Former legislature Dr. Kedrick Pickering has said determining the cost of the BVI’s independence is long overdue, a task he believes successive governments have failed to accomplish.
This was expressed during a spirited panel discussion on Constitutional reform hosted on November 8th, at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College.
Dr. Pickering said “coming out of the unfinished business of 2007 was the fact that a committee was supposed to have been established that was to be charged with the responsibility of looking at the cost of going into independence. And that process, both governments have dropped the ball on it.”
“We should have been at the point where we are actually ready for a referendum on the issue and we’ve lost the momentum on that,” Dr. Pickering further added.
Dr. Pickering stated that UK has always supported the British Overseas Territories’ right to self-govern.
“The British Government have always been very clear about their position. Independence is an option for all of the overseas territories once it is the constitutionally expressed desire of the population. They’ve been very clear about that.”
However, he’s adamant that it should not be done without the fundamental opinion of the electorate. The walk to independence must be in direct consultation with the people of the Virgin Islands, Dr. Pickering said.
“One of the steps would be the referendum. In today’s world, I don’t think we will get to the point of formal negotiation with the United Kingdom government if public participation is minimal. They’re going to rightfully ask you ‘whose views are you representing?”
Other panelists Dr. Richard Georges, Mrs. Patricia Archibald-Bowers and moderator Mr. Jamal Smith all contended that it is time for the Government to consult with the people on the prospects of Independence and other options in the walk self-governance and to drive out fear in the populace.