With growing regional demands for Britain to pay reparations for the slave trade and with increasing clamor for more Caribbean nations to become republics and be governed by local heads of state, Britain’s overseas colonies say they want a reset of relations and greater political and constitutional autonomy.
The call to review relations between London and its remaining colonies was made at a just-concluded summit with the new labor government in Britain after its accession to power in general elections in July.
Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), the Cayman Islands, the Turks and Caicos, Anguilla, and Montserrat are remaining colonies in the Caribbean. Over the decades, each and every one has become an associate member of the larger 15-nation Caribbean Community (Caricom). Bermuda recently announced plans to become a full Caricom member as the current leadership appears to look more regional than toward London for political fellowship.
Reporting on the recent joint ministerial council meeting in London, BVI Premier Natalio Wheatley said the leaders are pleased that the United Kingdom wants “a reset of relations,” noting the importance of the first meeting with the government of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Lammy is of Guyanese descent.
“It was the first JMC (joint council) to be organized by the new labor government, which I believe made a genuine effort to reset the relationship,” Wheatly told reporters after returning home. “In terms of tangible outcomes, the UK expressed its openness to the constitutional relationship evolving to be more democratic.”
Wheatley said colony leaders detected a more “positive and constructive” attitude and approach by the labor government in dealing with its colonies in the Caribbean. The issue of reparations was not listed as an agenda item or appear to form any part of the discussions, nor was there any plan by any of the territories to push for independence.
BVI politicians have been particularly sensitive about their relations with Britain since 2022, when the then-Conservative government threatened to reimpose direct rule from London over the chain of islands due to allegations of corruption, lack of transparency in the tendering process, state land sales, and other complaints. The premier said that after discussions, he remains confident that the threat will disappear in the coming months.
“I welcome the steps outlined by the Overseas Territories Minister Stephen Doughty to bring the good governance reform program to a close and lift the order in council, pending a final quarterly review by the governor and a UK ministerial assessment in the first half of 2025,” Wheatley said of expectations that the direct rule threat will be abandoned next year. “I am confident that the VI government has done the necessary work to justify the removal of the order.”
Under current arrangements, Britain is still responsible for defense and in some cases, finance and immigration, as well as foreign policy decisions of its territories.
During his address to the group, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer did give hope that discussions about greater autonomy could begin in the coming months, noting Britain’s continued intention to defend “security, autonomy, and rights, including the right of self-determination.”
Starmer said that “because it is the first of a new government, this is an opportunity for me to make absolutely clear, to repeat no doubt what others have said: that we want to reset the government’s relationship with our overseas territories and that’s part of a bigger piece of work that we’re doing, resetting on the international stage — being clear about the role of the UK in an ever more volatile world — but that does include the reset with you. That is why it’s really important for me personally to be here, because I need to get to know you, you need to get to know me, you need to feel that you can get in touch with me, or David or Stephen, any time you like. It’s not a remote relationship. You know who we are and how to get hold of us and how to have a discussion on any issues.”