RACISM AS ACCEPTABLE PRACTICE IN NETHERLANDS

Sylvana Simons: Racism is accepted in the Netherlands

"In a country that prides itself on its supposed inclusiveness, a new political party exposes racism in Dutch society."

As the Netherlands gears up for general elections, now two months away, a new political party aims to fight back against the rising tide of Geert Wilders' right-wing populism.

Despite receiving a barrage of hate mail and threats, TV-presenter-turned-politician Sylvana Simons will enter the poll on March 15 as leader of Artikel 1.

In a country that prides itself on its supposed inclusiveness, Simons has raised the ire of many on the right by focusing her programme on eradicating institutional racism.

Utilising her TV fame, Simons has become one of the most prominent faces of a counter-movement to blunt a xenophobic surge in the Netherlands.

You can't be black, female, politically involved and try to shape the society you live in without angering some people. - Sylvana Simons

But her new career as a politician came at a price, as she was put under police protection after threatening messages and memes started appearing online.

In one attack, her face was superimposed on an image of a lynched slave and widely circulated on the internet. In another, she was the butt of popular racist song that called on her to "pack her bags" and leave the Netherlands.

The Dutch government has addressed some grievances seen as discriminatory by Dutch citizens of foreign origin. Last year, it banned the word "allochtoon", used to describe immigrants.

Additionally, elements of a children's Christmas festival featuring a character known as "Black Pete" have been altered to prevent causing offence to the black Dutch community. But Artikel 1 says this does not go far enough.

READ MORE: Far-right MP Geert Wilders found guilty of hate speech

A total of 25 parties will be competing in the Dutch parliamentary elections. Wilders' Freedom Party is leading in the polls by a large margin but none of the parties are expected to secure an outright majority.

Al Jazeera spoke to Simons as she campaigned for a seat to raise the concerns of the most marginalised groups in Dutch society.

What made you decide to enter politics after a television career?

There was a moment in a popular Dutch show when a guest made a racist remark and I called him out over it. Viewers started sending in comments such as "go back to your country". It made me realise racism is accepted in the Netherlands; it's OK to be racist.

I realised that people haven't been taught about their colonial history and how certain groups of people have come to live in the Netherlands.

But I was encouraged that many people also wrote me, saying I had made it easier for them to speak out against racism. So the next logical step was to enter politics since I have a platform to address change.

What does Artikel 1 represent and who is it appealing to?

Our party's name is based on the first article of the Dutch constitution which aims to protect civilians from the government. It's a moral compass to our society to ensure we don't exclude anybody. But in practice, it's clear it isn't working. Some communities are under pressure and there isn't justice and equality for everyone.

How is Artikel 1 different from other Dutch political parties?

Artikel 1 is not founded by politicians. I am an ordinary Dutch woman.

We are the only party standing up to Geert Wilders. All of the other parties are part of the establishment. They've existed for years and have given in to xenophobic sentiment. They have cuddled up to the right out of fear of losing voters and stood by as things got worse.

You've met heavy resistance, including racist and sexist threats and insults. Do you think this is indicative of the Netherlands?

When you've gained wealth through slavery and colonialism, you will build courts, police and judiciary based on that system. - Sylvana Simons

Racism, sexism and Islamophobia are widespread, not just in the Netherlands but in most parts of Western Europe. I was tolerated when I was an entertainer. But you can't be black, female, politically involved and try to shape the society you live in without angering some people.

When I started speaking out one of the first comments was that I didn't "know my place". I've known my place my whole life! If you are not white, heterosexual and male, this country suggests you have to be treated differently.

Is the Netherlands institutionally racist?

Western European countries are institutionally racist. It's natural.

When you've gained wealth through slavery and colonialism, you will build courts, police and judiciary based on that system. The problem is when you say such things out loud it sounds as if everyone is being racist on purpose all the time. That's not true, but the way the society is shaped is racist and divisive.

For example, women are paid less than men for doing the same job, Muslims and non-Muslims are treated differently in courts. Children from ethnic backgrounds and lower social economic backgrounds are being underscored and excluded from making progress in elite fields.

