UK Must Take BVI Self-Determination Seriously
BVI Special Envoy E. Benito Wheatley urged the United Kingdom at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025 to take the territory’s self-determination seriously, including consideration of full internal self-government and a future referendum. He also called for UK support for the BVI’s economic self-sufficiency and UN technical assistance for education on self-determination.
Benito Wheatley has urged the United Kingdom to take the self-determination of the Virgin Islands “very seriously,” telling delegates at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025 that constitutional talks must seriously consider the territory’s future political status.
The Virgin Islands remains one of 17 non-self-governing Overseas Territories under the remit of the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation (C-24). Wheatley told the UN that a visiting C-24 mission to the territory in August 2024 — undertaken after a years-old request to the UK — was only the start of a preparatory process toward any change of political status, rather than an end in itself.
Among his recommendations, Wheatley urged the UK to give formal consideration to the BVI achieving full internal self-government during upcoming constitutional negotiations and to provide for a future referendum on any change of political status. He described such steps as part of a constructive path toward resolving the territory’s relationship with the UK.
Wheatley also flagged the importance of protecting the BVI’s economic base. He said the UK should support the territory’s continued full economic and financial self-sufficiency — sectors largely underpinned by financial services and tourism — while also engaging constructively on transparency measures. "This means constructive engagement with the BVI and access to public registers of beneficial ownership based on legitimate interests, respect for human rights, and constitutional safeguards," he said.
The envoy asked the United Nations to help secure technical assistance from relevant agencies to implement the C-24 mission’s recommendation for an education programme on self-determination, noting that Article 73 of the UN Charter mandates UN support to non-self-governing territories at their request.
Wheatley stressed the mutual benefits of a positive post-negotiation relationship between the BVI and the UK after what he described as the difficult years recently experienced by the Territory. His remarks underscore growing momentum for formal talks on political status and the practical measures residents may see debated in the coming months, from constitutional changes to public education campaigns on self-determination.
According to Virgin Islands News Online, Wheatley made the statements at UNGA80 as part of the Territory’s continued engagement with international bodies on its constitutional future.
Primary source: VINO