Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

Neo Colonialism in 2020

Neo Colonialism in 2020

On Wednesday, February 20, 2019, the United Kingdom House of Commons released a report by their Foreign Affairs Committee. This report was entitled ‘Global Britain and the British Overseas Territories: Resetting the Relationship’.

Within this report was an insidious set of recommendations:

1. That the Overseas Territories will be forced to accept Public Registers of Beneficial Ownership, that will only serve to damage our individual and collective economies

2. That the Overseas Territories will be forced to allow residents who are UK Citizens, to not only vote in our elections but the ability to run as candidates

For now, let's focus on the recommendation that will force Overseas Territories to allow any British Citizens or Commonwealth Citizen, resident in Overseas Territories, to vote in any and all General or Bye Elections, held in whichever Overseas Territory in which they reside.

So, for example, an accountant from Liverpool could be on a one-year work permit in The British Virgin Islands and cast a vote in any election held there.

Another example is that a skilled mason from Manchester could be on work permit in the Falklands Islands and could run as a candidate for their Legislative Assembly.

In speaking with representatives from around the Overseas Territories, there was universal outrage at this suggestion.

As a prime example: “The day the UK Government seriously considers that persons who are not Caymanians can stand for office here is the day, if I am still able and alive, I lead the charge for independence,”

Cayman Islands Premier Hon Alden McNee McLaughlin Jr

On April 29, 2019, this was the UK Government’s official reply to the FAC report.

“In the spirit of a relationship based upon partnership, we will continue to support and encourage consistent and open political engagement on belongership and its territory-specific equivalents, whilst respecting the fact that immigration decisions are primarily a matter for OT governments.”

So, end of story right?

Not quite.

Doubling down


Not to be dissuaded by the voices of almost 270,000 persons throughout the OTs, in February of 2020, two British MPs took upon themselves to draft a private member’s bill entitled: “Representation of the People, Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories Bill”.

The men behind the bill were UK MPs John D. Penrose, Andrew R. Rosindell as well as a member of the Friends of the British Overseas Territories (FOTBOT) and former member of the States of Guernsey, Anthony Webber.

The proposed bill calls for six MPs from the Overseas Territories, one for Gibraltar, including the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, and the British Indian Ocean Territory; one for St Helena and the Falkland Islands, including the UK’s southern Atlantic islands and Pitcairn in the Pacific and one for the [British] Virgin Islands, Anguilla and Montserrat; a single MP for the Cayman Islands, another for the Turks and Caicos Islands and one MP to represent Bermuda.

The proposal also calls for three MPs to represent the Crown Dependency islands of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man respectively, bringing a grand total of 9 MPs for the Territories and Crown Dependencies.

Laced inside of the bill was the provision that would...drum roll please...allow for British Citizens to not only vote in these elections but for them to run to be MPs in the UK Parliament, representing Overseas Territories.

Sounds familiar?

So for clarity, someone from London on permit in the Turks and Caicos Islands could stand as a candidate to be elected into the UK Parliament.

Essentially, this bill would allow someone with no history or connection to the Turks and Caicos Islands to represent the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Even more insulting was that, once again, there was zero consultation with the Overseas Territories on these issues.

Stay vigilant


On November 17, 2020, the Governor of the Cayman Islands, Martyn K. Roper made this statement: “This proposal is emphatically not one that the UK Government wishes to take forward. It raises significant practical challenges. It is therefore very unlikely to proceed further or be debated in Parliament,”

One can easily say that this is just the idea of two solitary MPs.

However, let's go back and remember that there were other British MPs, from 3 different UK political parties, who made the initial recommendations in that insidious FAC report of 2019.

Seemingly, this idea is being discussed within the closed-door caucuses of different political entities.

In closing, it is a safe bet that we, in the Overseas Territories, have not heard the last of these recommendations to force us to have British and Commonwealth citizens voting in our individual elections.

Be vigilant, be ever vigilant.

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
×