The Virgin Islands (VI) has called on the United Nations (UN) Special Committee on Decolonisation (C24) to take meaningful steps in fulfilling its mandate to support the decolonisation of the 17 remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGTs). Photo: Britannica

Virgin Islands' Special Envoy Mr E. Benito Wheatley, left, has urged the Special Committee to employ its good offices to assist the Administering Powers and their 17 remaining colonies to peacefully advance the decolonisation process through either integration, free association or independence. Photo: Office of the Premier

VI Special Envoy Mr E. Benito Wheatley, urged the Special Committee to employ its good offices to assist the Administering Powers and their 17 remaining colonies to peacefully advance the decolonisation process through either integration, free association or independence.

A press release from the Office of the Premier stated that Mr Wheatley also insisted that the Special Committee redouble its efforts to facilitate the numerous requests by NSGTs for visiting missions to assess the progress of decolonisation on the ground.

'Make a difference'- E Benito Wheatley

According to Mr Wheatley, “The Special Committee on Decolonisation can make a difference in advancing decolonisation by employing the major tools at its disposal, which include good offices and visiting missions. Both provide useful engagement and dialogue for both the Administering Power and the Governments and peoples of those Non-Self-Governing Territories seeking a full measure of self-government.”

The Special Envoy also updated seminar participants on the situation of the VI whose Government is seeking full internal self-government in upcoming constitutional negotiations with the United Kingdom (UK), as well as a referendum in 2031 to fully decolonise the islands based on the three UN sanctioned options for sovereignty.

Wheatley thanked the Special Committee for the visiting mission dispatched to the VI in 2024 and for its support strong support for continued democratic governance on the islands, but went on to say that if the 17 NSGTs saw no meaningful progress on their decolonisation by the end of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism in 2030, that the Special Committee would risk becoming irrelevant.

The Administering Powers include France, New Zealand, UK, and United States (US).

The 17 remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories include American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), US Virgin Islands (USVI) and Western Sahara.