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VIslanders must be able to compete among themselves- resident

One resident has cautioned that there is an urgent need for locals to find a balance between securing employment opportunities and being marginalised as second-class citizens in their own Territory. Photo: VINO
“We lack accountability,” said host Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru, “there’s nothing wrong with saying that in your Territory or country citizens are entitled to a right to make a living.”
“We lack accountability,” said host Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru, “there’s nothing wrong with saying that in your Territory or country citizens are entitled to a right to make a living.”
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – One resident has cautioned that there is an urgent need for locals to find a balance between securing employment opportunities and being marginalised as second-class citizens in their own Territory.

While acknowledging that a British passport and citizenship might be very good, he questioned what good it would be if Virgin Islanders couldn’t compete among themselves.

“I notice that there are certain people within the BVI who go to the best schools, and most of us cannot afford that right here in the BVI to send our children to the best schools,” he said on the Umoja radio show on July 4, 2013. He argued that as citizens of the VI, persons should be striving to secure an equal opportunity for education and opportunities for going into business.

According to the caller, eventually citizenship would not be worth much if these things could not be achieved as it was only those persons that would ultimately be able to manage, own and control resources within the Territory.

He questioned how many persons could afford to buy a good piece of land to build a house in the Virgin Islands today.

“We lack accountability,” said host Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru, “there’s nothing wrong with saying that in your Territory or country citizens are entitled to a right to make a living.”

He said if citizens can’t feed themselves then there would be a whole host of problems that accompany this.

He continued, “we’ve had all of this money flooding in here and nobody was telling us, the UK included, that we have to be responsible with this money and we just had a big party with it if you ask me.”

Wheatley said various types of bad habits have since been developed and this is now trying to be rolled back; an effort that politicians may also suffer for before being able to accomplish.

13 Responses to “VIslanders must be able to compete among themselves- resident”

  • whars up. (08/07/2013, 09:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    He continued, “we’ve had all of this money flooding in here and nobody was telling us, the UK included, that we have to be responsible with this money and we just had a big party with it if you ask me.”

    I could just hear him if the UK told them what to do with the money, he would say mind your own buisness.You are big boys now, act like grown ups and manage your money properly
  • ABC (08/07/2013, 09:53) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Get it in your head no one cares about locals deman
  • weed (08/07/2013, 10:08) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    vino me sick ah heaing from tis dude!
  • RedStorm (08/07/2013, 10:15) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree, BVI natives are to have a second income, while working publicly or privately. I encourage a few young persons to start going into business for themselves, never should you be left out of employment when the private or government terminate your employment. Our native people need to start looking at a bigger picture of the future. One of the things I wanted to warn against seek your own business, be your own original in what you do; try not to do the same thing Jack is doing down the road, if he got a garbage truck do not go and get a garbage truck. See if you cannot open a Mechanic Shop to repair his garbage truck. Be inspired by living your dream.
    • nonsense (08/07/2013, 11:04) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      They think that's for island people. Why do you think so many island people have houses here and where they come from? They are not afraid to work hard. We think we should get things because we from here. We are learning the hard way slowly but surely.
  • terminator (08/07/2013, 11:05) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    tha a good talk redstorm but even when you do something for your selve is the same people your own political representatives holding you down giving all the work and contracts to the overseas contractor , and there alot of local here tha can do the work and qualified for the jobs , your own people are over looked, promise and hope less dreams tha all they give , bare in mind a fool and his wealth shall soon depart.
    • RedStorm (08/07/2013, 11:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      terminator, I so agree with you that our own people hold us back, sometime I think greed is more than a green monster. I recall when I make an application for a construction license to do roads and walls, the minister promise, really promise me and then he lose the election, guess what the next minister denied it. Sometime I wander where is the Human in us. Our young people are the ones who will take their place, are we providing that gateway for them to be qualify to stand as people with confidence and authority.
  • Chris (08/07/2013, 14:27) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some blame politicians, but this mentality is just part of our DNA, where your average B V Islander has this chip on their shoulder and think that "somebody" owes them something.

  • Employer (15/07/2013, 06:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Reasonable thesis. The govt is the largest employer of local talent. We need more private businesses to survive.


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