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10:22 pm, Jul 30, 2025
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Controlling powers urged to back territories

The United Kingdom and other “administering powers” should set aside their national interest to support self-determination for the Virgin Islands and the 16 other non-independent territories they control, according to VI Special Envoy Benito Wheatley.

Mr. Wheatley made the call at the recently concluded United Nations Pacific Regional Seminar on Decolonisation held May 21-23 in Dili, the capital of the southeast Asian country Timor-Leste.

“We all must work together to make progress on decolonisation,” Mr. Wheatley said during the meeting. “I know it is hard to separate national interests from the process, but an effort must at least be made to work in the best interest of non-self-governing territories.”

The 17 territories in question fall under the remit of the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation, known as the C-24, which is mandated to assist them in achieving a “full measure of self-government” and eradicating the vestiges of colonialism, according to the envoy.

“The Special Committee in its engagement with the administering powers should continue to make a priority of dispatching visiting missions where this is practicable,” he said. “The politics of the process is very complicated and requires dialogue, but no effort should be spared.”

VI visit

Mr. Wheatley also thanked the C-24 for its August 2024 mission to the VI, which assessed the progress of decolonisation and recommended full internal self-government and a timetable for independence.

Additionally, he called on UN agencies to support the territories in advancing sustainable development and climate resilience.

To that end, he asked the C-24 to adopt a draft UN resolution at its June substantive session that will permit UN agencies to utilise their regular programme budget on territories classified as small island developing states that are associate members of UN regional commissions such as the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Order in council

Finally, Mr. Wheatley updated attendees on relations between the VI and the UK.

During that update, he called on the UK to lift the order in council that allows it to impose direct rule on the territory if the VI government doesn’t keep its promise to implement reforms recommended by the 2022 Commission of Inquiry report.

The envoy claimed that the VI has now completed the COI reform programme, leaving no excuse for the UK to keep in place the “unnecessary, undemocratic and blunt colonial instrument.”

Besides the VI, the UN list of non-self-governing territories yet to be decolonised includes American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, St. Helena, Tokelau, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, and Western Sahara.

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Protecting the Skies: DPNR Highlights Federal and Local Bird Safeguards

The Department of Planning and Natural Resources recently issued a public reminder that recreational bird hunting is prohibited in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The DPNR emphasized in a recent press release that no hunting permits will be issued for species such as pigeons, doves, ducks, plovers, hawks, and thrushes.
The collection or possession of eggs from booby and parakeet species is also forbidden. Violations may result in fines or other enforcement actions under territorial and federal law.
These rules reflect long-standing territorial policy and are consistent with the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 — a landmark law that makes it illegal to hunt, capture, or possess migratory birds without a permit.
The act currently protects more than 1,000 species across the United States and its territories, including those native to the Caribbean, and was created to safeguard species that travel and migrate across international borders, ensuring their survival through coordinated protections.
“Nearly 10 percent of all migratory nongame birds that are likely to become endangered reside in the USVI for at least part of the year,” said Nicole Angeli, director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife for the DPNR. “More than 150 other species of bird are known to reside in the territory full-time or for part of their lives. These new protections ensure that birds are protected where they nest, forage, and roost in the USVI so that they continue to thrive.”

DPNR officials noted that the rules are not new but serve as a seasonal reminder, particularly during times when residents might mistakenly assume hunting is allowed. The agency has observed increased public inquiries during summer months, when certain species are more visible and active.
The Virgin Islands’ rich biodiversity makes these protections especially important. The territory is home to several native species and serves as a key migratory stopover for birds traveling between continents.
Local Virgin Island habitats support nesting, feeding, and resting for a wide range of avian life. Many of these ecosystems are under pressure from development, pollution, and climate change, making regulatory protections even more vital.
Under current territorial guidelines, DPNR only issues wildlife permits for research, culling, or nuisance control — not for recreational hunting. Officials say this policy underscores their commitment to conservation and ensures territorial laws align with federal standards.
For more information on DPNR permits and applications, click here.

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