Meeting summary for REPARATIONS, DECOLONIZATION AND SELF DETERMINATION: SPOTLIGHT ON THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, BONAIRE AND ST MAARTEN (06/07/2025)

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Quick recap

The meeting explored the historical and current status of New African territories in the United States, focusing on the Virgin Islands and Bonaire's efforts for decolonization and self-determination. Participants discussed the challenges these territories face in gaining international recognition and assistance, including the complexities of navigating international forums and the deceptive use of language in colonial contexts. The group emphasized the importance of using indigenous terms to define concepts like independence and sovereignty, while highlighting the need for unity and support from African nations in the ongoing fight for decolonization and self-determination.

Next steps

James Finies: Pursue efforts to get Bonaire recognized and added to the UN's list of non-self governing territories through international support and General Assembly resolution
Russ Christopher: Attend UN meetings next week to advance Virgin Islands' autonomy efforts and explore ways to circumvent the requirement of colonizer approval for UN visiting committees
Afro-descendant delegation: Meet with President Traore's administration in Burkina Faso to discuss support for Caribbean territories' self-determination movements and potential alliance building
James Finies: Initiate outreach to African Union to gain support for Bonoire's self-determination movement
Republic of New Africa: Continue developing logistics and infrastructure plans for conducting an independent plebiscite among Black Americans, particularly focusing on utilizing Black churches and HBCUs as potential polling locations
NCOBRA International Affairs Commission: Plan follow-up discussions to continue building connections between various Afro-descendant self-determination movements in the Caribbean region and United States

Summary

US Colonial Territories and Reparations

Siphiwe discussed the historical status of New African territories in the United States, highlighting the failure of the US to recognize and declare these territories as trust territories under the UN Charter, which would have provided international assistance for decolonization. James Finies shared his experience as a human rights activist from Bonaire, a Caribbean island with a significant African descendant population, emphasizing the ongoing struggle for decolonization and the need for reparations. Russ Christopher introduced himself as a Virgin Islander and explained the unique colonial status of the US Virgin Islands, with a population of about 95,000 Afro-descendant people. The discussion aimed to explore strategies for the US reparations movement using the colonial framework and to learn from the experiences of James and Russ in international arenas like the UN Special Committee on Decolonization (C.24).

Self-Determination in USVI and Bonaire

The meeting focused on the self-determination movements of two territories: the US Virgin Islands and Bonaire. Russ explained that the US Virgin Islands are seeking to gain autonomy by removing themselves from the UN's list of non-self-governing territories, while Bonaire aims to be added to that list to gain international recognition for their right to decolonization. James Finies elaborated on Bonaire's history, noting that their removal from the UN list in 1955 hindered their progress towards self-determination. Both speakers highlighted the challenges of navigating international forums and the complexities of achieving true self-rule amidst colonial legacies and neocolonial tactics.

Bonaire's Path to International Recognition

The group discussed the historical context and challenges faced by Bonaire in gaining international recognition and self-determination. James Finies explained that Bonaire is far behind other Caribbean islands in this process, as they were not included on the list created by the United Nations for colonies seeking independence. He highlighted the unique historical experiences of Bonaire, including delayed abolition of slavery and subsequent recolonization, which have hindered their development compared to other Caribbean islands. Siphiwe summarized the intended purpose of the UN list as a pathway for colonies to gain international recognition and assistance in determining their political future. The discussion emphasized the need for Bonaire to be included on this list to have a voice in the international arena and move towards self-determination.

Bonaire's Colonial Status and Identity

Russ and Siphiwe discussed the deceptive use of language in international relations, particularly how the term "independent" is misleadingly applied to colonized territories. James Finies explained that for Bonaire, being on the United Nations list represents their best hope for gaining recognition of their rights and protecting their cultural identity, as they currently face cultural erasure and colonial domination. The discussion highlighted the contrast between Bonaire's situation and other Caribbean nations, with James emphasizing that Bonaire's unique colonial status makes them fundamentally different from other Caribbean islands.

Self-Determination for Bonaire and Islands

The meeting focused on the self-determination efforts of Bonaire and the Virgin Islands, with James Finies explaining that Bonaire seeks recognition as a territory with rights equal to other nations, currently lacking such recognition due to being annexed against their will. Siphiwe discussed the concept of self-determination, emphasizing the importance of respecting individual and collective rights to choose their own pathways forward. Brother Lukman clarified the different stages of the self-determination process for Bonaire and the Virgin Islands, noting that Bonaire is in a more vulnerable position and requires UN assistance, while the Virgin Islands is further along in the process. The discussion also touched on the distinction between government-led movements and those working against government opposition, with Siphiwe mentioning that the Virgin Islands' self-determination effort is government-led.

Colonial Independence and Self-Determination

The meeting focused on the concepts of independence and sovereignty, particularly in the context of colonial territories. Siphiwe emphasized the importance of using indigenous terms to define these concepts, rather than relying on international legal language that may not align with local meanings. James Finies shared Bonaire's experience in seeking self-determination, highlighting the challenges faced when the local government did not respect the people's right to a referendum. The discussion also touched on the status of the Virgin Islands and the difficulties in getting the United Nations involved without the colonizer's consent. The participants agreed that genuine self-determination is often hindered by the colonial system, and that the people's movements should not rely on government officials to plead their case at the international level.

Bonaire Decolonization Support Strategy

James and Russ discussed their efforts to gain support for Bonaire's decolonization and the challenges they face due to colonial control. They expressed a desire to connect with African nations and the African Union to build a stronger movement against colonialism. Siphiwe mentioned an upcoming delegation to Burkina Faso and asked what they would bring to President Traore's attention, to which James and Russ shared their goals of getting Bonaire back on the UN's list of non-self-governing territories. The conversation touched on the importance of unity and support from African nations in this fight for decolonization.

Self-Determination Through Referendums and Plebiscites

The meeting focused on the discussion of referendums and plebiscites as tools for self-determination, particularly in the context of Bonaire and the Virgin Islands. James Finies explained that recent referendums in the islands were not respected, leading to efforts to seek international support and recognition. Siphiwe provided a historical perspective on plebiscites, drawing parallels to the struggle for self-determination among Afro descendants in the United States. The group discussed the logistics and challenges of organizing a plebiscite, emphasizing the need for international support and the importance of mobilizing and organizing the electorate. The conversation ended with expressions of gratitude and a call for continued efforts in the struggle for self-determination.

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