Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Mar 23, 2023

People think we benefit financially as a UK territory

People think we benefit financially as a UK territory

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has posited that many residents are afraid of changing the BVI’s status as a territory because they fear losing fundamental benefits they believe the country gets from the United Kingdom (UK).
The Premier said efforts need to be made to educate the public on what the BVI currently gets from the UK as this will put people in a better position to discuss the political advancement of the territory.

“Despite what we’ve told persons, some may believe that the UK gives us money or grants and things like that. And what is more likely is that nations that have a lower per capita income will get those big grants and despite our relationship with the United Kingdom government, we won’t get those big grants because of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) rules,” Premier Wheatley said.

He said the public must realise that becoming more independent doesn’t mean the BVI has to discard all the institutions it now enjoys because of its connection with the UK.

“Independence is not the only route, of course. But let’s say you go independent, you can still keep the legal system that you have, you can still keep the privy council as your final court of appeal. Persons need to understand these things because perhaps maybe they feel if there’ll be some fundamental shift that will hurt you in some way and persons need to be properly educated so they can consider next steps,” the Premier said.

Premier Wheatley also encouraged the community to consider the BVI’s state of readiness in comparison to Caribbean nations that severed ties with the United Kingdom in the 1900s. He said he believes the BVI is in a far better situation than those countries were at the time and this may be a good indicator of whether the territory is ready to advance politically.

“Persons must consider whether we are in a lesser state of readiness in 2022 than Jamaica was in 1962 or St Kitts in 1983 or Antigua in 1981. Is our economy stronger than those economies would have been back then? I’m not sure completely but I know we have a thriving financial services sector, a thriving tourism sector. We are considered a middle-income country with a very decent income per capita. Not to say that we don’t have our challenges but are we really that far behind all those other independent countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East at the time when they became independent?” Premier Wheatley said.

