reporting to the UN on the progress and status of the VI. Moreover, the UN’s directives are mostly advisory.
Consequently, if the VI people want a political status change, they must get proactively engaged and actively advocate for the change. For example, in August 1995, Bermuda held a referendum on independence; a majority of Bermudans voted for the status quo. Scotland also held a referendum for independence in 2014. The VI should also hold a referendum giving Virgin Islanders several options, including Independence, Free Association, Integration, etc..