London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

British Virgin Islands needs more time, support for self-determination: envoy

British Virgin Islands needs more time, support for self-determination: envoy

While making clear that British Virgin Islands is not to seek independence, an envoy from the islands government said here Thursday that the territory "will certainly need more time and support to consider a final status on the ladder of self-determination."

"I would like to begin by making clear at the outset that my purpose for being here today is not to embarrass the United Kingdom," said Benito Wheatley, special envoy of the British Virgin Islands government, at a meeting of the UN Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.

"I am also not here to insist on the independence of the British Virgin Islands. The Government's priorities at this point in time are recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria and the sustainable development of our islands," Wheatley told the Special Committee on decolonization, or the C-24.

"We also have a responsibility to ensure that the rights of the people of the British Virgin Islands enshrined in the UN Charter continue to be upheld and protected," Wheatley said.

"Engagement with the Special Committee is our right and the United Nations can play a positive role in providing an additional layer of accountability," he said.

"While the UK government has not changed its view on imposing public registers of beneficial ownership on the overseas territories without their consent and before they are a global standard, which we do not accept, (and) there has been an acknowledgement by UK law enforcement and others that the British Virgin Islands is a jurisdiction that is at the forefront of efforts to safeguard the integrity of the global financial system and should be a partner in combatting any illicit financial flows," Wheatley said.

The UK government confirmed that their policy is not to use Orders in Council, a type of legislation in the Commonwealth countries, to force the British Virgin Islands to legalise same-sex marriage, extend voters rights and eligibility for elected office to persons not covered by the constitution and abolish Belonger status as a category of citizenship conferred by the territory government, he said.

Belonger status is a legal classification normally associated with British Overseas Territories, which refers to people who have close ties to a specific territory, normally by birth or ancestry.

These developments pave the way for the UK and overseas territories to reset the relationship once a new UK prime minister and government are in place in July, he said.

"It is in the interest of both the UK and British Virgin Islands and that the UK and overseas territories renew their modern partnership that was predicated on mutual respect and responsibility," the envoy said.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×