Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Stop referring to us as the ‘BVI’, says Opposition Leader

Stop referring to us as the ‘BVI’, says Opposition Leader

We are not British, we are their victims. They rigged our systems to be controlled by their unelected corrupted officials. Amid the political tensions between the BVI and the United Kingdom, one lawmaker has expressed that people should stop referring to the territory as the British Virgin Islands.
Opposition leader Julian Fraser said “Virgin Islands” is the correct name and added that he doesn’t understand why people insist on calling the territory “The BVI.”

“These are the Virgin Islands and no matter where you go, who you’re speaking to – these are The Virgin Islands. For the life of me, I cannot understand why people insist on referring to us as the BVI,” Fraser said in the House of Assembly on October 25.

He pointed out that at the recent BVI/USVI Friendship Day celebrations, Lieutenant Governor Tengrenza Roach of the USVI was the only person who correctly referred to the territory as the Virgin Islands. In denouncing the use of “BVI”, the legislator said Virgin Islanders shouldn’t allow the USVI to use the term “Virgin Islands” while they adopt the term “British” as part of the country’s title.

“We need to get it straight. This complex that we have where we think we must yield to the US Virgin Islands and give them “VI” while we take on some “B”, it has to stop,” Fraser argued.

The BVI is a territory of the United Kingdom which means the UK has final decision-making authority in all matters pertaining to the territory. Over the years, locals have advocated for and gained increased powers to govern their own affairs.

But, there has always been tension between locally elected leaders and their British counterparts and those tensions reached new heights under the Andrew-Fahie administration which stood strongly against many of the UK’s proposals and particularly orders given by former Governor Augustus Jaspert, who represented the UK locally.

Before he left the BVI, Jaspert acted on complaints he reportedly received from many locals and ordered a Commission of Inquiry into the practices of successive BVI administrations.

That Inquiry found that the BVI was being poorly governed for many years and recommended that the UK snatch power away from locals in a bid to instil good governance and get the territory back on track.

Though elected representatives have managed to stave off direct rule of the UK, tensions remain high as many people believe it is time for the BVI to sever ties with the UK and avoid similar threats of direct rule in the future.

Still, there are some who welcome the UK’s presence and see it as a bulwark against possible abuse that is likely under the leadership of local representatives.

In the meantime, the UK has stated that it would welcome and facilitate the BVI’s wish to sever ties whenever the territory is ready to make this decision.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
×