Artikel 1 wants to make people aware of these inequalities and hold government to serving them.

What can you contribute to building a more diverse Netherlands?

We want to represent all of Dutch society and our list of candidates alone shows we are truly reflecting the Netherlands. We have equal numbers of men and women. We have gay, lesbian, and transgender candidates. We are normalising what is already normal in society.

We are a new and unconventional voice in society. We are emancipating people and politics.

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Far-Right Candidate Vows to Shut Down Dutch Mosques, Calls Them Nazi Temples

THE HAGUE – The leader of the Netherlands’ foremost far-right party said that mosques are “Nazi temples” and promised to shut them down if he wins the upcoming general elections, Dutch media reported on Monday.

Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-immigration, euroskeptic and populist Party for Freedom (PVV), also vowed to close the country’s borders and end all foreign aid to Belgium and Greece, as well as to “Africa and the asylum-seekers.”

“We will take the Netherlands back,” Wilders said in a televised interview.

He said Islam was “worse than Nazism” and stressed that he would ban the Quran, which he compared to Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf.”

“We won’t be going from door to door confiscating Quran books, of course not,” Wilders said after acknowledging that “people could still download it online.”

The controversial politician vowed to shut down all mosques and put an end to the “massive immigration of Muslims” to the Netherlands.

When asked about his political rivals’ refusal to include him in a future governing coalition, Wilders warned that “they will have no other option than to negotiate” with the PVV.

“The will of 2.5 million people cannot be ignored,” he said. “That would be very imprudent.”

Current Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte wrote on Twitter that there was a “zero-percent chance” of his party – the center-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) – forming a coalition with the PVV.

Other mainstream parties – such as the Socialists, the Christian Democrats, Labor and the Greens – have also rejected Wilders and his zealous brand of white nationalism.

According to several polls published over the weekend, the PVV continues to lead in voting intention, although the predicted popular vote victory would not equate an absolute majority that would allow Wilders to govern on his own.

Wilders warned that if he is marginalized from the future government, there will be “rioting” in the Netherlands.

The Dutch parliamentary elections to choose all 150 members of the House of Representatives are scheduled for March 15.

Home Value Of Virgin Islands Natural Resources To Be Determined

Press Release

The Territory (Virgin Islands) is expected to benefit from a study on the Total Economic Valuation of its natural resources in 2019.

The Government in partnership with the UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) will oversee the research by the Wolfs Institute. Funding is being provided through the UK (JNCC) by the UK Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.

The scope of the proposed study was defined at a workshop held on Wednesday, February 1 with representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour. The participants identified key ecosystems, ecosystem services and threats, and determined applications of the natural capital assessment to development planning and the raising of awareness.

Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Joseph Smith-Abbott said that the JNCC is conducting this work within nine other overseas territories of the UK and the study would be done in two phases: one in April 2017 through March 2018 and the other in April 2018 through March 2019.

Mr. Smith Abbot said, “Finding the value of our environment in numbers helps us to make better decisions in policy, helps us to raise awareness of different environmental impacts, and assists with natural capital accounting.”

Environmental Consultant, Amilcar Guzman stated that the scope of the project is to establish the economic value of key environmental goods and services available in the Territory; map the distribution of these assets through GIS [Geographic Information Systems]; and develop measurable indicators for natural capital that can be used for monitoring and reporting on change.

He added, “The work is intended to set up an operational approach and a set of tools to help in building national capacity to enable the Virgin Islands to supplement and revise the work into the future.”

A research plan will be developed and will detail activities and collaboration with various stakeholders. 

Initial work of economic valuation in the Territory was undertaken by the VU University of Amsterdam, IVM Institute for Environmental Studies and Wolfs Institute in 2013 to 2014 to establish the “Tourism Value of Nature in the British Virgin Islands (BVI)”. Research findings indicated the total annual tourism value of ecosystems in the BVI comes at an estimate of $194 million. This amount is attributable to both the marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour endeavours to effectively administer the natural resources of the Territory in a manner that ensures long term sustainability.

