Fourth District Representative Hon Mark H. Vanterpool, speaking at the continuation of the Ninth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Fourth House of Assembly, on December 20, 2022, said the UK is angry at Putin for invading the Ukraine, but is committing a similar act to the Virgin Islands in principle.

‘It’s the same principle’- Hon Vanterpool

Hon Vanterpool also said the VI should not even have to beg the UK to grant it self-determination.
“But Mr Speaker, you know it is the same principle, that Putin believes he knows better for the Ukrainians than the Ukrainians know for themselves?

“The United Kingdom believe they know better for us than we know for ourselves. It’s the same principle,” Hon Vanterpool argued.

He urged the VI people to look out for themselves and believe in themselves, as the territory has done well on its own.

Governor Rankin’s hypocrisy exposed

Hon Vanterpool’s statements also brought out the hypocrisy in Governor John J. Rankin, CMG, who had said his heart goes out to the people of the Ukraine in his Christmas message on December 12, 2022.

“Events at home here in the Virgin Islands have affected us all and we, like every other country, have felt the impacts of what is happening in the wider world, not least the shock of the atrocities we are witnessing from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, together with the economic fallout which is impacting each and every one of us.

“While my responsibility as Governor are for the people of the BVI, my prayers are also with the people of Ukraine at this time of their suffering,” Governor Rankin had stated.

Hon Vanterpool had also labeled the unelected governor as the ‘Pharoah of the Virgin Islands’.

‘Let my people go’

Turning to Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), Hon Vanterpool told him to get some “faith in his backbone” and ask the “Pharoah” to let his people go.

Quoting assassinated freedom fighter Martin Luther King Jr, Hon Vanterpool said the time is always right to do what is right and that “darkness cannot drive out injustice” and “injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.”

According to Hon Vanterpool, Barbados Prime Minister Mia A. Mottley said it is time to pivot, “so let us pivot in the right direction, Mr Speaker, and do what is right. We are not any worse than anyone else.

“I want to ask it of the United Kingdom, I want to ask it of the Governor. I want him to tell the people in the United Kingdom. I want him to tell the Minister for Overseas Territories and I want the Minister of Overseas Territories to tell the Foreign Minister and I want the Foreign Minister to tell the Premier [Prime Minister], let my people go.”