Tourism operator, business owner and social commentator, Julio S. Henry says he wholeheartedly agrees with statements by Claude O. Skelton-Cline; later depicted in a cartoon on Virgin Islands News Online, that the United Kingdom (UK) has its foot on the VI's collective necks.

His comments come several weeks after the cartoon sparked outrage in a small section of the VI community, with Mr Henry now stating that the Territory should go a step further and stop singing the UK national anthem.

"I joke every day now on the taxi stand and I question and ask people do you think we should continue to use God Save the Queen to reign over us? And a lot of people are saying no, it's not right," he said on the Thursday, July 16, 2020, edition of 'Honestly Speaking' on ZBVI 780 AM.

It should be noted that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already agreed for the Territorial Song to replace 'God Save the Queen' at regional and international events where the Virgin Islands has won medals.

Mr Henry continued, "We at a point in our lives now [where] we have been taking care of ourselves, and when you said the other day, and the cartoon came out that the UK has their foot on our necks, I three hundred per cent agreed with that."

UK has foot on VI's neck

"The UK had their foot on our neck for a very long time, they strangled the last administration because they didn't have any stamina, to say no, that's not right... they didn't have any wisdom in any way to get around the roadblock," he said.

Pointing to the constitutional review, he said information is lacking on the process and those involved to move the project forward.

"Mr Premier, announce the people them, start doing your community research, start going on the air and talking to the people... get somebody to go from page 1 to page 100 in the constitution and [who] could explain the section... what they mean, why they are there."

He said Government should then consult with the people on what they want added and what to change in the constitution.