What are the VI's Self-Determination options?
The right to self-determination for colonised territories is a right that is a generally accepted principle of international law advocated by the UN.
Chapter XI of the UN charter defines Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGT) as territories whose people have not yet attained a full measure of self-government. The UN General Assembly on December 14, 1946, noted a list of 72 NSGT; 17 of the 72 remain. The VI was one (1) of the original countries and is still one of the remaining NGST.
Further, in 1963, the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation (C-24) approved a preliminary list of NSGT. The VI is currently an Overseas Territory of the UK with partial self-government. Independence often is the primary self-determination option discussed among VI residents. However, other self-determination options exist, including free association, integration, etc. Is it time for the VI to entirely ditch its self-governing training wheels?
Political Status & Governing
Since the emergence of the Age of Exploration, Discovery, Slavery, and Colonialism, the VI has been a dependent territory. The English, Spanish, Dutch, etc., battled for supremacy over the VI; the English won and had control over VI since 1672; VI captured, conquered, and colonised, it was annexed to the Government of the Leeward Islands. Other events include a)the VI House of Assembly met in 1774 in Road Town, Tortola, for the first time, b) in 1816, St Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, and VI formed into one colony, c) 1902 VI Legislative Council abolished with the Governor of the Leeward Islands becoming the lone legislator, d) 1949 Theodolph Faulkner led the Great March of November 1949, demanding representation and democracy, e) 1950 Legislative Council reconstituted, constitution rolled out, and local direct voting for some elected representatives permitted for the first time, f) 1954 Adult Suffrage granted, g) 1956 Leeward Islands Federation dissolved and VI Commissioner title changed to Administrator, and h) 1960 the office of Governor of the Leeward Islands abolished.
Moreover, the VI didn't join the West Indies Federation (1958-1962); instead, it became a direct colony of the UK (1960).
Further, in 1967, a new constitution was issued, ushering in ministerial government with a measure of self-government. Currently, it shares governing responsibilities with the UK. The UK is responsible for external affairs, defense, internal security, civil service, and judiciary; local government, remaining functions, including finance. VI became financially self-supporting in 1978 under Dr Willard Wheatley's administration.
Nonetheless, though the VI has a measure of self-governing, the UK-appointed Governor (title changed from Administrator in 1971) has unilateral power. Any UK devolved powers can be easily reversed, i.e., suspending the constitution and imposing direct rule. For example, an order in council recently suspended the VI constitution, but it is being held in abeyance, dangling over the head of the VI and people like the Sword of Damocles. The VI has had four modern-era constitutions, i.e., 1950, 1967, 1976, and 2007; currently, a Constitutional Review Commission is formulating a new constitution.
Nevertheless, though the UK is the Administering Power for the VI under the UN Charter on decolonisation with the responsibility for assisting and guiding the VI towards a full measure of self-governing, the constitutions are dependency-model based. Further, new constitutions came on stream in 1976 and 2007. And the VI status changed from Colony to Dependent Territory in 1981 and Overseas Territory in 2002.
Challenges & Vulnerabilities
The VI is a small (59 square miles), resource-poor group of 36 islands with a service-based economy----Tourism and Financial Services. It was neglected and almost forgotten, classified as poverty-stricken, cast as a little sleepy hollow, and viewed as supposedly only useful as a bird sanctuary. Nevertheless, to use an old cliché, it pulled itself up by its bootstraps. It can now quietly boast of having one of the highest standards of living, quality of life, and per capita income in the Caribbean region. Nevertheless, despite its success, it still has some social, economic, and environmental challenges and vulnerabilities that it must embrace and factor into its planning as it moves forward in charting a new course. These challenges and vulnerabilities include a)remoteness from major markets, b) high imports/high cost; low exports, c)small and undiversified economy, d)vulnerability to external shocks, e)high transportation and energy costs, f)limited institutional capacity, g)scarce financial resources, g)heavy dependence on imported labour, h)developing physical infrastructure (roads, water, wastewater, stormwater(drainage), electricity, gas, telecommunications, ports), i)developing social infrastructure (education, healthcare, public safety, information, arts and culture, sports and recreation), j)disaster-proneness, k)fragile ecosystem/biodiversity, l)small population, m)low economy of scale and scope, etc.
Independence
Is independence the next political status course for the VI? The VI and its people, like other countries and people, are entitled to pursue the self-determination status of their choice, i.e., independence, free association, integration, etc. Digressing, the British Empire was vast, comprising approximately 25% of the global landscape with over 400 million people. Yet the UK had not integrated any former colonies into the UK. Nonetheless, choosing the next self-determination option is a significant decision, and a supermajority of Virgin Islanders should decide through a referendum. Independence or other self-determination options is an emotional issue and is creating much-needed heated and constructive debate.
Nevertheless, whatever self-determination option the VI people choose must entail much active debate, discussion, planning, and preparation, weighing the pros and cons. Consequently, an independent and experienced agency with related expertise must conduct a sound cost-benefit analysis. The cost-benefit study must drill down hard on and focus on a)the overall cost of any new political status, and b)the long-term economic and other benefits to the VI and its people. The topic of independence is often discussed issue among Virgin Islanders. As such, Government must initiate planning on holding a referendum on self-determination, including independence, soonest to settle the matter, at least for the short- to medium-term. Bermuda (1995), Gibraltar (2002), and the Falkland Islands (2013) have held referendums on political status.
Moreover, economic independence, challenges, vulnerabilities, overall/long-term positive benefits, and community engagement must be critical factors in debating self-determination. Further, the VI can look at the independence experience of its sister regional Caribbean countries as valuable case studies. It is definitely time for the VI to explore ditching its self-governing training wheels.
Edgar Leonard is a native Virgin Islander and an amateur freelance writer.
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16 Responses to “What are the VI's Self-Determination options?”
[Let’s lead like eagles, not careen off the cliff like buffaloes]
Most of the interlocutors got bored with my series of questions and dozed off so the few who endured the rapid fire series of questions decided that we should meet again to get answers. However, we did decide that we should send word to the BVI and its people to get together on the issue of independence.