Donald de Castro. Photo: Provided

Unfortunately, here in the Virgin Islands too many people believe that the only way for our economy to progress is by foreign investors. This is another topic of discussion. This eagerness to encourage foreign investors and the greed of our leaders over the years we have brought some investors of questionable quality into this territory. This was the case when the Ministerial system started under the leadership of the late H. Lavity Stoutt Government and the same standards and attitudes continues up to this day. Some of the millions we spend and waste should have gone and should go into thorough and proper investigations of would-be investors c so that we can guard ourselves against those who would seek to rape our country, destroy our environment and bring their segregated and discriminative practices here. There are those among us Virgin Islanders and others that will look you straight in the eye and say no such practices goes on here. However, that is expected as some people see only what they want to see, and hear what they want to hear and remain blissfully in denial of these issues.

Don’t believe for one moment that discrimination is practiced by all white expats. At the same time there are some who are not white expats who follow and condone these practices. We must remember that throughout history the elimination of these practices would not have happened without the white man’s support. One great example which clearly shows that all white people does not support or condone these practices is the fact that black voters alone could not have elected Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States of America.

One Clogger (as my Priest in church referred to some individuals) reacting to one of my articles, asked where was I, over the past forty years when the country was developing. My response is that I was not here. I was not in a position to do anything, but he/she was here and allowed us to get into the mess we are now in. Since I have been back over twenty years I am doing whatever I can, and in any way I can to help correct the situation. I would like to remind those of you that have forgotten and those of you that did not know. I returned in 1986 and immediately observed what was going on and with the help of others I founded the organization, “Virgin Islanders for a Better Virgin Islands”. However, the majority of the people were unable to see as far into the future as I was able to see, so the organization failed .

A Blogger tries to address the issues while the Clogger takes up valuable space criticizing individuals but contributing nothing to the discussion.

I have said all of the above to help you to understand how the people of Virgin Gorda have been going through years of discrimination and segregation by investors with the help of all past and present governments. As I stated at the beginning, investment in a community should benefit all, just not a select few. More than twenty years ago Biras Creek Resort and Bitter End Yacht Clubs were built on the eastern end of Virgin Gorda and now Oil Nut Bay Development has now come on stream in the same area. Many persons would not know or believe that these luxurious resorts are practically off-limits to the people of Virgin Gorda because, for whatever reason, after all these years no public road access.. I strongly believe that the owners of these resorts did not and do not want a public road as they feel too many locals would visit these establishments. It seems apparent that successive governments have gone along with their wishes. In effect, these businesses are telling the local people that they must buy a boat or use the resort’s boat to get to the resort. The employees of these businesses are at the mercy of these owners to get to work, and other residents are being willfully and intentionally deprived of the opportunity to be able to visits these businesses that are licensed to do business in the Virgin Islands, at their own leisure. I am sure that many of you remember the early days of Smugglers Cove on Tortola when the then owners did not want that road surfaced either because they also did not want to attract the locals at the time.

So tell me what is the purpose of developing a community or country if the people of that community or country are unable to benefit and enjoy the development? I can assure you that this type of behavior will continue and grow until the people of this Territory decide to get rid of the Vicious Insensitive People and the Notorious Deceptive People.

Remember to tune in to ZBVI radio on the first and third Wednesday evening from 8-9pm for Straight Talk with Donald E. de Castro