Puerto Rico sets June 11 plebiscite on integration or independence

PUERTO RICO REPORT

Puerto Rico Status Bill Takes a Step Forward, 

Opponents Insist on Rejected “Commonwealth” Option

The Puerto Rico Senate has approved legislation to hold a plebiscite on June 11, 2017 to determine Puerto Rico’s status.  There will be two options on the  ballot: statehood and independence.

The Senate proposal, which was given the symbolic bill number 51, was authored by Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz of the New Progressive Party (PNP).  It has been endorsed by members of the independence and statehood parties in Puerto Rico.

Members of the “commonwealth” party sought to delay the vote, insisting that a choice between statehood and independence would disenfranchise those voters who prefer a “commonwealth” option. “Commonwealth” has been rejected consistently by Congress and the executive branch over the past several decades as unconstitutional as well as “unrealistic,” “deceptive,” “unacceptable, and an “unattainable myth.”

A variety of “commonwealth” definitions were proposed in the Puerto Rico Senate, including “developed ELA” and “None of the above,” but all such proposals failed.  These recommendations echo the various “commonwealth” options that were contained on previous ballots, all of which were rejected after causing substantial confusion.

The U.S. law providing the funding for the plebiscite requires approval of all options by the U.S. Department of Justice. 

The Justice Department has already said that “enhanced commonwealth” is not a viable option, under both Republican and Democratic presidents.

Senator Eduardo Bhatia, spokesman for the PPD “commonwealth” delegation, argued during the debate that excluding “commonwealth” would mean that “there is no true democracy.”

However, as a territory of the United States, Puerto Rico is under the power of Congress. Recent Supreme Court rulings  have confirmed this fact, as has the passage of PROMESA. The decision on which options are constitutional will be made by the United States Department of Justice, as set forth in a 2014 law.

The Senate did approve a clarification designed to avoid the problems with the 2012 referendum by explicitly noting that ballots left blank in the plebiscite would not have any effect on the vote, which is always the case in voting in the states.

The bill further provides that, if the option of sovereignty prevails in the June plebiscite, then on October 8 a referendum with “Free Association” and “Independence” would be held as the only alternatives.  Both of these options would represent a severe break from the United States that would (could?, might?) jeopardize current U.S. citizenship for individuals born in Puerto Rico as well as involvement in social programs (e.g. Medicaid, nutrition assistance), and resources to combat illegal drugs and strengthen the island’s defense. (Could these issues be negotiable?)

PUERTO RICO POLITICAL STATUS REFERENDUM SET FOR 11 JUNE

PUERTO RICO REPORT

Puerto Rico to Vote on Status on June 11

Governor Ricardo Rossello (New Progressive Party/PNP) ... sign(ed) into law... a bill that he supported which would hold a plebiscite in the islands between statehood and nationhood under a 2014 Federal law...

The vote would be conducted June 11th. If statehood wins, the Government of Puerto Rico would conduct a major campaign to convince the U.S. Congress to grant the status.

If nationhood wins, there would be a another vote October 8th between independence and “free association.” Under free association, one nation allows another nation to exercise some of the first nation’s sovereign powers on the condition that either nation can end the association. There are a small number of such free associations around the world.

The U.S. is in free association with three island groups with very small populations in the Pacific. Under these associations, the U.S. has full powers over the defense of the islands, has extended some domestic programs to them, has temporarily granted substantial government subsidies, and permits their citizens to enter the U.S. without regard to immigration restrictions other than those involving security. The “freely associated states” are fully self-governing and have their own international relations that cannot conflict with U.S. security.

The 2014 Federal law provides for Puerto Rico to have a plebiscite on options that would resolve the question of the territory’s future status and that are found by the U.S. Department of Justice to not be incompatible with the Constitution, laws, and policies of the U.S.

The 2014 law was enacted because the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) officials who narrowly won control of Puerto Rico’s government in 2012 disputed a plebiscite held under local law on the same day. That vote rejected continuing territory status, often misleadingly called “commonwealth status,” and, then, choose statehood with 61.1% of the vote, compared with 33.3% for “Sovereign Free Associated State,” and 5.6% for independence.

