Only "Virgin Islanders" should be allowed to vote on referendums?

- Talk show hosts debate who are Virgin Islanders

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The question of who should be allowed to vote on a referendum in the Virgin Islanders was an issue of debate on Straight Talk. Photo: VINO

Donald deCastro

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- If at some point the Virgin Islands decides to have a referendum or plebiscite on whether or not the Territory should become an independent country, who should be allowed to vote? Virgin Islanders or citizens?

This was a question thrown out by Douglas Wheatley on the programme Straight Talk, which was hosted by Donald Decastro and aired on February 1, 2012.

“Are we going to have just Virgin Islanders, according to the definition by you (deCastro) or would both Virgin Islanders and citizens vote on that? Some of the citizens may have no real connection with the Virgin Islands and yet they would be voting on the future of the Virgin Islands.”

According deCastro, only Virgin Islanders should be allowed to vote “because we have so many people here that are not Virgin Islanders, they can easily sway the votes for themselves. They have leaders who would love for them to vote because they don’t care...”

Meanwhile, guest of the show Shaina Smith, a former independent candidate with the People’s Patriotic Alliance (PPA) in the 2011 General Elections noted that “Even with the regular election process when you hear about persons just showing up to vote and then they gone and it’s impacting the governance of the country”.

Earlier, deCastro gave his definition of a Virgin Islander, who he said could either be a person born in the Virgin Islands born on or before 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 1945; Anyone born after that date to both Virgin Islander parents; and if that person has one of their parents and two of their grandparents, who are Virgin Islanders.

deCastro explained that he chose 1945 because that was a period when there were movements of persons in and out of the Territory, both during and after World War II.

Mr. Wheatley noted, however, that there were lots of persons from the Virgin Islands who went to the Dominican Republic long before 1945 and that they also went to Cuba and Panama to work on the construction of the Panama Canal.

Smith said as far as national identity was concerned it is important to know who is a true Virgin Islander and how that is defined. She also stated that migration was going on for years and wasn’t sure about 1945 being the timeline to define who is a Virgin Islander.

“It is more of a heritage identity, in that you could be born in Poland, America or Australia, but if you have that family line that can be traced back to some Jewish line then you are considered to be a Jew. It is not about your nationality or your country,” she opined.

