Without expats, the VI would turn into a ‘slum’- Hon Turnbull
He was debating the Immigration and Passport Amendment Bill 2025, after its second reading during the Continuation of the Third Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA), on Monday, April 22, 2025.
Hon Turnbull said, the Virgin Islands’ (VI) story goes beyond being built by those who were left in the territory, as many also left to find opportunities in neighbouring Caribbean islands and territories to provide for their families.
“While those of us who went to other Caribbean islands and territories went to provide, there were other persons that came to live among us who helped to contribute towards the building and development of this territory,” he reminded.
That Hon Turnbull said is a “significant part of the story” of the VI.
We are one people- Hon Turnbull
Due to the African heritage shared by Caribbean nations through slavery, Hon Turnbull said, “We have so many similar traits, that’s why so many of us have some of the same dialect and accents and cultural aspects of our diversity, Madam Speaker, we are black people, we are Caribbean people, we are one people.”
He reiterated that the Virgin Islanders cannot choose to say we are one people only when convenient to them, and so it must be the story.
Hon Turnbull said having left the VI in 1994 to finish his schooling and returning in 2005, he realised this attitude towards expats has always been there, but was more pronounced.
He added that while Virgin Islanders have a right to be proud, it cannot lead to prejudice towards others from the Caribbean.
VI would become a slum without other Caribbean people- Hon Turnbull
Not filtering his words, Hon Turnbull said, “If we were for a second to send home everybody who we don’t call or consider indigenous Virgin Islanders, you know what the BVI would become? A slum, and I dare anyone to debate me on that.”
Hon Turnbull told the House there is nothing wrong with elevating the Virgin Islands and pushing its agenda, however, it should not be done by stepping on others.
The essence of what “we do has to be unified”, he added.
This way of thinking, he said, comes from the “very colonialistic way in which we were brought up from slaves into where we are, and it exists right now even in the systems from which we continue to operate here in the Territory”.
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29 Responses to “Without expats, the VI would turn into a ‘slum’- Hon Turnbull ”
Sir, I beg to differ with your statement. Take the village of East End as an example. The place has become deplorable because the village is a hub for expats from other Caribbean Islands coming to or transitioning to the USVI. Take a look at all the derelict vehicles along the roads or on some people's properties, vehicles stripped down to the bare core. This is not a BVI practice.
I can understand if you say apartments would be empty or employers would have issues with replacing workers, but to put down your own in such a negative way is, in itself, an insult. Many Virgin Islanders take immense pride in their surroundings, fostering a sense of unity and shared values.
Sound to me like we (indigenous) need to get up off our arse. Stop sending children away, raising them to be consumers and start raising producers.
Both our parents and grandparents are indigenous BVISLANDERS. No expatriats were significant in our growth from a bird sanctuary. Our people fought off the engish man and through our hard work we developed both our tourism and financial services markets.
No expatriate has held the post of Financial Secretary for a reason. We built the BVI with assistance yes but significant no.
I take great exception that my work is compared to any expatriate. PERIOD.
cuz idk how our annual budget big and got USA currency but we look like a watered down version of 3rd world country...
but i agree without the expats we will be like USA Who got rid of theres and can't find no one to work tough jobs.
the nightlife women only like office jobs they only get a lil bruised when they go on speed boats
then we have our young men who chasing fast life so they dont got time for that either
and ofc our prominent families in bvi who suck on the country for their own benefit to place their own in positions of power
we would be salt salt
And if you hired a consultant to do the research using whatever data Government does keep for itself, the conclusions will be in favour of who pays.
This place is a circus.