Premier Accused of Pushing Independence
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has accused Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley of advancing discussions on independence at the United Nations without a clear public mandate. Walwyn says the government must educate residents and hold broad consultations before any decision on self-determination is pursued.
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has accused Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley of proceeding toward independence discussions without properly consulting the people of the Virgin Islands. Speaking at a press conference of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, Walwyn said any move toward independence must be rooted in the will of the people and warned that leadership without a clear democratic mandate 'undermines the very principles of representative government.' He criticised the Premier for attending a United Nations meeting in New York to discuss decolonisation and a possible timetable for independence without first engaging the wider public.
Walwyn argued that the government has been conflating 'self-determination' and 'independence' and thereby misleading residents about the options available. He pointed to other arrangements available under self-determination, such as free association—where an internally self-governing territory partners with another state on issues like defence and foreign affairs, as with the Cook Islands and New Zealand—or integration, as seen historically with Alaska and Hawaii. 'It is about the right to decide one’s own political destiny,' Walwyn said, urging Virgin Islanders and Belongers to remain vigilant, stay informed and actively engage in discussions that shape the territory’s future.
He reiterated calls for a national address, public education campaigns and broad consultations before any formal steps are taken. The debate has re-emerged amid the ongoing constitutional review process, where government and opposition are considering 54 recommendations from the Constitutional Review Commission.
Those recommendations touch on governance, rights and the relationship between the BVI and the United Kingdom, and any change to the territory’s status would carry significant implications for citizenship rights, defence arrangements, external relations and economic policy. Walwyn said that to respect the principle of self-determination the government should not 'assume consent where none has been explicitly given' and should instead seek a clear mandate, for example through comprehensive public consultations or a referendum.
The Premier's attendance at the UN highlights international dimensions of decolonisation discussions, but Walwyn and others say domestic engagement must come first. The Opposition has called on the public to demand transparency and for both government and opposition to prioritise education on the practical consequences of any constitutional change.
At the time of the briefing there was no substantive national address from the Premier on the matter, and no timeline for wider public consultations had been announced.
Primary source: BVI News