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Full CARICOM membership dangerous for VI – radio show caller

-fears flood of migrant workers as a result of the free movement of persons
A caller into the Speak Out BVI radio show hosted by Douglas Wheatley last night July 15, 2014 on ZBVI 780 AM urged that the Territory does not become a full member of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) since he fears the flood of persons from member states of the regional bloc as a result of the concomitant free movement will be bad for the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – A caller into the Speak Out BVI radio show hosted by Douglas Wheatley last night July 15, 2014 on ZBVI 780 AM urged that the Territory does not become a full member of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) since he fears the flood of persons from member states of the regional bloc as a result of the concomitant free movement will be bad for the Virgin Islands.

“When you gon come and say we must try to get a closer link with Caricom, you forget the free movement of people. What you want us to do? We are outnumbered on our little island,” said the caller.

“You know how dangerous that move would be to us?” the man asked. “We done outnumbered in the BVI,” said the caller.

However, host Wheatley said, “What I am saying is this…we are an associate member of Caricom, that means that we are entitled to go to the meetings when they are holding meetings and we could have our say.”

“Mr. Wheatley, we cannot afford an overload…we should remain an associate member because if we ever become a member, that airport, you can’t turn them back,” the caller stressed. The caller said that while there may be some benefits pertaining to the trade in goods, these are cancelled out by the free movement of persons that full membership would bring.

The Virgin Islands are an associate member of Caricom as are all of the British Overseas Territories in the region save for Montserrat which is a full member. As an associate member, the Virgin Islands will not be subject to many of the rules that full members must subscribe to, including free movement of persons.

15 Responses to “Full CARICOM membership dangerous for VI – radio show caller”

  • Never (16/07/2014, 10:14) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Blah blah blah blah
  • Alien from another Planet (16/07/2014, 11:11) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
    Check your facts. More Caribbean nationals work in the Virgin Islands than anywhere else in the Caribbean. Calypso artist make more money in the Virgin Islands than anywhere else. We need to sell freedom of movement to balance the movement so that Barbados, Jamaica and other big islands can do their share. When hiring professional people in the Caribbean we should look internal before looking external. Why should an EU or US National get preferred hiring treatment in the Caribbean? Sounds like reverse colonialism to me.
    • HMMM (16/07/2014, 12:21) Like (7) Dislike (6) Reply
      Caribbean people from Jamaica, Barbados etc, only remember that the BVI is part of the Caribbean when they want something from us. And we only remember that we are a par of the Caribbean when it suits us to do so.
    • Barrack (17/07/2014, 06:49) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Your screen name could not have been better. Seems like that's exactly what you are you are really not in tune will real life issues you appear to be really living on another planet
  • son of the soil (16/07/2014, 11:35) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
    We got too much to lose.
    • agreed (16/07/2014, 12:28) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      There is nothing to gain. A set of opportunists already here robbing the country. They are not like the ones who came way back in the day to contribute and build. Those ones are ok – but this new set, awful.
  • ha (16/07/2014, 11:43) Like (9) Dislike (5) Reply
    Old mind Old Thoughts....... Caricom might be the best thing for VI. But wait i maybe wrong....VI people bad mind. Well not all but some of them. All the think about themselves that's why this Country's economy is going down the drain. Give business license so youths can get jobs. You can't expect the country to grow without development. The reason why the VI hire EXPATS is because they don't want to pay locals alot to work, but check this they want EXPATS to rent the 8 and 9 hundred dollars apartment. But list this, EXPATS leaving little as this government knows this, and when the gone government is going to pay loans for all them APARTMENT that EXPATS dont live in NO more. HAHAHAHAHAHAH
  • Liat 521 (16/07/2014, 12:04) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    They are done here so whats the fuss?
  • HMMM (16/07/2014, 12:22) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    I would prefer that we had a freedom of movement agreement with the Cayman Islands and possibly the Bahamas rather than a freedom of movement agreement with CARICOM.
  • equilibrium (16/07/2014, 12:24) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    The BVI cannot support those who are here, unemployment is high, the country is in the red, too much money left the country to build up every other Caribbean island and Euro, with our US dollar and we now have to borrow money. You want to open the door to sink it further? An aircraft can only hold so many people or it will crash. A boat can only hold so much people or it will sink. All the size of Caribbean countries can swallow little BVI over 120 – 500 times. What does be wrong with you all?
  • Laughingallday (18/07/2014, 22:11) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ha ha! What's the matter? Worried that real hardworking people will come steal your jobs? Scary thought that other Caribbean nationals who work beyond the call of duty will outshine the nanny labour code sheltered 'Bahn here' crew.
  • daddy (19/07/2014, 20:39) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    maybe they are just afraid that there people are not qualify enough to travel to the other Caribbean countries and set up shop
  • Outside looking in (24/07/2014, 21:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If the BVI becomes a full member of Caricom all islands that are members of Caricom have indefinite stay in the BVI... that's how it is, IT'S CALLED "FREE MOVEMENT". There is something called a "Skills certificate" where all your qualifications are combined and then you are stamped. Now remember, that many of the "island people" as BVIslanders call them, are highly qualified and are go getters.... they take whatever job they have to, to survive. Now if the BVI becomes a FULL member of Caricom "Jamaicans will have indefinite stay as Jamaica is a "Full Member of Caricom". And remember that Jamaicans need a VISA to enter the BVI.... so all that needs to be taken into consideration. Now, in the others islands yes, there is free movement but! the citizens of the islands are protected in a way where they have first preference in jobs just like here in the BVI, but, the thing about the other islands is that even if you have first preference you need to be qualified, because if you are a local and not qualified, a foreigner will get that job over you. Because your lack of knowledge will affect productivity and the economy. So I think it is not a good idea for the BVI to be a Full member of CARICOM and I personally feel that it also makes no sense for them to be an associated member... BVIslanders need to be preserved and CARICOM does not allow that. And it will not be fear to receive the benefits of Caricom and not have free movement.


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