The PPD argued that the plebiscite was unfair because Puerto Rico was not a territory and because the party’s “commonwealth status” proposal was not on the ballot. All three branches of the Federal government regard Puerto Rico as a territory, and the Obama, George W. Bush, and Clinton Administrations and congressional committee leaders of both national parties and in both houses of Congress have rejected the PPD’s “commonwealth status” proposal for constitutional and other reasons.

Last year’s Federal law on Puerto Rico’s finances, PROMESA, explicitly stated that the islands are a territory and stated that it would not interfere with the territory choosing its future status. The U.S. Supreme Court last year also reaffirmed Puerto Rico’s territory status, prompted by the U.S. Justice Department, at least in part because of the Obama Administration’s desire to obtain enactment of a law like PROMESA.

The PNP won the 2016 elections on a platform of aggressively seeking statehood. The status is the top priority of Rossello, the PNP’s two-thirds majority in each house of the Legislative Assembly, and Resident Commissioner in Washington, DC, Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (R/PNP), who has a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Statehood or nationhood are necessary for Puerto Ricans to have equal voting representation in the government that makes their national laws and for Puerto Ricans to be treated equally under national laws. PNP leaders make the case that this equality within the U.S. is necessary for Puerto Rico’s failing territory economy to be substantially improved.

One of the first bills that Gonzalez-Colon introduced in the U.S. House would make Puerto Rico a State in 2025 if statehood wins a plebiscite under the 2014 Federal law. In the interim, equal treatment in Federal laws would be phased in according to a plan determined by the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status.

The 2016 Republican National Platform called for the Congress to enact statehood legislation if statehood wins a vote under the 2014 Federal law. Earlier, President Trump said during his campaign that Congress should consider the status for Puerto Rico if it wins a referendum.

In the past, Democrats in Congress have demonstrated more openness to statehood than Republicans.

The PPD has not decided yet what to do about the plebiscite. Some leaders want to say that it is unfair because it does not include the federally-rejected “commonwealth.” Others have advocated free association. Some suggested a boycott.

_____________________

A proposal to hold a status plebiscite vote on June 11, 2017 has been enacted into law in Puerto Rico. The stated goals of the new law are to establish the “[i]mmediate decolonization of Puerto Rico,” and implement a 2014 federal law that provides $2.5 million to support a vote on status with options pre-approved by the U.S. Justice Department.  According to the 2014 law, those options much be “final, permanent, neither colonial nor territorial, compatible with the Constitution, laws and policies of the United States and with international law[.]”

The options on the ballot will be as follows, with the specified wording:

Statehood

With my vote, I reiterate my request to the Federal Government to immediately begin the process fro the decolonization of Puerto Rico with the admission of Puerto Rico as a state of the United States of America. I am aware that the result of this request for Statehood would entail equal rights and duties with the other states, and the permanent union of Puerto Rico with the United States of America. I am also aware that my vote claiming Statehood means my support to all efforts towards the admission of Puerto Rico as a state of the Union, and to all state or federal legislation aimed at establishing equal conditions, Congressional Representation and the Presidential Vote for the American Citizens of Puerto Rico. I am aware that Statehood is the only option that guarantees American citizenship by birth in Puerto Rico.

Free Association/Independence

With my vote, I make the initial request to the Federal Government to begin the process of decolonization through:

(1) Free Association: Puerto Rico should adopt a status outside of the Territory Clause of the Constitution of the United States that recognizes the Sovereignty of the People of Puerto Rico. The Free Association would be based n a free and voluntary political association, the specific terms of which shall be agreed upon between the United States and Puerto Rico as sovereign nations Such agreement would provide the scope of the jurisdictional powers that the People of Puerto Rico agree to confer to the United States and retain all other jurisdictional powers and authorities. Under this option the American citizenship would be subject to negotiation with the United States Government;

(2) Proclamation of Independence, I demand that the United States Government, in the exercise of its power to dispose of a territory, recognize the national sovereignty of Puerto Rico as a completely independent nation and the the United States Congress enact the necessary legislation to initiate the negotiation and transition to the independent nation of Puerto Rico. My vote for Independence also represents my claim to the rights, duties, powers, and prerogatives of independent and democratic republics, my support of Puerto Rican citizenship, and a “Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation” between Puerto Rico and the United States after the transition process.

