'Even my grandchildren, according to me, are not BVIslanders'- Eileene L. Parsons OBE
It was last year, July 4, 2022, that scores of persons born in the Virgin Islands (VI) or deemed to belong to the territory were left upset following the same statement by Ms Parsons during a Virgin Islands Day Panel Discussion held at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in Paraquita Bay, Tortola.
“A Virgin Islander has to be able to trace his parentage back three generations of Virgin Islanders on both sides. The virtues or characteristics by which we were once known used to be good manners, friendliness, and kindness to each other and strangers within our gates. Children were mostly well-behaved and the villages raised the children,” she had said.
Ms Parsons' response immediately angered several persons in the community who felt such a response had desecrated for many, their right at being called a Virgin Islander on a day created to celebrate the legacy of Virgin Islanders.
'Even my grandchildren, according to me, are not BVIslanders'- Parsons
Appearing as a guest on Real Talk with Karia J. Christopher on Sunday, July 30, 2023, Ms Parsons was commenting on how the Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival has transitioned into something less cultural and lacking the Virgin Islands identity.
“I am telling people and I don’t care if I am quoted, we as a people we are, we have been and we are being swallowed.
“Out of every 100 persons here, only about 6 is BVI Islanders. And when I said some days ago, with all sincerity, that a BVI Islander should be somebody who could trace their generation three generations back, it created a lot of flak, but even my grandchildren, according to me, they are not BVI Islanders,” Ms Parsons said.
Meanwhile, Ms Parsons said she had no issues with expats participating in the festival and highlighting where they are from, namely the August Monday Parade; however, the VI culture and identity must stand tall.
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43 Responses to “'Even my grandchildren, according to me, are not BVIslanders'- Eileene L. Parsons OBE”
Plus it doesn’t matter. Wouldn’t be asked where you’re from on Judgment Day.
She needs to sit herself down and quieten her mouth
when it go down bitter, it workin.. this is VIRGIN ISLANDS news online .com tho.
Ladies, be careful what you do this carnival season. Be careful how you are dressing with all your breasts out as well. Be careful with your little boys and girls through the night in that devil campground (the village).
Do some of you ladies ever stop to think that one day when you give your life to Christ that these videos of your lewd behavior would have been erased? These videos will come back to haunt Allyo. Be careful. Walk circumspectly!
Many don’t stop and think that God is watching. They don’t think what if Christ returned in that very moment they’re conducting these lewd and other sinful acts but the same people believe they have a space reserved for them in Heaven.
We may all be sinners in some way BUT daily repentance and making a CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO OBEY GOD’S WORD AND ACCEPTING CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOUR IS KEY.
Anyone who hates to hear or read this, it’s the devil’s stronghold over their life.
You want cousins to lay up wit cousins that’s why half of em half retarded move ya MS lady
These VI need to stop the import, and installation of poverty by the plane and boat load along with criminals and those with a cultural proclivity to commit crimes.
No way could the VI assume and afford the cost of police, prison and courts if the pipe 3dream of Independence was realized. The VI in order to survive and prosper or even survive, needs investors and residents with a modicum of civility and ambition.
Maybe go to the UK and start using the same language - she would be arrested for a hate crime.
My exact sentiments. I wonder if yuh need bvislander status to enter into heaven. Vanities of Vanities. All is vanity. Bvislander bvislander. What color is the blood. Do they sh** gold or no. Stop the stupid talk. Pure bvislanders are pure cousins. Stop promoting nastiness.
I am a Vanterpool, Lennard. O'neal and Smith and my root go back to at least slavery days. .. And, i love my country, its roots and other.
She is a clown.
My grandparents are from Portugal residing in trini at the time and started the generation
That makes me a Trini to my bone
We don’t look at things like that
Even if someone lets say Guyanese or Grenadian bring forth kids trini
They are trini
And ent nobody gone say u ent a trini we be Dotish to even make such remarks
Educate yourselves and you will be amazed of how much there is to learn.
But many are going or went to become part of the plastic factory girls
They will be walking around showing off their pride
Their belly back flanks in them bum
And silicone b@@b looking around to see who watching them
Think that’s beauty
And nobody ent putting no ring on them fingers
Real men sees them as
Street women
Non materialistic
No wifey
Nobody wonders what they look like them body done seen
Nothing private
Them stale like stale news
Here in the VI, the emigration of Virgin Islanders to pursue greener pastures created a void in the VI which was filled by immigrants. Today, a 120 + different nationalities call the VI home and as VI continues to grow more are coming. The shortage of labour and resulting influx of immigrants resulted in the disproportionate ratio of immigrants or expats to locals. The ratio is estimated as 70:30. This ratio naturally and unsurprisingly (it should not be a surprise) created some friction. Virgin Islanders are a minority in their homeland, feeling anxiety, isolation,powerlessness, etc. They feel they are being replaced. . The situation is driving the redefinition of whom is a Virgin Islander. Moreover, citizenship acquired, former immigrants are adopting the VI as their home and are becoming civically engage, pursuing the highest positions in the territory. In fact, the current Deputy Premier was not born in the VI(Anguilla, but came to the VI as a preteen). The bottomline is a new definition of who is a Virgin Islander must be determined. Should it be put to a referendum?
Prime ministers like Fahie and Wheatley.
Next time you go home stand on one tile in the house and declare "Tis Mines Own" everyone else in the house who step on that tile is a stranger and foreigner because " Tis Mines Own" and dem aint got no call on it. Now expand that scenario and cut out the bullsh**.