Hon Vanterpool blasts Commonwealth as reminder of UK enslavement - says moving forward VI should not be part of Commonwealth but rather a strong partner with UK

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI– Fourth District Representative in the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly, Hon Mark H. Vanterpool has blasted the Commonwealth as a reminder of the scores of nations that were once colonies of the United Kingdom and subjected to slavery.

Hon Vanterpool was at the time speaking on the topic of self-determination for the VI and the way forward during the Emancipation Service held by the Virgin Islands Heritage Month Committee at Sunday Morning Well on July 31, 2022.

No celebrating the memories of enslavement- Hon Vanterpool

“I no longer believe in this Commonwealth nations thing... the Commonwealth nations thing is a reminder of all of the nations that the United Kingdom enslaved...and we are not going back there,” he said.

The legislator added, “We are going forward. I am not celebrating the memory of us being enslaved as a nation.”

Hon Vanterpool called for the VI to move forward and work closely with the United Kingdom as partners with mutual respect and collaboration to make the Virgin Islands better for the people of this territory.