The bill specifies that blank ballots, ballots with more than one option chosen, and ballots with notes or markings outside of the official area will not be counted.

BONAIRE CIVIL SOCIETY CALLS ON POLITICAL LEADERS TO REJECT COLONIAL STATUS, SUPPORT U.N. RE-INSCRIPTION AS COLONY

Open letter to members of the Island Council Bonaire James Finies  Nos Kier Boneiru Bek 7th February 2017 Subject: Urgent call to unification in defense of the Bonerian peoples Now that the current yes-government of tolerance has came to an end the opportunity rises for Bonaire to have a government that follow the direction that the Bonerian peoples has indicated in the referendum of December 2015, where as never before the Bonerian peoples united and massively rejected the actual colonial status.  Fact is that shortly, beginning of coming March , the 2nd chamber Dutch elections will be held and after the elections the new government of Holland is free to make the second reading to finalize the embedding of us as colony under legalized racism and apartheid conditions in their constitution. Meanwhile there has been clearly exposed that Dutch politicians did not and will not let loose of their past and roots as colonizers and has not shown sign to have consciousness or human feelings and neither are respecting democracy nor the rights of the BES peoples, including the Bonerian peoples. We are not left other possibility then to seek for other alternatives, other avenues to realize our rights anchored into international treaties. After the Bonerian and of Sint Eustatius peoples has spoken clearly in their referendum that they do not want to continue this direction, the current colonial constellation, we have noted and experienced that on Sint Eustatius their government has followed the mandate of their peoples and has started the process to exit the BES and are aspiring and are working on their own constitution for a new autonomous and associated relationship with Holland in the Dutch Kingdom according to norms and standards of the United Nations.  On Bonaire the opposite is the case where the Yes-government, which has campaigned publicly against the decision of the Bonerian peoples, which with 65% of No-votes has rejected the actual status and together with the Dutch government has decided to violate the rule of law and democracy and start the process to anchor, embed unilaterally the Bonerian peoples against their wish and decision in the Dutch constitution. The actual governments of Bonaire and Holland are violating and are not complying with their duty as government, to respect, protect and fulfill the treaties, resolutions and human rights of self-determination and right to development of the Bonerian peoples.  This is a crucial moment in our history looking what is ahead of us and because of the burden and consequences of embedding of our peoples in the Dutch constitution, we are making a dramatic and urgent call on the fraction of Democratic party, especially their leadership to put aside their personal and internal issues and unite back with the peoples, unite back for Bonaire and together with fractions of UPB and Raphaela which are not supporting anymore the Yes-government and start the process same as Sint Eustatius to re-enlistment as a non-self-governing-territories and get guidance and protection of the United Nations and exit BES which has resulted in a complete failure and realize the wishes, decision and rights of the Bonerian peoples. You can count on the support of our brothers in the Kingdom and also from the international community to help the Bonerian peoples with a fair and just process to realize their right to self-determination and realize their self-government same as Sint Eustatius in the Kingdom with alliance and protection of our brothers and according to norms and standards of the United Nations.  Respecting, protecting and fulfilling as government the Bonerian peoples inalienable rights to self-determination and right to development, we finally could experience and enjoy our fundamental right to freedom and equality that will ensure the welfare and happiness of the Bonerian peoples in the Dutch Kingdom.  ****** Dutch colonial possessions around 1840. Included are the Dutch East Indies, Curaçao and Dependencies, Suriname, and the Dutch Gold Coast. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4198752 __________________  Also read:  FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ  CONFERENCE ON THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF THE DUTCH-ADMINISTERED CARIBBEAN Kralendiik, Bonaire  1st December 2016 ******* Bonaire Government requests U.N. listing as non self-governing territory

Virgin Islands joins other dependent territories in London BREXIT Talks

BVI Premier Attending Brexit Meetings in UK

Press Release

Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE will lead a delegation to London to attend the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UK-OT) Joint Ministerial Council on European Union (EU) Negotiations and other meetings from February 6 - 10. 

