Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

Fix the system before seeking independence — Penn

Fix the system before seeking independence — Penn

The issue of whether the BVI should move forward with seeking independence from the United Kingdom (UK) has been met with mixed responses from lawmakers seeking to become the next Premier once the dust settles after the general elections. Polling date is slated for April 24, which is a little more than a week away.
In a debate held at the the H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) last evening, National Democratic Party (NDP) Chairman, Marlon Penn, said he felt many of the systems that support institutions in the BVI should be fixed before the territory can move towards independence.

“We have to particularly look at our institutions and ensure that they’re fit for purpose — our court systems, the judiciary, the House of Assembly,” Penn argued.

He continued: “We saw in the COI (Commission of Inquiry) where many of our institutions were challenged … in terms of the ones that are responsible for holding accountability, good governance, and making sure that persons in the political class, in other classes are held accountable and the good governance structures that are necessary.”

“As it pertains to self-determination, we have to ensure, as I said earlier, to build those institutions, to make sure those institutions continue to be strong and robust as we move forward,” Penn said.

Penn stressed that he believed the education process is critical before any determination is made and commended the Constitutional review efforts led by Lisa Penn-Lettsome. However, he urged that there needs to be more conversation about what independence means for the territory and expressed concern over the BVI moving too speedily along the path of self-determination.

Don’t be afraid to fight

Meanwhile, Penn’s opponent in the Virgin Islands Party (VIP), Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, struck a much more forceful posture in how he felt the BVI should approach independence. Dr Wheatley argued, among other things, that the BVI should not be afraid to fight for its political advancement and reminded persons that the United Nations had already declared more than fifty years ago that colonialism should be eradicated.

Dr Wheatley’s position was largely shared by Progressives United (PU) leader, Julian Fraser, who is widely viewed as a shoo-in for a seventh successive term as Third District Representative.

“This is the first thing that persons have to be educated about; that the world has come together and the status that we presently have is a status that cannot continue indefinitely. The world has said we must eradicate it,” Premier Wheatley argued.

The people will decide

He emphasised that the wish of the people is what will ultimately determine which of the options are available to the BVI — whether it is self-determination, independence or free association with another country. However, Dr Wheatley stressed that the territory has the ability to govern itself, as demonstrated by other independent countries like The Bahamas.

The Premier further argued that the BVI has been doing its part in reporting progress to the UN’s decolonisation committee, and has affirmed its right to self-determination. He also mentioned that the BVI has friends around the world, including in CARICOM, the OECS, and other overseas territories, where he said the territory has garnered support for its political advancement.

“You cannot go at it alone, whether you call yourself independent or not, you need partners in this world, and of course you have to be able to speak to partners, including the United Kingdom,” the premier said.

Dr Wheatley emphasised that partnerships with other countries are necessary and suggested that the BVI should put forward an arrangement with the United Kingdom that favours both parties, such as a mutually beneficial relationship or free association, and said if the UK does not accept, the BVI can seek partnerships with other countries, such as Canada or the United States, for instance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×