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Population study should work as guide for VI immigration policy – Wheatley

- says population has grown by leaps and bounds through migration
Commentator Douglas Wheatley is of the view that the question of an optimal population for the Virgin Islands (VI) should be determined and used as a guide for the Territory’s immigration policy. Photo: VINO/File
Wheatley felt that it is necessary for the VI to look very closely at the whole question of population and what would be sustainable for the VI and the government must pay attention to that. Photo: VINO/File
Wheatley felt that it is necessary for the VI to look very closely at the whole question of population and what would be sustainable for the VI and the government must pay attention to that. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Commentator Douglas Wheatley is of the view that the question of an optimal population for the Virgin Islands (VI) should be determined and used as a guide for the Territory’s immigration policy.

On the Speak Out BVI radio programme aired last evening, September 3, 2013, Wheatley said not a great deal has been written in terms of what is an optimal population for the Virgin Islands.

He stated that some had realised from as early as 1969 that there was going to be a ‘problem’ with the VI population and felt it was necessary for someone to come forward and make some suggestions in terms of what the optimal population figure would be.

The host, who said he had written an article on the topic, said some of his friends had suggested that the population of the VI should be at least 50,000 in order to benefit properly from the economies of scale.

He felt a smaller population would not allow for the same kind of benefit and also not allow for persons to benefit from a full range of professional, entertainment or other services.

He bemoaned the fact that nearly fifty years later, the question has not been taken seriously by anyone. “What has happened of course is that the population has grown by leaps and bounds mainly through migration,” he said.

A recent report from the Development Planning Unit (DPU) indicated that statistics from the 2010 population and census study done in the VI are not yet available and cited human resource constraints as one of the reasons for the delay.

“I think that it is necessary for us to look very closely at this whole question of population and what would be sustainable for us in the BVI and the government must pay attention to that,” Wheatley said.

8 Responses to “Population study should work as guide for VI immigration policy – Wheatley”

  • ccc (04/09/2013, 08:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    good point doug
  • weed (04/09/2013, 11:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    everyone seems to be an expert now a days without any real information.
  • Really?! (04/09/2013, 14:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    An optimal population of 50,000?! Doug are you off your rockers? We can't even get the census right and cannot even track the current population as it is. Infrastructure currently as it is cannot sustain our numbers. Wheel and come again!
  • Liat 521 (04/09/2013, 15:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    seems like Doug looking for a job in DPU...he can replace mattie...lol
  • son of the soil (04/09/2013, 15:46) Like (0) Dislike (88) Reply
    Ayo letting in too much of these ungrateful island people in this place.
  • Concerned (22/09/2013, 03:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    According to the CIA Facts book, the population growth rate of the VI is 2.44% as of 2012. At that rate the population will double in just 28.4 years. That would give us a population of over 100,000 people. Can anyone imagine driving down to RT with 10,000 more cars and finding a place to park? The VI is already overpopulated, why bring in more people. Merchants are not going to lower their prices because they get a better deal. Population growth is an exponential function. It is not going to stay at 50,000. We should be very careful what we wish for.

    Immigration should get a meaningful policy and execute it. For example, people should not be allowed to renew their time indefinitely. They should be given, say, an initial six months, and then allowed up to two renewals. After that, they should be returning to their countries. And temporary workers should not be allowed to move to the VI with their children. Bringing family will only stress our infrastructure and reduce motivation to return home. All we are doing is changing the character of this country.


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