‘Saying we can’t go independent is weakness’ – Radio show caller’
The trending topic was commented on a number of callers to the Speak Out BVI show aired Tuesday August 15, 2017 on ZBVI 780 AM.
A dissatisfied resident voiced his frustration to Mr Doug Wheatley, the host of the show, about persons rejecting the idea of independence for the Virgin Islands, adding that they should stop showing appreciation to America and Britain because as far as he thinks, they do not do anything for the territory.
“I don’t know why we have to thank America and England for what they do for we because they ain’t thank we for slavery and they ain’t pay us yet. What are we thanking them for? We need to stop that kind of talk. Stop saying we don’t have anything in this country. When you make that kind of statement, speak for yourself,” explained a frustrated caller.
He continued, “What we need to do is stop being segregated among ourselves. Let’s start embracing ourselves. We need to come together as one people and see what we have and stop rejecting your own people. We can go independent. The wise man build his house upon the rock and the foolish man build his house upon the sand. Stop saying we can’t go independent, that’s weakness.”
‘A chain is only as strong as its weakest link’
Guest of the show and President of the Opposition Virgin Islands Party (VIP), Dr Natalio D. Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru, commented that the Virgin Islands has already been told by the United Kingdom that it can go independent if it wishes but he added that the people must get together and decide what they really want to do.
Dr Wheatley further stated that “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link and if we don’t start supporting each other more in the BVI and recognising each other’s talents and strength, we won’t survive whether we go independent or not independent.”
The VIP President pointed out too that the territory needs to recognise its resources and not just the natural resources but the human resources. Using Dr Karl Dawson as an example, Dr Wheatley stated that Dr Dawson is a man of “immense talents”, noting that he is very happy to see that his talents are being accepted elsewhere but sad that it’s not being “completely embraced” in the Virgin Islands.
After being removed from his post as President of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) just over a year ago, indigenous Virgin Islander Dawson was recently selected to the prestige position of President of the Anguilla Community College (ACC) and will be taking up the post.
Ownership is the best way for the VI
Another caller emphasised that the Virgin Islands should not seek independence, however, they should seek proprietorship. He explained that proprietorship means ownership and that is the best way for the territory to move forward. “Why you guys keep following this British colonialisation.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Virgin Islands Heritage Committee, Reverend Dr Melvin A. Turnbull, during the Emancipation Service at the Sunday Morning Well on August 6, 2017, told those in attendance that he has been calling for the Virgin Islands to start charting its own course towards independence.
The Senior Pastor of the Cane Garden Bay Baptist Church also compared the growth of the Virgin Islands to that of a child that refuses to leave his mother’s house.
He said, “If you have a child that is a grown man and won’t leave your house, you will find some way to get him out. I would rather walk out than to be pushed out because if I walk out, I walk out intentionally… However, if I am pushed out that would be premature.”
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21 Responses to “‘Saying we can’t go independent is weakness’ – Radio show caller’”
(And yes, I'm a born and raised VIslander.)
The reactions and words I've seen and heard this week... with the attitude we have now, the only place we could be going once independent is to hell. We really should be ashamed of ourselves. Our forefathers worked so we can have what we have and we honoured them by acting like spoiled children.
Two quotes come to mind when I think about going independent:
1) If you can't stand for something you will fall for anything. A lot of the wrong doing that happen in this country happens because we allow it. People know it's wrong but they say nothing because it's either their friends and family doing the wrong, they don't think it's their problem, they're benefiting from it or they expect someone else to handle it. Then by the time the elephant gets too big to ignore, it's already busted down all the walls and suffocated everyone in the room. Then everyone is left bawling. Freedom of speech and moral integrity can only survive if people are willing to use it and protect it.
2) Where there is no vision the people perish. It's a quote our first Chief Minister was known for saying but it's actually a quote from the bible. The leaders here, regardless of the party from which they hail, like to announce plans and dislike criticism or doubt so they constantly disregard any opposition, and that's if we're lucky! If we're unlucky we get left in the dark. They act like only their words count and us peasants are too stupid to comprehend. They expect us to follow without question and won't even take the time to explain their vision, yet still we must trust them. That is if they even have a vision. They fail to realise that a good leader isn't one with an army of yes men but one who can take criticism and prove their competency. A good leader is compassionate and patient yet steadfast and wise. A good leader is a good listener and understands that only through his actions can he earn trust and respect. A good leader is willing to stand with the weakest and die with the strongest. These leaders here act like they're playing make believe. As though no one suffers because of the choices they make. They act like they don't understand how vunerable they can make us when they are too forceful and deceitful and they act like they don't care.
Considering all this, I can't follow them into independence. I love the VI but sometimes I have no faith in my people or my leaders. To me the problem isn't that we have weaknesses but that we don't do anything to improve ourselves in a meaningful and long lasting way. We're allowing ourselves to fall asleep and that will be our ruination.
As a BVIslander I agree with a lot of what was said but the above quote no. A lot of the moaning I have heard have not come for VIslanders.
My store got flooded and the community came out to help me clean my store and the ghut so that it would not happen again. I wish to remind a lot of you who always commenting on BVIslanders we are the minority in this place.
Some of us still have ole time morals.
In this one sided show that is going on here look at the ones that is promoting independence and do you really think that England would allow this did you understand what the governor said in relation to independence one of the first things that we will need is a military where is it what I know we have is a lot of corruption talk about that first and then we will deal with the rest after .
Let us look at the police force. There are vacancies and the commissioner is inviting BVI Be-longer to join the force and they are refusing to join to protect the citizens. Look at all the other ministries and department, teaching, nursing and the list goes on, we need more locals to turn their attentions to these professions instead of sitting around and smoking cannabis. Look at our food security, there in no plan for our survival. Before we start to talk about independence, we must start to solve these problems then we can safely say that we are truly self-reliant.
YOU THINK ITS BAD NOW? GO INDEPENDENT AND YOU'LL SEE A REAL
THIRD WORLD COUNTRY... YES WE CAN GO INDEPENDENT, BUT WHO WILL BE IN CONTROL?
THINK ABOUT IT PEOPLE. WE WILL SUFFER!!!
Barbados, Jamaica, Bahamas, Columbia, Brazil, African states took independence, did they suffer or are they trying to build a great nation? We need to rid ourselves of this "wecantitis" mentality. Are we going to feel comfortable when we let Colonialism return to these islands and sit under the mantel of being fearful? How did the Virgin Islands get to this state after the Plantocracy left? How? It was men and women working hard and using collective efforts to propel us to where we are today. So, we were less educated when they left and we made it thus far. We are more educated and cannot make it? Oh, people, understand the history of these islands; understand where we started from. Let us join together and make the Virgin Islands a better place, rather than thinking we cannot take the VI forward unless we have "Britain" attached to us. Oh, the British; Oh, the British, you have not yet paid for the atrocities you did to our ancestors, and you will pay! Many of us now are aware of the history you hid from us. We cannot return to the former. It is the biggest insult and ungratefulness if we fail to honour the sacrifices of our forefathers. Had many known what slavery was, the stories behind that era, 82 years ago you would have run from anything called, looked and acted like the UK. Each is entitled to his or her opinion, but the Virgin Islands must start a conversation to where we are going. If we don't, we will repeat history in these islands again, and before you repeat the history, you will see the sadist of the UK popping its head here in these islands. A people that do not know their past is bound to repeat it again. We will not repeat that brutal past in these islands, so let us not be afraid. In that day, the true Virgin Islanders will stand up.