Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

‘We must not fall victim' to old divide & rule trick- Deputy Premier

‘We must not fall victim' to old divide & rule trick- Deputy Premier

As the Virgin Islands observes Emancipation Day today, August 1, 2021, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has urged Virgin Islanders to reflect and be grateful for the progress made as a people and to reject attempts by forces to bring about division that can derail the territory and its young democracy.
‘We must not fall victim’


According to Dr Wheatley, with God’s help, along with adherence to wise counsel and being resolute in a principled purpose, the Virgin Islands will triumph over this pandemic and other pitfalls along the way.

“But unity is the key, and we must not fall victim to the old tried and tested trick of divide and rule,” Dr Wheatley warned while making remarks at the Emancipation 2021 Service being held virtually.

According to the Deputy Premier, in addition to disease and natural disasters, the Virgin Islands people face threats to their ability to determine their destiny.

The hypocrisy of the United Kingdom-sponsored Commission of Inquiry (CoI) in the Virgin Islands was called out by Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), who pointed out that the UK Government led by Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, in photo, launched a CoI in the VI while rejecting calls for one in the United Kingdom.


Hypocrisy of CoI


Dr Wheatley pointed to the Commission of Inquiry as one of such threats and called out the hypocrisy of the United Kingdom (UK) Government led by Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson.

“The United Kingdom launched a Commission of Inquiry at a time when all our efforts should have been focused on saving lives and delivering progress for the people. The reality that the Prime Minister Johnson rejected calls for a Commission of Inquiry in the United Kingdom while allowing one to be imposed here speaks to the unequal partnership that exists with our administering power.”

According to Dr Wheatley, any society placed under a microscope will have its flaws and weaknesses exposed, especially a society that has suffered great neglect and exploitation by its coloniser over hundreds of years.

He said the United Kingdom, like other societies, is not immune to the alleged deficiencies being scrutinised here.

Virgin Islanders have been urged to adopt a spirit of gratitude and recognise and appreciate the struggles of their ancestors.


‘Corruption taking hold in Britain’


As an example, Dr Wheatley referred to The Guardian newspaper, which he said was a reputable publication from the United Kingdom that published an article titled, ‘Under Boris Johnson, corruption is taking hold in Britain’. The subtitle of the article read, ‘Cronyism is rife, our system of checks and balances is being dismantled, and ordinary people will soon start to suffer’.

“That is just one article, but similar scathing claims can be made of the United States of America, Russia, China, and all throughout the world,” Dr Wheatley noted, in pointing out that every country has its challenges and the Virgin Islands should not be seen as differently and used as a scapegoat for an agenda.

A December 9, 2020 opinion piece in The Guardian highlighted the alleged corruption concerns in the United Kingdom government.


I reject the ‘Let Britain take over for a while mentality’!


“Among some persons, disillusioned because of what they may perceive to be this society’s weaknesses, an ill-advised sentiment has crept into conversations: ‘Let Britain take over for a while.’

“My people, I reject this mentality with every fiber of my being. Let us continue the work of developing our institutions, and educating our people. Let us use the tools of democracy, including public forums, responsible journalism, protest, debate, and even elections, but let us not surrender to the archaic and colonial tools that the world should have forgotten about long ago, such as take overs, imposed legislation, and imposed administrators.”

Dr Wheatley called on Virgin Islanders to never forget where they were prior to 1950, with no proper healthcare, education, or infrastructure.

He pointed out that it is through the advancement of local democracy and local autonomy that they society has seen so much gains.

‘We are incredibly blessed’


Dr Wheatley also appealed to the Virgin Islanders to adopt a spirit of gratitude and recognise and appreciate the struggles of their ancestors.

“And while we are extremely critical, let us not take for granted that we are incredibly blessed and enjoy a standard of living that many people around the world would hope and dream of. As bad as some think we are, we still attract people from all over the world who choose to call BVI home. We can’t be that bad.

“Our education system produces individuals who have topped schools abroad and even topped various industries abroad. No, we are not what some paint us to be. In fact, we have done well and we have a lot to thank God for. Let us never be ungrateful for his favour upon us. Let us also be appreciative of our ancestors who have toiled hard to lay the foundation for our success, and let us never shy away from our responsibility to keep building these beautiful islands for the benefit of coming generations,” Dr Wheatley implored.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
×