The public is divided on the matter of political advancement in the BVI. Some sections believe having the UK as a governing authority helps to keep elected leaders in check while others believe the BVI is fully capable of governing itself and should ditch the UK as a ‘mother country’.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
Close
0:00
0:00
Donald Trump arrested – Twitter goes wild with doctored pictures
I have a dream, MLK inspiring speech
NYPD is setting up barricades outside Manhattan Criminal Court ahead of Trump arrest.
Aretha Franklin, Marvis Staples - Oh Happy Day
Credit Suisse's Scandalous History Resulted in an Obvious Collapse - It's time for regulators who fail to do their job to be held accountable and serve as an example by being behind bars.
BVI Freedom Song
Home Secretary Suella Braverman tours potential migrant housing in Rwanda as asylum deal remains mired in legal challenges
Billy Preston - You Can't Beat God Giving (Live)
Paris Rioting vs Macron anti democratic law
VIRGIN ISLANDS REGGAE CARIBBEAN RIDDIMZ
'Sexual Fantasy' Assignment At US School Outrages Parents
Oh Happy Day Edwin Hawkins - Anthony Brown w FBCG Combined Choir
Credit Suisse to borrow $54 billion from Swiss central bank
'Stand by Me' performed by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir
Russian Hackers Preparing New Cyber Assault Against Ukraine
National Anthem of the British Virgin Islands - Oh, Beautiful Virgin
Jeremy Hunt insists his Budget will get young parents and over-50s back into work
Hello Dolly
If this was in Tehran, Moscow or Hong Kong
for KING & COUNTRY - Amen (Reborn) [feat. Lecrae & The WRLDFMS Tony Wi
Nashville police officer, and a female driver shooting one another
Bob Marley - Get Up Stand Up
TRUMP: "Standing before you today, I am the only candidate who can make this promise: I will prevent World War III."
Yes He Can
Mexican President Claims Mexico is Safer than the U.S.
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
A brief banking situation report
Unforgettable
Lady bites police officer and gets instantly reaction
Touch The Hem Of His Garment
We are witnessing widespread bank fails and the president just gave a 5 min speech then walked off camera.
The Lord's Prayer
Donald Trump's asked by Tucker Carlson question on if the U.S. should support regime change in Russia?.
THE GOD MOVEMENT...BEAUTIFUL BVI
Good news: The U.S. government is now guaranteeing all deposits, held by, Silicon Valley Bank, and the funds are available as of today
Siyahamba
Silicon Valley Bank exec was Lehman Brothers CFO
Ray Charles And The Voices Of Jubilaton, Oh, Happy Day
In a potential last-ditch effort, HSBC is considering a rescue deal to save Silicon Valley Bank UK from insolvency
Ramblin' Rose
BBC Director General, Tim Davie, has apologized, but not resigned, yet, following the disruption of sports programmes over the weekend
Protoje - Who Knows ft. Chronixx
A Mississippian man, who was once considered a “ticking time bomb,” has lost a whopping 165 kilograms! What motivated this incredible transformation?
Pressure - Virgin Islands Nice
Elon Musk Is Planning To Build A Town In Texas For His Employees
Phil Wickham - House Of The Lord
The Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse effect is spreading around the world, affecting startup companies across the globe
My God Is Real (Yes, God Is Real)
City officials in Berlin announced on Thursday that all swimmers at public pools will soon be allowed to swim topless
The Lion King Circle of Life by LEBO M. — LIVE at the HAVASI Symphonic
Fitness scam
Louis Armstrong - When The Saints Go Marching In
Market Chaos as USDC Loses Peg to USD after $3.3 Billion Reserves Held by Silicon Valley Bank Closed.
Kanye West Sunday Service - hallelujah, salvation, and glory
A primitive judge in Australia sparked outrage when he told a breastfeeding woman to leave his courtroom for being “a distraction"
Jonathan Nelson - I Believe (Island Medley
Barcelona is feeling the heat as they face corruption charges over payments to former vice-president of Spain's referees' committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira
From The Virgin Islands Sqad Up
Senator Tom Cotton: If the Mexican Government Won’t Stop Cartels from Killing Americans, Then U.S. Government Should
Common, John Legend - Glory
Banking regulators close SVB, the largest bank failure since the financial crisis
Anthony Evans vs. Jesse Campbell - If I Ain't Got You
The unelected UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, an immigrant himself, defends new controversial crackdown on illegal migration
I have a dream, MLK inspiring speech
Old clip of Bill Gates saying Ukraine is a big, fat, corrupt sinkhole is going viral
Aretha Franklin, Marvis Staples - Oh Happy Day
Man’s penis amputated by mistake after he’s wrongly diagnosed with a tumour
BVI Freedom Song
In a major snub to Downing Street's Silicon Valley dreams, UK chip giant Arm has dealt a serious blow to the government's economic strategy by opting for a US listing
Billy Preston - You Can't Beat God Giving (Live)
JP Morgan Becomes First Bank to Predict UK Will Avoid Recession
VIRGIN ISLANDS REGGAE CARIBBEAN RIDDIMZ
JP Morgan Becomes First Bank to Predict UK Will Avoid Recession
Oh Happy Day Edwin Hawkins - Anthony Brown w FBCG Combined Choir
How do stolen goods end up on Amazon, eBay and Facebook Marketplace?
'Stand by Me' performed by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir
It's the question on everyone's lips: could a four-day workweek be the future of employment?
National Anthem of the British Virgin Islands - Oh, Beautiful Virgin
Is Gold the Ultimate Safe Haven Asset in Times of Uncertainty?
Hello Dolly
Spain officials quit over trains that were too wide for tunnels...
for KING & COUNTRY - Amen (Reborn) [feat. Lecrae & The WRLDFMS Tony Wi
Don Lemon, a CNN anchor, has provided a list of five areas that he believes the black community needs to address.
Bob Marley - Get Up Stand Up
Hello. Here is our news digest from London.
Yes He Can
×