The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has joined with CARICOM in calling on Britain to “retreat from stated political calls to subvert and subordinate the sovereignty of the people of the Virgin Islands.”
“This is the second occasion in recent weeks in which we have called for respect of the national rights of a community; having done so following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We are committed to the decolonization of the Caribbean and deplore the persistence of colonial rule of the people in the region,” Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Professor Sir Hilary Beckles says in a statement.
Sir Hilary continues, “The regional UWI insists that its member community, the Virgin Islands, be given the full opportunity and autonomy to resolve its immediate domestic challenges. We are confident that it will do so within an enabling Caribbean framework without injurious imperial aggression emanating from London.”
According to the UWI Vice Chancellor, all the people of the region have fought with all means available to craft a democratic culture in the face of fierce opposition from Britain.
“They have been murdered, imprisoned, and racially denigrated in the quest for freedom, justice and democracy. Britain has no authority, moral or otherwise, to teach democracy lessons in the Caribbean, insisting as it does on dominating the people who are seeking Reparatory Justice for centuries of colonial brutality and continuing imperial rule,” Professor Beckles insists
He said the region is proud of the initiative by the Ruling Party and Opposition to come together to form a national consensus government.
“This is the spirit that forms the core of the independence sensibility now rooted in the region. It is precisely this consciousness that will enable the community to resolve whatever governance challenges are arising from the tragic, debilitating, recent events,” he noted. “It is also true that it is persistent British colonial rule of the community that distorts quality indigenous development and constitutes the framework in which international financial malfeasance seeks haven in these islands. Britain has created this wicket on which the game being played is not West Indian cricket.”
He said The UWI stands ready to facilitate the national strategy of the Virgin Islands, its stakeholder, to maintain and enhance its sovereignty.
“It also stands ready to assist Britain in curing itself from the persistent impulse and cultural addiction to dominate the people of this region by imperial edict,” Sir Hilary concludes in his statement.
Meanwhile, according to regional media reports, Governor John Rankin has indicated that no decision has been made by the United Kingdom about implementing the COI recommendations despite accepting Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley’s proposal to have a National Unity Government.
Dr Wheatley has said that his government will be working on a proposal for the UK regarding implementing the COI recommendations while keeping the territory’s democratic framework.
It doesn’t even matter, they ‘took” the islands from someone by illegal/ill-gotten military means and their weaponized Christian religion, they need to keep paying up.
@ economist number 2 below.
Salisbury 2019, Hilary Beckles along with Irwin larocque then caricom secretary general and the other so called Caribbean leaders who have sold-out to China and others enslaving their fellow caricom citizens, can all go to hell!
I know, they won’t get Skeritt out for us.
I’ve not read or heard that the British government has gone ahead and instituted the recommended taking over of the governance in the corrupt political system which exists in the BVI. Therefore how can a supposedly educated man like Sir Beckles come out throwing stones at the British for something which they have not done. We all know of the dirty past our people experienced from the British colonizers. It’s not pretty at all, but we have witnessed a recent phenomenon in the Caribbean where those who have replaced the British colonizers are subverting the rule of law we inherited from them with a type of communist and dictatorial system which takes away the freedoms and liberties we enjoyed in recent years of our independence from Britain. Hilary Beckles has remained silent whilst fundamental rights are being eroded by our own black leaders. Has he forgotten that when one points one finger three more point back at the pointer? Hypocrisy is not what’s needed, Hilary.
That’s a stretch wi pal, you should rise above this foolishness you wrote. I want a change of government too, but if someone will not remove Skeritt from office for some of you then you throw the baby out with the bath water in favor of the same imperialism you’ve spoken against?
I will not be going into any details on this Forum but I can tell you for years it been a pain intercepting or to stop and seized drugs before arriving to its destinations, HMS*******and US has been working very hard in large areas coming from South America.
Calling out crooked and rogue heads of state while holding them accountable is absolutely commendable providing the ones who are sounding the alarm are themselves blameless and faultless.
There should be no comprising when it comes to asking a leader to be a good and honest steward for “to whom much is given, much is expected”.
Hey Mr. Berkless (Spineless) the coin which you are holding in your hands has two sides. Don’t just relate information from one side. Our Black leaders (Negroes) haven’t treated us better than those who colonized and enslaved us. In fact, the Negroes have made it worse and they need to be treated without mercy. A Neg leader ordered his negro gang to tear gassed the villagers of Salisbury in the wee hours of the morning. Ehh?… Where were you? Were you in an induced coma? Ehh? Your words to me “Sir.” Is much lighter than air. I wished you had remained quiet (moo-moo) as when we Dominicans suffered in so many ways under an uneducated Moron leader name Skerrit. But Dominicans are a very patient people to the extent that we are considered “foolish.” But we are full of hope and courage; and we shouldn’t be underestimated by anyone. The true patriots will rise with the strength of our ancestors and the Almighty.
