TIMES.KY

Cayman Islands, Caribbeanand International News
Thursday, Nov 14, 2024

0:00
0:00

BVI Premier Reports Governor to UN, Alleging Colonialism and Violation of International Law

BVI Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has taken the obvious and very needed step of reporting Governor John Rankin to the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization, citing concerns over the UK's continued colonization of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the potential expansion of the Governor's powers.
During a session in the House of Assembly on June 29, Premier Wheatley revealed that he had travelled to the United Nations headquarters in New York to address the Special Committee on Decolonization, also known as the C-24.

He voiced his objections to the UK's maintenance of an Order in Council that grants the power to suspend the BVI's constitution at any time, a measure he deemed unnecessary. Premier Wheatley emphasized that UK parliamentarians, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and the C-24 all support the BVI's stance on this matter.

Furthermore, Premier Wheatley expressed deep concern over Governor Rankin's recent statements regarding the potential acquisition of additional powers over the Virgin Islands. He reiterated that such actions were unnecessary and not in the best interest of the BVI.

Governor Rankin had previously issued a quarterly update on the government's progress in implementing the good governance recommendations put forth by the Commission of Inquiry. In his report, the Governor indicated that if substantial progress was not made by the next review, he would explore options for additional resources, powers, and technical expertise to expedite reforms.

Historically, elected leaders have taken offense when Governors exercise their powers without their approval. The Governor also highlighted that the UK's Order in Council remains in effect, serving as a reminder that significant progress in governance reforms is necessary for the removal of this measure, which poses a threat to the authority of local leaders.

Premier Wheatley's decision to report the Governor to the United Nations underscores the deep-seated concerns within the BVI regarding the continued colonization of the territory and the potential overreach of the Governor's powers. Critics argue that such actions by the UK represent a violation of international law and disregard the principles of self-governance and democracy.

The BVI has long been advocating for greater autonomy and the recognition of its right to determine its own future. The intervention of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization brings global attention to the ongoing struggle faced by the BVI and amplifies the calls for the UK to respect the territory's right to self-determination.

As the debate intensifies, it remains to be seen how the United Nations and the international community will respond to the BVI's plea for decolonization and the protection of its democratic rights. The outcome of this critical issue will shape the future of the BVI and have far-reaching implications for the broader discourse on decolonization in the modern era.
Newsletter

Related Articles

TIMES.KY
0:00
0:00
Close
Paper straws found to contain long-lasting and potentially toxic chemicals - study
FTX's Bankman-Fried headed for jail after judge revokes bail
Blackrock gets half a trillion dollar deal to rebuild Ukraine
Israel: Unprecedented Civil Disobedience Looms as IDF Reservists Protest Judiciary Reform
America's First New Nuclear Reactor in Nearly Seven Years Begins Operations
Southeast Asia moves closer to economic unity with new regional payments system
Today Hunter Biden’s best friend and business associate, Devon Archer, testified that Joe Biden met in Georgetown with Russian Moscow Mayor's Wife Yelena Baturina who later paid Hunter Biden $3.5 million in so called “consulting fees”
Singapore Carries Out First Execution of a Woman in Two Decades Amid Capital Punishment Debate
Google testing journalism AI. We are doing it already 2 years, and without Google biased propoganda and manipulated censorship
Unlike illegal imigrants coming by boats - US Citizens Will Need Visa To Travel To Europe in 2024
Musk announces Twitter name and logo change to X.com
The politician and the journalist lost control and started fighting on live broadcast.
The future of sports
Unveiling the Black Hole: The Mysterious Fate of EU's Aid to Ukraine
Farewell to a Music Titan: Tony Bennett, Renowned Jazz and Pop Vocalist, Passes Away at 96
Alarming Behavior Among Florida's Sharks Raises Concerns Over Possible Cocaine Exposure
Transgender Exclusion in Miss Italy Stirs Controversy Amidst Changing Global Beauty Pageant Landscape
Joe Biden admitted, in his own words, that he delivered what he promised in exchange for the $10 million bribe he received from the Ukraine Oil Company.
TikTok Takes On Spotify And Apple, Launches Own Music Service
Global Trend: Using Anti-Fake News Laws as Censorship Tools - A Deep Dive into Tunisia's Scenario
Arresting Putin During South African Visit Would Equate to War Declaration, Asserts President Ramaphosa
Hacktivist Collective Anonymous Launches 'Project Disclosure' to Unearth Information on UFOs and ETIs
Typo sends millions of US military emails to Russian ally Mali
Server Arrested For Theft After Refusing To Pay A Table's $100 Restaurant Bill When They Dined & Dashed
The Changing Face of Europe: How Mass Migration is Reshaping the Political Landscape
China Urges EU to Clarify Strategic Partnership Amid Trade Tensions
Europe is boiling: Extreme Weather Conditions Prevail Across the Continent
The Last Pour: Anchor Brewing, America's Pioneer Craft Brewer, Closes After 127 Years
Democracy not: EU's Digital Commissioner Considers Shutting Down Social Media Platforms Amid Social Unrest
Sarah Silverman and Renowned Authors Lodge Copyright Infringement Case Against OpenAI and Meta
Italian Court's Controversial Ruling on Sexual Harassment Ignites Uproar
Why Do Tech Executives Support Kennedy Jr.?
The New York Times Announces Closure of its Sports Section in Favor of The Athletic
BBC Anchor Huw Edwards Hospitalized Amid Child Sex Abuse Allegations, Family Confirms
Florida Attorney General requests Meta CEO's testimony on company's platforms' alleged facilitation of illicit activities
The Distorted Mirror of actual approval ratings: Examining the True Threat to Democracy Beyond the Persona of Putin
40,000 child slaves in Congo are forced to work in cobalt mines so we can drive electric cars.
BBC Personalities Rebuke Accusations Amidst Scandal Involving Teen Exploitation
A Swift Disappointment: Why Is Taylor Swift Bypassing Canada on Her Global Tour?
Historic Moment: Edgars Rinkevics, EU's First Openly Gay Head of State, Takes Office as Latvia's President
Bye bye democracy, human rights, freedom: French Cops Can Now Secretly Activate Phone Cameras, Microphones And GPS To Spy On Citizens
The Poor Man With Money, Mark Zuckerberg, Unveils Twitter Replica with Heavy-Handed Censorship: A New Low in Innovation?
Unilever Plummets in a $2.5 Billion Free Fall, to begin with: A Reckoning for Misuse of Corporate Power Against National Interest
Beyond the Blame Game: The Need for Nuanced Perspectives on America's Complex Reality
Twitter Targets Meta: A Tangle of Trade Secrets and Copycat Culture
The Double-Edged Sword of AI: AI is linked to layoffs in industry that created it
US Sanctions on China's Chip Industry Backfire, Prompting Self-Inflicted Blowback
Meta Copy Twitter with New App, Threads
The New French Revolution
BlackRock Bitcoin ETF Application Refiled, Naming Coinbase as ‘Surveillance-Sharing’ Partner
×