23 Responses to “Only "Virgin Islanders" should be allowed to vote on referendums? ”

00000 (20/02/2012, 08:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
only vilanders should vote period
same old story (20/02/2012, 09:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
i agree with you de castro...but with the none virgin Islander government in that would not be possible!!!
- overlooked (20/02/2012, 19:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
  Yes I agree with deCastro with his definition on this one and I agree with you same old story. smh
- Local (20/02/2012, 22:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
  Get serious. Man if you don't have anything to say just shut up. Election is over and guess what, there is nothing you can do about it.
messy (20/02/2012, 09:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
What is this man problem why dont he go and sit down, he like to be in too much thing strupp
WTF (20/02/2012, 09:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
so my son is not a virginislander? he was born here, his mum is from here, his grand parents are from here his great grand parents are from here, his great great grandparents are from here and his great great great grand parents were from here and thats only the ones I met. But according to this man my son isn't a virgin islander because his father comes from a different country. What an idiot and next time he is sitting with me and my family as he has done in the past I will be telling him straight to his face to see what his answer is!
Real Talk (20/02/2012, 09:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
So basically he's saying Virgin Islanders who have been living in the USA and elsewhere for decades can come back and vote on a referendum but people who have lived here for over 30yrs or married VIslanders, help build this country, have belonger status, can vote in elections, won't have a say? lol. All I will tell you is this, USVI gave us Mr. Fraser once again, nuff said! Do you think they care? THEY DONT! So careful what you wish for! Not every Vislander gives a damn about the VI!! If you are a belonger you should vote on what happens in the country, point blank!
- rat tail (20/02/2012, 10:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
  with archie, myron and mark not from here how the hell can we locals get any representation???? none!!!! four bad years
  - Crank Shaft (20/02/2012, 12:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I would take three 'island' men that lived here most of their lives, put down roots, start businesses and stuck with it rather than so called BVIslanders who have lived in teh USA the last 40yrs and when things get bad, they put on their born here hat and come here balling. This same Fraser spent almost 30yrs in the USA, what the hell he can tell me about BVI?
    - @ Crank Shaft (20/02/2012, 13:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      ...and don't forget about Rev Cline from Detroit.
      - Crank Shaft (20/02/2012, 13:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        YES, HIM TOO! Not because I supported NDP. I agree across the board! Him and Fraser are no better than Archie, Myron, Mark etc. who stuck it out in BVI through thick and thin..NONSENSE!!!
      - Dem say (20/02/2012, 14:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        i will rather vote for ah born here who was away for 100 years than one who was not every born in the BVI from Antiuga and Agullia. The born here will faster look out for we locals than others...think bout it deman
      - Crank Shaft (20/02/2012, 15:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        to 'Dem' LMAO, that's utter rubbish! The funny thing is, all this only came about from a certain person's hatred of Myron. Archie, Mark and Juggy contested elections more than once without this being an issue. All of a sudden Myron involved, especially this site has an interest in who from here. Think about it, if you have the ability lmao! You all with all the made up screen names can stop,we know it's the same person over and over. The names give it away everytime.
      - vex (20/02/2012, 23:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        oh no who is myron and who hates myron..lawd ayo got melee on these blogs!!!
- Not2Sure (20/02/2012, 13:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
  He is also presumably saying that people naturalised under the constitution should not be allowed to vote. So why exactly do we have a constitution at all?
Not2Sure (20/02/2012, 11:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
I'll worry about it when the time comes. But right now it feels like we are a long way away from being ready for a vote on indepedence.
pppp (20/02/2012, 15:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
I feel we Real Virgin Islanders need to grow up and stop being so small minded. Come on people its time start using your head.
when?? (20/02/2012, 23:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
so when is Donald going to run for office???
- stay tune (21/02/2012, 12:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
  soon as NDP announce he..he could not be worse then Deloris, Myron and Alvera...lol any body can win!!!!
The Wise One (22/02/2012, 05:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
I think if one is a belonger or Virgin islander they should be able to vote on referendums because these are the "citizens" of this country and as with the general elections have a say in their stake of the B.V.I. TO exclude a belonger because they are not a 'full blooded' Virgin Islander is absolute non-sense.
Quiet Storm (22/02/2012, 05:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
Under the constitution, persons who are deemed Virgin Islanders regardless of how status was acquired....natural born, naturalization, other means---and meeting qualification can vote in elections. As far as I know no Virgin Islander has more rights than another. If true how can we support some Virgin Islanders be denied their constitutional right to vote in a referendum? Once citizenship is bestowed one is entitled to all rights and privileges that are not prohibited by the constitution. True, some countries imposed some restrictions on naturalized citizens that not imposed on natural born citizens. For example US presidential candidates must be born in 1 of the 50 States. Further, residents of the USVI cannot vote in presidential elections. What is being suggested will require a constitutional change. Many long term residents who are know Virgin Islanders care about the BVI deeply. This is their home. They have put down deep roots in the BVI and will be laid to rest here when the time come. Like all immigrants they may have link to their country of their birth but this is normal and do not make them unpatriotic. Many Virgin Islanders make their home outside of the BVI but maintain link to the BVI (bet there are more Virgin Islanders living outside than in). By the way, I"m a fifth generation Virgin Islander.
- bias (22/02/2012, 16:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
  this is so true..good comment
bias (22/02/2012, 16:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
imagine..people so bias.....when election time come they dont even ask where you from, if you can vote etc..they comeing to your house and tell you must for me, but now something like this that would affect both citizen and virgin islander, they are saying only virgin islanders should be able to vote...NONSENSE...there are many citizens are live in th B.V.I. and love the B.V.I. as their own, live on the island for over 40 years know more than the most of the virgin islanders who either born in the B.V.I. but never even in the B.V.I. and claim to be true virgin islanders and cant tell one thing about the B.V.Il or born overseas but family from here, who would define a true virgin islander...there are children who came to the B.V.I. as babies and they know more about the country than a Virgin Islander......when individuals are citizens of a country and live what ever decisions they make while voting it affects both them their fmaily and the entire society..so why would they want to vote badly to get back at anyone.........

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Only "Virgin Islanders" should be allowed to vote on referendums?

23 Responses to “Only "Virgin Islanders" should be allowed to vote on referendums? ”

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