“I find dem fellas well come out wee”
I’m elated that the UWI has seen it fit to lead the way in the Political affairs of the Caribbean but they need to go a little further in ensuring that the People are the ones who benefit from the resources of those countries and not the bunch of greedy/corrupt politicians whom we call leaders; what a shame and a disgrace to the human race.
He has not commented on the opening of a OECS consulate in North Africa!!!!!
Another symbol of colonialism and imperialism!!!!
Honestly you can go pack yourself…… now we understand your heart!
Don’t speak on my behalf boss!!!!!!
I watching all you!!!!!
All you want high praise for history books!
But all you in love with leaders against de people….. some of all you stink like socialist and communist wolves!!!!
Sir you’re educated but not smart,the BVI belongs to England they can do what they like.There is corruption in your backyard why don’t you address that before opening your mouth with that rubbish.
Somebody help me: what is a British Overseas Terrority?
A British Overseas Territory is any territory that has not attained associated statehood from the United Kingdom/ Great Britain. In the Americas there about seven such Territories:
Bermuda in the north Atlantic
Turks and Caicos Islands
Cayman Islands
British Virgin Islands
Anguilla
Montserrat
Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic
They are all headed by Governors appointed by the Queen of England and Have Chief Ministers or Premieres.
If I was a resident of any of these islands, I would not encourage neither associated statehood nor independence status.
But would you not give these lands back to the indigenous people from whom they were stolen and you violently set the stage for their extinction? When and how are you perpetrators .. oh explorers going to stop?
Thanks for the list. Now that’s a listing of grand theft in plain sight, where’s the outrage. Every item reflects the slaughter of Arawaks I wonder if any survived the unslaught.
Thanks.
Well in that case, Professor Beckles need to shut is beck! How the heck can you tell the people to stay out of THEIR garden?
Foolish intellectual
Because they STOLE the garden, it’s not theirs. They stole it by military savagery and extinction of the owners, and used THEIR RELIGION to educate you to be happy about it.
A colony of Britain.
Very interesting comments by people on the ground. They are not to kind to Mr. Beckles. But when did UWI become a political arm of the region?
@nigel, When Harvard and all their experimentation on Black people including their slave holdings used as guinea pigs for the bigoted Charles dawins et al became the political arm of Western countries, that’s when.
Tell em!! Corrupt colonialist want to preach on corruption. The hypocrisy.
Caribbean leaders and their sycophantic cohorts are an entrenched cabal of thieves who thrive on financial and political corruption. Yes, the Caribbean people should deal with them by themselves, but they don’t. Quite the opposite, in fact, given they continuously allow themselves to be bribed and vote these gangsters into office every four years.
No prominent regional organization speaks out about the ubiquitous corruption, the suppression of democracy, and the galloping of dictatorship in most of the Caribbean territories.
What we have as democracy, today, is simply Plantation Politics. The colonial masters now come from within. Skinship is not always kinship. I’m not in favour of colonial rule but these regional organizations (CARICOM, OECS, UWI, etc) should cry foul whenever these Caribbean leaders go astray.
There are only three things in the world that deserve no mercy hypocricy, fraud and tyranny.
Though i agree with the gentleman stance i think it is not addressing the core of why the BVI found themselves in that predicament. The Caribbean population and political elites have demonstrated thier inability to deal with the rampant corruption happening in member territories to which the people have no redress. Take for example tbe nature isle. Who is opening a commission of enquiry into the police force, the judiciary and the government to ensure they stamp out the corruption, nepotism, thievery and racketeering going on. Who is ensuring we don’t slide into a further dictatorship where the constitution has been trashed and power of the people diminished. Not this gentleman, not UWI not the CARICOM. We have to be careful we don’t pigeonhole ourselves into a region that only speak out for repatriation only to be used by those in charge to screw the people over again. So Mr. Beckles as much as i agree with that aspect lets not pretend that thier were house slaves who sold out.
Mr Beckles thank you for reminding us about what UK should do, knowing that you a the big man at UWI , Sir we are pealing to you to please speaks to us Dominicans about our right in our country . Sir you heard you read about the OECS send their troops …… the night be fore the general election in 2019 we never heard you SIR i just want to remind you we a member of that corrupt group please speak about everything , not when it reach your front door or your pockets . Am waiting.
