PM Pierre made the statement during the United Nations Pacific Regional Seminar on Decolonisation held in Saint Lucia on May 11-13, 2022, and this comes on the heels of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report recommending the imposition of direct rule in the VI by the UK.

Mr Pierre said his country agrees with the OECS and elected representatives of the VI that the abolition of Parliament with direct rule from London represents a retrograde step in the evolution of the democratic process that is inconsistent with the United Nations Proclamation of Human Rights to be free of colonial rule.

“The UN Declaration on granting independence to colonial countries and peoples – Resolution 1514 of 1960 is an international commitment to which British is itself bound,” he added.

The Seminar was held under the theme ‘Advancement of the Non-Self Governing Territories through the Coronavirus disease pandemic,” and Pierre added that while neither the Governance status nor the political colours of their people mattered in the COVID-19 rampage, he said the pandemic would have made the process of decolonisation a tougher task.

PM Pierre made the statement during the United Nations Pacific Regional Seminar on Decolonization held in Saint Lucia held on May 11-13, 2022, and this comes on the heels of the UK Sponsored-CoI report recommending an imposition of Direct rule in the VI by the UK.

Lone Commissioner of the Commission of Inquiry in the Virgin Islands Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom, in his final report on the CoI, recommended direct rule of the [British] Virgin Islands by the United Kingdom.

Much work ahead - PM Pierre

"There is therefore much work ahead, some of it quite complex, if there is to be a successful decolonisation for the remaining non-self-governing territory. We can no longer afford the continued repetition of the process which finds continual reaffirmation of the mandate without accountability for implementation.”

Mr Pierre added that in the case of regional institutions, the United Nations has an important statutory role to play in the future development process of regional territories.

“The successful decolonisation of over 80 territories since World War II reflects the effectiveness of this historical role.”

He said the advancement in decolonisation was successful in large measure because of the adherence to the parameters of self-determination set forth by the United Nations General Assembly.