At the meeting on EU Negotiations, the Premier will call on the UK Government to include the BVI in any new trade arrangements with the EU; ensure freedom of movement for OT citizens across Europe; and maintain financial support to the 11th European Development Fund through 2020 to support OTs on climate change, biodiversity and sustainable energy.

“It is critical that the BVI and other OTs are on the UK Brexit agenda to ensure our priorities are taken into account before Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is triggered to begin negotiations on Britain’s exit from the EU”, the Premier said.

Premier Smith will also reiterate his call for a new post-Brexit economic partnership between the UK and OTs in which the BVI and other territories can be an asset in facilitating UK trade and investment with emerging markets across the Commonwealth in Africa and Asia whose legal systems are based on English Common law.

To advance this objective, the Premier will encourage the UK Government to continue supporting the BVI’s efforts to achieve recognition by the EU of the Territory’s legitimacy as an international finance centre and acknowledge the international standards on tax and transparency that it meets as a jurisdiction.

At the 2016 Joint Ministerial Council in London, Premier Smith told UK Ministers: “We have to ensure that the OTs’ ability to trade with the EU and other international partners is not impeded by illegitimately, placing us on the EU’s planned list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes.  This would restrict OT market access to the EU.”

Ahead of Brexit Negotiation talks with the UK Government, Premier Smith will attend a pre-meeting of OT Leaders where he will push for more OT engagement in the UK Parliament with the Exiting the EU and International Trade Committees in the House of Commons, and related committees in the House of Lords; as well as support the establishment of a structured framework for ongoing engagement between the OTs and UK on Brexit negotiations.

The UK-OT Joint Ministerial Council on European Negotiations comes at the end of Premier Smith’s successful Presidency of the Political Council of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA), during which time he led efforts to secure the high-level Brexit meetings for the OTs with the UK. 

“One of my key objectives was to ensure that the BVI and other Overseas Territories were strategically positioned for Brexit negotiations in terms of having a forum in which to engage the UK on our priorities and interests so they would be taken into account.  I am proud were able to achieve this”, the Premier said.

Premier Smith also thanked BVI UK Representative, Benito Wheatley for supporting his Presidency as Chair of UKOTA in which he implemented the mandates of the Political Council.

“I was fortunate to have Mr. Wheatley’s support in London as we defended the self-governance and self-determination of the territories, arrived at a settlement of beneficial ownership issue with the UK Government and led efforts to position the Overseas Territories for Brexit negotiations,” he said.   

The BVI maintains an associate status with the EU from which the Territory has benefitted.  Among other things, the EU has funded: a small and medium enterprise project for the Caribbean that has provided invaluable technical support to the BVI’s small businesses; construction at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College of the Culinary Arts Centre, Library, Resource Centre and Eileen L. Parsons Auditorium; construction of the Sage Mountain and Copper Mine Visitor Centres; establishment of an early warning system in the Territory’s extreme weather events; and strengthening of the management and conservation of local beaches and the nearshore environment.

1. On June 23, 2016 the people of the United Kingdom voted in a referendum on EU membership for Britain to leave the European Union.
2. On January 24, 2017 the UK Supreme Court ruled that the UK Government must seek approval from the UK Parliament to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to begin official negotiations on Britain’s exit from the EU.
3. On February 1 the House of Commons voted to authorise the UK Government to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty which entails a two year process with possibility for extension.
4. Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Theresa May confirmed the UK Government will trigger Article 50 by March 31, 2017.

The BVI maintains an associate status in the EU set out in Part Four of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.  Current cooperation between the BVI and the EU is governed by the Overseas Association Decision (OAD) adopted by the EU in 2013.

*****

BVI Premier Advances Brexit, Financial Services Agenda

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE, has completed meetings of high level ministerial and parliamentary engagement in the United Kingdom. 

The Honourable Premier joined other Overseas Territory (OT) leaders during a courtesy call on Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Theresa May at the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday, February 8.

The courtesy call followed the UK-OT Joint Ministerial Council on European Negotiations on February 7, during which UK Ministers and OT Leaders discussed the potential impacts of Brexit on the Territories. OT Leaders were given the opportunity to discuss their varied priorities for negotiations including freedom of movement, international trade and EU funding.

