VI waited 5 years for UK to greenlight UN’s C-24 visit
According to the C-24’s ‘Report of the United Nations visiting mission to the British Virgin Islands, 26 to 27 August 2024’, seen by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), since 2019, representatives of the VI “invited the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to dispatch a visiting mission to the Territory”.
These invitations were extended during statements delivered at the Special Committee’s annual regional seminars, substantive sessions, and the Special Political and Decolonisation Committee (Fourth Committee), as well as through communications addressed to the Chair of the Special Committee.
Visiting mission should not interfere with CoI reforms- UK
The report states that on January 26, 2024, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland representative indicated the UK government was open to a visiting mission to the VI, during the annual informal dialogue with the 2023 Bureau of the Special Committee.
He added, though, “The timing of which should not interfere with the delivery of reforms recommended in the report of the Commission of Inquiry.”
A January 17, 2024, letter from Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatle (R7) requested the visit be done “prior to the convening of the June session of the Committee”, while in a letter dated February 14, addressed to the Chair of the Special Committee, the representative of the United Kingdom requested that the mission take place after May 2024. This request corresponded to the deadline set for the territorial Government to deliver on governance reforms.
After a few reschedules, the visiting mission was finalised for August 26 to 27, 2024. The visit was said to be a success.
Constitutional Review Commission outlined steps toward self-determination
The UN’s report also revealed that the Constitutional Review Commission made recommendations, among which were outlines of key steps towards self-determination for the Virgin Islands.
This Constitutional Review Commission was necessary following the Commission of Inquiry’s recommended review of the Constitution.
Beginning work on July 18, 2022, the Constitutional Review Commission held public consultations from November 2022 to January 2023.
In its 2022-2023 Constitutional Review Commission report, submitted to the House of Assembly (HoA) on January 31, the steps towards self-determination were outlined in Recommendation No. 31.
These steps include: implement educational initiatives to clarify the concept of self-determination as distinct from independence; emphasize fiscal responsibility and accountability and establish independent governance institutions such as the Integrity Commission and Human Rights Commission; reduce the power of the Governor and mandate consultation with the Premier; plan for self-determination, including by conducting a population study, setting goals for a pre-independence Constitution and potentially establishing a Decolonization Commission; and implement mechanisms, such as a referendum, to assess the wishes of the people in respect of self -self-determination after a period of unbiased education.
C-24 visiting mission report
The C-24’s ‘Report of the United Nations visiting mission to the British Virgin Islands, 26 to 27 August 2024’ compiled information stemming from the delegation’s engagement with a wide range of societal stakeholders at meetings on Tortola and Virgin Gorda, as well as Anegada and Jost van Dyke via virtual participation.
Meetings were also held with Governor Daniel Pruce, Premier Wheatley, Cabinet and Junior Ministers, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Opposition Leader and Members, Cabinet Secretary and Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Statutory Boards and Constitutional Offices; and Members of the Constitutional Review Commission.
The members of the C-24 delegation included Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia to the United Nations H.E. (Chair of the C-24), Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations H. E. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Dr. Walton Aubrey Webson, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations H.E. Chargé d'affaires Dr. Abbas Kadhom AlFatlawi, and Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Papua New Guinea to the United Nations H.E. Fred Sarufa.
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6 Responses to “VI waited 5 years for UK to greenlight UN’s C-24 visit ”
majority of us dont want independent with none of these crooked greedyyy politicians!!
only people who looking for that is rich old people who made their money off of loop holes and corruption, politicians and them family/friends and a small minority of ignorant residents who can't see or think logically despite blatant actions of our governments showing to us over and over that they dont care about us and are only seeking to enrich them self. heck andrew was willing to sell the country to drug king pins.... if that ain show you how they feel about you idk what else to tell yah. at that point you in a toxic relationship and love the abuse...
no price control
rent only going higher
no control on bank interest rates (causing rent to be high)
Grants to rich people , fake fishers and farmers
scholarships to family and friends and fake students
roads always in a bad state
sewage running in roads
water and sewage diggin up road then some patch work is done but feels like you drive over a dead cow
sex drugs in primary and highschools
bvi air ways scheme
pier park budget
bi water
eshs wall
bank of asia
Barges to patrol boarders
renting to family and friends while government buildings remain destroyed since 2017!!!
sending police to arrest anyone who speaks out against politicians who cant take criticism.
sabotaging protest that didnt even workout cuz residents to scared or lazy to come out
these are just some of the stuff that they couldn't keep under wraps what about stuff that didn't get exposed or called out????