Antigua and Barbuda expresses support for BVI’s aspirations for greater self determination

Antigua and Barbuda has reaffirmed its support for the Government and people of the British Virgin Islands in their pursuit of political self-determination.

For years, Antigua and Barbuda has been working through a UN body, the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, in helping to advance the case for political independence for several countries, including the BVI.

The committee recently held a Caribbean Regional Seminar in Nicaragua where BVI Special Envoy Benito Wheatley provided an updated on upcoming constitutional negotiations with the United Kingdom.

Representing Antigua and Barbuda at the meeting in the Central American country was Second Officer in the Antigua and Barbuda Permanent Mission in New York, Dr Jerri-Anne Jeremy.

Dr. Jeremy, in addressing the meeting, said Antigua and Barbuda’s support for the BVI is rooted in her country’s shared history and cultural and familial ties with its people. She noted that Antigua and Barbuda’s own experience as a former colony and the strides it has made since then were crucial factors.

“We continue to regard the decolonization process as one of the United Nations’ most important responsibilities and reaffirm our commitment to the objectives of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism,” Dr Jeremy told the meeting.

Against this background, Dr. Jeremy congratulated the BVI government for what has been described as the most comprehensive legislative reform programme in the history of the country. “These reforms contributed to the lifting of the Order in Council that previously allowed for the suspension of the Constitution and the imposition of direct rule,” she acknowledged.

Dr. Jeremy further noted that Antigua and Barbuda remains a close friend of the United Kingdom, recognizing the importance of continued partnership between the administering power and the BVI government in strengthening governance institutions within the territory.

The BVI is already playing leadership roles in ECLAC, the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee, the Regional Conference on South-South Cooperation and the BVI -UN Sustainable Development Forum.

“These achievements demonstration the territory’s institutional maturity and growing capacity to participate effectively in regional and international affairs,” Dr. Jeremy observed.

Antigua and Barbuda has been a part of the UN Committee for around 23 years and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr Walton Webson at one time has served as Chair.

Besides the BVI there are five other Caribbean territories that fall under its purview.