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'Back off UK!'- VI residents drumming up support for public demonstration
Many residents too, despite their differences with the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government, are putting aside politics and disagreemnts, and have been rallying support for a march on May 24, 2018 to protest the move by the UK House of Commons to vote for an amendment to a law that could derail the Territory's legitimate financial services sector.
March against injustice!
Following the announcement of the scheduled march against the decision by the UK, many residents have been expressing their thoughts via social media and to our newsroom.
According to VI resident Bennet Smith, “Why must we run barefoot on the rough ground when everyone else is wearing shoes?”
Another resident who is in support of the march commented, “BVI presence can be felt. We are not your door mats and we have earned global respect in the financial industry. In addition, we have supported and met every global request so back off.”
And Kareem-Nelson Hull, businessman and Marketing specialist, expressed that he is marching because he believes that the decision is an “injustice” and the VI community should come together to fight for what they believe in.
Mr Nelson Hull said, “When history is recorded, I will be on the side of those who tried to do something to help my territory. I’m marching because it’s not okay to take all things lying down. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. If the UK could do this to us. What else could they do? And you allowing your crown dependencies to keep their registries closed, hoping they’ll change it as a moral obligation?”
He continued, “It’s important that we as BVIslanders come together to prove that we’re not as quiet and punkish as people think we are. If we can come together for this then we can come together for other things like government decisions we didn’t like and we said nothing about. If this decision means that two residents here will lose a job, which will automatically transfer to Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man. That’s one too many.”
Meanwhile, some persons also had different views about the march, including a Mr Jamal S. Smith, who asked: “When Virgin Islanders were being victimised, where were they asking for us to march? When our money was being squandered to support cronyism and nepotism, where were they asking for a march? However, there are some great solutions to this current crisis, but marching isn't one of them.”
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17 Responses to “'Back off UK!'- VI residents drumming up support for public demonstration”
Interesting quote Mr. Hull. Ever study the history of protest/marches in these Virgin Islands? What I recall through reading and personal experience.
1949 =Against foreign interest.
1968 Positive Action= Against foreign Investor
1970's= Against a Governor Cudmore foreign interest
2000's= Against BiWater foreign investor
2018= Pending Against the United Kingdom's Antics?
Why were/are we not in the streets after $7M of tax payers money was literally thrown away? And the other "Ills" this government has done to the people of these Virgin Islands? Willie T is the latest injustice bring dished out. Seize the time.
Not political but I will have my say in these Virgin Islands
Government will not have money for:
1. Health care
2. Education
3. Salaries
4. Infrastructure
5. Can’t pay for services
How will this affect us:
1. Doctors will leave
2. Teachers will leave
3. Banks will take our homes
4. Businesses large and small will go out of business
5. Apartment rentals will be a thing of the past
Think we don’t need to march think again.
The facts are:
- marching here won't do squat. Marching there might.
- BVI is no where near ready for independence. But the people who through favoritism and groupings have accomplished comfortable livings will call for it. While everyone else is left behind.
- when people tell a story they should be honest enough to give BOTH sides. More than 50% of the money made is ny top managers in private sector and they DO NOT circulate even 10% of their earnings in the BVI economy. BVI must do more to ensure that its NATIVE people benefit from its bounties.
- Another truth is that BVI and other OT money will not go to the British Isles and the rest for they are in the same boat too.
Instead of trying to make selfish history try to work with the others in the same boat to come to a strategic way forward.