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Consider a black governor for the VI – Resident

Governor McCleary told ZBVI Radio Station journalist Zan Lewis in a recent interview that he requested and was granted an extension for a 4th year as Governor of the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
Host of the show, Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru explained that from his perspective, for many of the persons that worked in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Virgin Islands was one of the posts assigned at the end of their service to the United Kingdom (UK) government. Photo: VINO/File
Host of the show, Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru explained that from his perspective, for many of the persons that worked in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Virgin Islands was one of the posts assigned at the end of their service to the United Kingdom (UK) government. Photo: VINO/File
Outspoken businessman, writer and talk show host Donald E. de Castro (left) recently said the governor should be looking out for the interests of the people and thought he was not protecting the people from the government. Julio S. Henry, a talk show host and businessman when asked about the Governor and his additional year told this news site. “I basically think he dropped the ball on the financial services situation, I think the Governor should have been a little more protective.
Outspoken businessman, writer and talk show host Donald E. de Castro (left) recently said the governor should be looking out for the interests of the people and thought he was not protecting the people from the government. Julio S. Henry, a talk show host and businessman when asked about the Governor and his additional year told this news site. “I basically think he dropped the ball on the financial services situation, I think the Governor should have been a little more protective.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – One resident has concluded that the position of Governor in the Virgin Islands either has to be seen as having a stigma attached or possessing some element of racism.

“Where else can you hear for all the years, it’s always not a governor from around here and he’s always white, why is that?” the resident questioned last evening, June 27, 2013 on the Umoja radio programme.

Host of the show, Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru explained that from his perspective, for many of the persons that worked in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Virgin Islands was one of the posts assigned at the end of their service to the United Kingdom (UK) government.

“It seems to me that the BVI is one of the jobs that they send people in the service when they’re getting ready to retire,” he reasoned.

Wheatley said when the resumes of the various Governors were examined, it was noted that they usually served for many different years.

He also stated that for varying reasons, there may not be too many black people that have engaged in the necessary level of service and if they have, then perhaps they are sent elsewhere.

The caller bemoaned the fact that in modern times, the Virgin Islands has not been able to somehow get a black governor who had been in the system for some time.

“I think it’s very important to give that consideration a chance,” he said, “that we are a black community mostly… I think the majority will have an appreciation if the mother country can see the importance of that,” the resident added.

Wheatley said the concern had been raised before and suggests that the trend speaks to the existing society in the UK where the Queen selects a representative.

Controversial VI Governor staying another year

Meanwhile, the controversial United Kingdom appointed Governor of the Virgin Islands, William B. McCleary, recently disclosed that he requested and was granted another year’s stay in the Territory.

Governor McCleary told ZBVI Radio Station journalist Zan Lewis in a recent interview that he requested and was granted an extension for a 4th year as Governor of the Virgin Islands. He said his contract was initially set for three years and would have been up in August 2013.

One of the reasons given for the request to stay was because, according to the Governor, “It’s a great place to be in…it’s a challenging job, it’s a wonderful place to live.”

In many circles, especially in the legal and public sector, Governor McCleary has been described as one of the worst governors the Virgin Islands has ever seen since the days of Mr J. A. C. Cruikshank who caused the great march of 1949 because of the way he governed at the time.

Mr McCleary is facing a long list of court cases brought by civil servants against him for unfair dismissal, challenging of his power and decisions and the violations of their civil rights.

Outspoken businessman, writer and talk show host Donald E. de Castro recently said the Governor should be looking out for the interests of the people and thought he was not protecting the people from the government.

Julio S. Henry, a talk show host and businessman when asked about the Governor and his additional year told this news site. “I basically think he dropped the ball on the financial services situation, I think the Governor should have been a little more protective. I think he should have responded more favourably in the BVI side. He never really came out and voiced anything, whether for or against, on what was happening and what is still happening right now...”

