Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jun 05, 2025

Disappointing turnout @ first Constitutional Review consultation meeting- Hon Malone

Disappointing turnout @ first Constitutional Review consultation meeting- Hon Malone

Opposition Member and At Large Representative Hon Carvin Malone has expressed disappointment at the turnout for the first consultation meeting of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) held at West End Community Centre on Wednesday, November 9, 2022.

“I just came from West End where they had the first consultation of the Constitutional Review Commission. I wish to thank those persons who came out, but I would like to express my somewhat of a disappointment in terms of the number of persons coming out,” Hon Malone stated as a caller to the Hot Seat radio show on ZBVI 780 AM on Wednesday evening.

Approximately 30 persons showed up for the meeting that was also not live-streamed.

‘We have to take responsibility for mistakes’- Hon Malone

The Opposition Member said the new constitution would take the Virgin Islands forward for the next 30 to 40 years and it was crucial that Virgin Islanders take the consultations very seriously and have a strong say in what will ultimately affect their lives and generations to come.

He also said people should not look at the negatives, especially coming out of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) and make that a reason to not participate in the constitutional review consultations. Additionally, he said the Virgin Islands has had many successes and that is what people should be focusing on.

“We did a lot of good things…We can’t just express only the negative part of it. We have to correct them, yes…we have to take responsibility for them..but we have to work in terms of preparing our Virgin Islands for all of those persons who have toiled from the 1940s, 50s, 60s, straight up to [now] and for those still yet to come.”

‘Stockholm Syndrome’

Hon Malone said the people also have a responsibility to make it enshrined in the constitution that leaders must be held accountable.

He said this should be the way forward, rather than opting to go back into colonialism.

“We don’t want to hold the Stockholm Syndrome [mentality], whatever the British do to us we have done it to ourselves, no. We have done a lot of good things. What about that? So we have to express those good things we have done and we have to lay a path that says we have to put provisions in the constitution and make leaders in the present and the future more responsible…and put it in the constitution.

Stockholm syndrome is a theorised condition in which hostages develop a psychological bond with their captors during captivity.

“But we cannot go back to 1949, we cannot go back to 1967 and so forth. We have come too far and we have done too much,” Hon Malone said, while cautioning that Virgin Islanders must be mindful of the messages they send out.

‘This thing is serious’

Urging the people of the Virgin Islands to make it their duty to participate in the consultations, Hon Malone said the people must play a part in creating a Virgin Islands Constitution that everyone can be proud of.

“No matter how poor the turnout is in the beginning. We have a duty to go out there. You have to use your platform to encourage people to participate in it, because once the book is closed and the consultation is done and the review comes in that only two people showed up here, three people showed up there, four people showed up over here, the people of the Virgin Islands are not interested in anything concerning the constitution, so we in the UK could put whatever we want in it and when that is done then the same voices come back and tell you did not tell me this thing was so serious.

“Well, I am telling you now, this thing is serious.”

He added that most of what is on record for the CRC to consider has originated from the Commission of Inquiry, "but that is what they want, but what about what people want? They must get their voices heard, they must get represented and we must be able to do this together?” Hon Malone pleaded.

Call a big meeting @ Multi-Purpose Sports Complex- Julian Gordon

Meanwhile, the Host of the show, Mr Julian Gordon, said one of the first things that should have been done was to have a big town hall meeting at Multi-Purpose Sports Complex, which he said is a most central area.

“Bring the Ministers, bring the other Representatives, and bring other persons that you want to speak and address the Constitution matter and come and invite the public en masse to come and sit there. You could fit 1500 people in there and when those 1500 come from all over the Virgin Islands and when they go back and talk about it with members in their constituency and other persons they are associated with the message will go forth.

He also said the Commission needs to do better to organise and promote the meetings so there is more participation.

Meanwhile, the CRC has planned an official launch of its consultation meetings at 3:00 pm today, November 11, 2022. The launch is expected to be live-streamed on the Government of the Virgin IslandsFacebook page.

The Constitution Review Commission (CRC) has planned an official launch of its consultation meetings at 3:00 pm today, November 11, 2022.


Urging the people of the Virgin Islands to make it their duty to participate in the constitutional review consultations, Opposition Member Hon Carvin Malone said the people must play a part in creating a Virgin Islands Constitution that everyone can be proud of.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
Majority of French Voters View Macron's Presidency as a Failure
Hungary Partners with China to Boost Electric Vehicle Production
‘Vibe Coding’ Emerges as the New DIY Trend
AI Pioneer Yoshua Bengio Warns Models Can Deceive Users
Big Four Firms Rush to Create AI Auditing Systems
Musk’s xAI Pursues $113 Billion Valuation in New Share Sale
Walmart Increases Revenue Despite Shrinking Workforce
Hims & Hers Plans UK and EU Launch of Replica Obesity Drugs
Toyota to Acquire Supplier in $33 Billion Buyout
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
×