Premier Smith also attended a series of other meetings including a meeting for OT Leaders on beneficial ownership hosted by Home Office Minister of State for Security and Member of Parliament, Ben Wallace. During the meeting, the BVI's implementation of OT-UK beneficial ownership agreements was recognised as the most advanced in respect to the development of systems to enhance the exchange of information with UK law enforcement authority.

The Premier also met with Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party and Member of Parliament, Mark Field to demonstrate the BVI's new state of the art system for exchanging beneficial ownership and further discuss the BVI’s priorities for Brexit negotiations. 

According to Premier Smith, “My engagement with ministers and parliamentarians allowed my delegation to reiterate BVI's priorities for Brexit negotiations for financial services as well as to demonstrate our progress and commitment to sharing and exchanging information with law enforcement." 

Premier Smith added, "I am also encouraged that the UK Government will take into account the views and needs of the OT's."

The Premier’s UK visit is in line with Government’s mandate to strengthen international relationships, in positioning the Virgin Islands for the future.

Guam EPA announces active Agent Orange investigation following Calvo order

Pacific Daily News

Steve Limtiaco and Kyla P Mora 

(Photo: Courtesy of Leroy Foster)

The military last week told Guam Del. Madeleine Bordallo that Agent Orange, a hazardous defoliant, was not used on Guam, but Gov. Eddie Calvo, citing statements from veterans, has instructed the Guam Environmental Protection Agency to test for traces of the chemical, according to the governor’s office.

Guam EPA announced Monday that investigations are already actively underway. A release stated that agency officials "have been involved in discussions with Department of Defense (DOD) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), engaging in an investigation into the claims made by retired Air Force Master Sgt. Leroy Foster and other veterans who were stationed in Guam in the 1960s and 1970s."

According to the release, "GEPA officials informed the governor that requests for signed affidavits from individuals who have publicly stated that Agent Orange was used on Guam have been made, with the intent of documenting and pinpointing any and all areas where the herbicide may have been allegedly used on the island."

"These discussions about our investigation are yielding productive results for our agency in terms of investigation, sampling methods, analysis and abatement measures," GEPA administrator Walter Leon Guerrero stated in the release. "More specifically, we initialized talks with US EPA's Region IX Emergency Response Team who have worked with a Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team."

START teams are "experienced in removal and abatement of dioxins with respect to sites historically known to be affected by the sprayed application of herbicides," the release stated.

Drinking water and soil will be tested in areas where Agent Orange reportedly was sprayed, according to the governor’s office, which cited recent public statements by veterans who claimed they sprayed Agent Orange around Guam during the Vietnam War.

“This is deeply disturbing, considering that the contaminant in Agent Orange, 2,3,7,8-tetracholordibenzodioxin (TCDD), is a carcinogen. There are veterans suffering life-debilitating illnesses attributed to their exposure to Agent Orange. Their public admissions have raised the attention of several government leaders, including Dennis A. Ross, Senior Deputy Majority Whip, and our own Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo,” the governor’s office stated.

Leon Guerrero expressed concern on the important issue of possible TCDDs in Guam's drinking water and soil, and outlined the plan of action should TCDDs be detected.

"Our agency will work in tandem with other agencies to meet our mission in safeguarding the environmental and human health on Guam," Leon Guerrero said. "If there is any discovery of dioxins on Guam that can be linked with Agent Orange, the Guam EPA will coordinate with the Guam Waterworks Authority, the Joint Region Marianas and Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific (WERI) to engage in remedial action, upon discovery."

Florida resident and veteran Foster said he personally sprayed thousands of gallons of Agent Orange at Andersen Air Force Base, while stationed there with the 43rd Supply Squadron Fuels Division during the Vietnam War.

In 2009, veteran Edward Jackson, in written testimony to Congress, said he was a bus and truck driver who occasionally was assigned to drive a truck with 55-gallon drums of alleged Agent Orange and other herbicides.

He said the herbicides were sprayed at Naval Magazine, Naval Communications Station, Naval Air Station, Navy Harbor and around his barracks area at the Marbo complex.

