The United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24) is currently in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) on an official mission to assess the territory’s relationship with the United Kingdom (UK) and discuss the BVI’s political future concerning decolonization.
The two-day mission, which concludes on Tuesday, August 27, involves a series of meetings with key local stakeholders to gather perspectives on the BVI’s status as a non-self-governing territory and its future aspirations.
During the visit, the C-24 delegation will meet with high-ranking officials, including Premier Dr. the Hon. Natalio Wheatley, Cabinet Ministers, Junior Ministers, Speaker of the House of Assembly Hon. Corine George-Massicote, Leader of the Opposition Hon. Ronnie Skelton, and Members of the Opposition. The delegation will also hold discussions with Attorney General Dawn Smith and His Excellency Governor Daniel Pruce, among others.
Beyond these official engagements, the visiting mission will interact with a cross-section of societal stakeholders, including grassroots and civic organizations. A significant part of their visit will also involve discussions with members of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), who have recently completed a report on constitutional reform. This report is intended to guide the Government of the Virgin Islands and the public in their upcoming negotiations with the UK regarding the territory’s constitutional advancement.
The mission’s focus includes examining the BVI’s perspective on several critical issues, such as the current state of the BVI-UK relationship, the roles of both entities as a non-self-governing territory and administering power, and the future trajectory of this relationship.
Additionally, discussions will cover the relationship between the BVI and UK in the context of sustainable development, climate change, security, economic stability, and governance.