In the past our own Dr. Francis Severin has bravely spoken out about the problems we face here in Dominica. However, I cannot remember Sir Hilary Beckles ever addressing the matter. Just as in the past the same Sir Hilary Beckles has conveniently remained silent about the long history of corruption in the BVI.
I suggest that DNO readers read the indignation expressed by Virgin Islanders in response to Sir Hilary Beckles remarks. They can be found by accessing the following link: https://bvinews.com/uwi-vice-chancellor-calls-for-uk-to-keep-its-hands-off-bvi/
I read it and I’m yet to see the indignation you see. He simply throws his support behind Dr. Wheatley and the interim colab with the opposition to maintain sovereignty of the VI, not to return to colonial rule. We are quite aware of you sleeper-cells in place to disrupt efforts against colonial rule. There is corruption right there at 10 Downing Street to be addressed without giving up your sovereignty.
Ki sa! I wondered what exactly it is that you read. Here’s one for example –
“As A BVIlander with several well earned letters I take offence to these so called Caribbean leaders from MOSTLY CORRUPT COUNTIRES IN THE REGION, coming out of the woodwork trying to tell us anything about governance. We are well aware of slavery but I am also aware that Africans were sold into slavery by other Africans who became wealthy from the practice, so take several seats. We also know the UK’s role in the whole affair and are well aware of the racism that we face. Unfortunately the thing than threatens to destroy our country now is not the UK’s racism but the CORRUPTION of our own leaders, so please take a seat and stop trying to fear monger people into making decisions that we know are not in our best interest. The UK takeover does not scare me nearly as much as the thought of these callous and corrupt politicians running wild in my country for another decade”
You be the judge
I refer not to the indignation that I alone see, but to the indignation expressed in the comments by Virgin Islanders.
The 946 page BVI Commission of Enquiry Report is worth reading, albeit that the report does not address the lawyers and trust companies that have enable the corruption.
The report can be found at: https://bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/resources/coi_report_print_version.pdf
There will always be some regardless, colonialism is corruption. The COI is part of the sting setup by the powers using corruption to fight corruption, military conquest beating up its chest. It is so corrupt, just look how casually you-all disregard the indigenous Arawaks, Kalinago and Africans whom from their hero boy Columbus who immediately enslaved and began their extinction on those same STOLEN islands. Britain must give up people’s land, get out. There’s even a U.N charter that spells this out but like Putin the Brits are still at land grab. There is no shortage of islanders who will kneel and beg – oh massa please take us – I can provide you with links to quite a few more,
but it’s all inherent corruption.
“We are committed to the decolonization of the Caribbean —” OK, but what about the greed and rampant thievery that is taking place?
what you talkign about ? BVI is not an independenct country. they are still a dependent of the united kingdom. so if the UK want to step in and take direct control of the country they are allowed to. you think u talking or caricom talking can do anythign about stopping the UK from excercisng there rights to take control of what is essentially a part of britain? the UK is the one that is surporting and providing more than 80% of the money that surports and runs the BVI they are self governed but NOT independent so by international law the UK can step in and take direct control if things go out of hand and by the looks of it the place is already out of hand. corruption has gone to the top and needs to be cut out.
YesvJAH KAL,you did not hear Beckles,I am sure you did not hear Brian Linton,the brother of Lennox Linton say,he will unblock the road and stop the arson taking place in Marigot,because the next day his brother would be Prime Minister.
I agree with you. On BVI’s own website states they are British overseas territory. They enjoy many perks from being “under” the british. But when the same brtish come to clean up their corruption, all of a sudden they against it. Why don’t they seek independency then? They don’t wanna lose all the sugar that is being provided to them from the british huh. WELL, if you ask me, the british have all rights to come clean up shop. And that is the best way to go about it. Send outsiders to do the job. We cant bank on our own people when the corruption is heavy amongst them!
Fact check your information before typing nonsense “UK is the one that is surporting and providing more than 80% of the money that surports and runs the BVI.”
Financial sector and Tourism support the BVI economy
Actually the majority of the gdp is tourism. Remember I said gdp. But gdp does not cover the amount injected by the uk. And uk does surport 80% of the entire economy. Though the majority of the gross DOMESTIC product is from tourism. 80 present of the countries expenditures is from funds sourced from England. Funds from there mother country is not used to calculate GDP. So. You are wrong. Even though the majority of the GDP is tourism. The countries expenditure is still 80% sourced from the UK and UK tax payers