He said leaky barrels of Agent Orange were either loaded on ships for disposal at sea, or taken to Andersen’s Northwest Field if they were too leaky to be safely moved.

Bordallo, who asked to be briefed by the military about the use of Agent Orange after hearing veteran accounts, last week said senior defense officials told her Agent Orange was not used on, stored or shipped through Guam during the Vietnam War.

“I look forward to reviewing their records that support this claim and continuing to engage with the DoD and local stakeholders so that we have all the facts on this issue,” she stated last week.

Calvo said he also is watching the federal government’s response.

“In consideration of the statements made by veterans regarding the spraying of this chemical on Guam, I have justifiable concern about the residual effects this chemical may have on our environment, particularly our aquifer and drinking water sources,” Calvo stated in a letter to Guam EPA Administrator Leon Guerrero.

Virgin Islands Premier bids farewell to former U.S. President Obama

2 February 2017

(l to r) British Governor, John Duncan, OBE; wife of the Governor, Mrs. Anne-Marie Duncan; former U.S. President Barack Obama; Premier of the Virgin Islands, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE; BVI First Lady Mrs. Lorna Smith, OBE; former First Lady (U.S.) Michelle Obama (Photo credit: GIS/ Ronnielle Frazer)

Today, the Governor and Premier, accompanied by their spouses, bade farewell to the Obamas, who ended their ten-day private stay in the BVI. The Obamas said they enjoyed their visit tremendously and hope to return with their daughters in the near future.

Premier Smith said, “I have followed President Obama’s two terms in the White House and I am filled with admiration for his accomplishment. The fact that the Obamas chose the BVI for their private vacation after eight years in the White House speaks to the high regard in which the BVI and its tourism product are held.”

BERMUDA TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION BODY TO BE LAUNCHED

Curb launches truth and reconciliation project

Truth and reconciliation conversations will begin across the island in February, racial justice organisation Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda announced yesterday.

Trained mediators will run the multiple group sessions of up to 20 participants, who will stay together for a series of conversations over a three-month period, Curb said at a press conference.

It is hoped that the initiative will be more effective than previous nationwide conversations because the discussion groups will be smaller and will reconvene on a regular basis, allowing relationships to form and empathy to build.

Curb will provide guideline topics for each meeting, as well as resources that can be shared with groups in advance prior to the gathering.

“It is envisioned these groups will forge relationships, build community and find ways to create change within their own sphere of influence, and then share with the greater community,” said Curb president Lynne Winfield.

“Most importantly, we will look for the groups to build upon and develop additional ideas and actions to bring about social change, healing and greater racial justice and equity in our society.”

Ms Winfield referred to Barack Obama’s speech where he quoted Atticus Finch — a character in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mocking Bird: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view”.

At the end of the three months, the groups will meet as one to consolidate their ideas. Additional groups will be formed later in the year and the process will begin again.

Members of the public are asked to register by e-mailing admin@uprootingracism.org or by calling 505-0112.

The small group meetings will take place in east, west and central locations around the island. Organisers are seeking meeting spaces and will be reaching out to the community to provide locations.

Curb said it was grateful to the Human Rights Commission for its expression of support for this valuable initiative.

It said it had reached out to the community to find facilitators, mediators and skilled individuals who would be willing to facilitate the truth and reconciliation meetings. Volunteers to come forward are Caitlin Conyers, Gwendolyn Creary, Frances Eddy, Hashim Estwick, Cordell Riley, Michelle Scott, Jodi Virgil, Stacey Lee Williams and Lynne Winfield.

Ms Winfield said that the small group dialogues would be skilfully facilitated to achieve greater empathy and understanding.

“Confronting something does not mean it has to be confrontational. Participants will be able to speak about their experiences in a supportive environment,” she said.

“Telling one’s stories is cathartic for those who have been traumatised, and listening to other people’s stories leads to greater empathy and understanding. It allows our humanity to come through and the empathy created, displaces cynicism and distrust.

“Help create the change you want by becoming actively involved to create a racially equitable and socially just Bermuda that our children will be proud to inherit.”