32 Responses to “Consider a black governor for the VI – Resident”

  • Yeah, Right! (28/06/2013, 07:47) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Absolutely......research show the colour of your skin is the determining factor of how well you can perform your job!! Brilliant suggestion. next........
  • British (28/06/2013, 08:00) Like (3) Dislike (19) Reply
    Britain behaves as if there are no black people in England in very high positions who could be sent here as governor. That is not so!! There are black people there born and raised who are as highly qualified as these governors whom the queen is sending here. I agree, the governors should be a reflection of the majority of people who they represent.
    • BVIlander (28/06/2013, 08:26) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
      Yes the UK has many amazing black people. However they are so progressive that skin colour is no longer a factor. When selecting candidates for a position race is just not considered. It would be as foolish as saying "This city has a population of mostly people with brown hair and brown eyes so therefore we must appoint a mayor who also has brown hair and brown eyes. A blond or red haired man or someone with green eyes just wouldnt be able to represent the people. Wa foolishness!
    • Hmm (28/06/2013, 08:31) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      So you think that only a black governor can represent a black person in the BVI!
  • kkk (28/06/2013, 08:11) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The man done say he is not a racist...that should hold ayo deman
  • Yo (28/06/2013, 08:16) Like (19) Dislike (3) Reply
    Ayo too racist mison. Judging people by the colour of their skin. Who cares if he white. Why would that automatically make him better for us if he was black? Would he be only 50 percent better if he was mixed race. Until this racist bigotry is removed from our culture we are destined to fail.
    • JACK BE STILL (28/06/2013, 11:26) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      Hey, leave Big William McCleary alone. The constitution made him do all that stuff he did to our people. All firing, voilation of the laws, and only god knows what else were forced on him!
  • Say one say Two (28/06/2013, 09:13) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    A black man might be worst for us.
    • white house (28/06/2013, 09:33) Like (0) Dislike (14) Reply
      Just know that blacks cannot be racist I aint care what a man say!
      • Tears to mine eyes (28/06/2013, 11:51) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
        It is so sad that after suffering generations of racism, we blacks have know gone the other way. The white man has stopped holding us down so now we hold ourselves down by becoming the racists! Struppes
  • . (28/06/2013, 09:15) Like (3) Dislike (25) Reply
    One thing i like about vino is that they're not afraid to touch the touchy hot topics that others refuse to touch.
  • @ . (28/06/2013, 09:27) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
    I agree 1000% that is why they continue to be number one and the most faired sight!!!
  • VIlander (28/06/2013, 10:21) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Whetherblack or white the govenor's job is to serve the queen no the people. HE isn't from here nor invested in staying so regardless of his colour he will not share your interests.
  • sheilia (28/06/2013, 10:53) Like (3) Dislike (6) Reply
    Believe it or not, we are still slaves in our own country.
    • @Sheilia (30/06/2013, 11:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Sheilia - please explain yourself.
      Explain how the life we live resembles the lives of our island forefathers and mothers who were beaten, raped, whipped and forced into a lifetime of hard labor in the service of someone who 'owned' them and treated them worse than dogs, literally every day from the time they born to when they died.
      Explain how you want to put yourself, and me and all our fellow BVIslanders in the same category as those generations who withstood that total and utter horror.
      Explain to the people of the VI in 2013 Sheilia, or are you happy to insult and diminish those forefathers by comparing our SUV, AC, full-screen, fried chicken with ice-cream to follow, concrete apartment block, US passport, gold chain, indulgence-driven lifestyle with theirs?
  • Shara Parlin (28/06/2013, 10:57) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    "Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem." Ronald Reagan, 1981 inaugural address

  • Impartial (28/06/2013, 11:29) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes we could open the application process with belongers preferred. I,m sure there would be no conflicts of interest with a local home grown Governor. Contracts would be awarded fairly and impartial justice would prevail.
    Then of course could always go independent, have a president, and wake up in the third world.
    • VI Realist (28/06/2013, 12:30) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
      Independence sounds like the way to go! Lets get rid of the UK. What do they ever do for us? Our offshore financial vehicles will be more respected globally if we shed all them regulations that the UK always making us sign paperwork dis and paperwork that. We could vote for our own President (a black man, or at least one with a little black in him). I'm thinking Uncle Ralphie is the man for the job, he has so much expierence with politricks. Soon we will be free like our Caribbean brothers in Haiti, Jamaica, St Vincent, Antigue and St Kitts. They have so much wealth and prosperity now in those countries they dont even know what to do with it. Many of their residents find it so afluent in their homelands now that they seek refuge in other countries like the states and Canada where they can live once agin in squalar.
  • lmao (28/06/2013, 11:33) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    These people crazy! WE got a Black President hell bent on causing havoc in Black Caribbean nations dependent on Financial Services and other connected industries for our well being. What does color have to do with anything?
  • saywhat (28/06/2013, 13:34) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    "Consider a black governor for the VI – Resident"
    Where you all going to find he from tell me I know the Queen donot have such in her playroom nor will such be in her site for her play grounds these islands of her. So, in your dream s dream on no one can't stop you
  • rat race (28/06/2013, 15:48) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
    this governor got to go plane and simple!!
  • DON Q (28/06/2013, 23:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    why is these talk show hosts making bad for the v i people was it not the black man who back bite thier black african brothers for guns for gold to kill their own brothers check yor history
  • Chris (29/06/2013, 08:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I had hoped that the Governor would have stepped up to the plate and demonstrated his willingness to make the necessary changes that would see Virgin Islanders proud to support their NDP government but that has not materialized
  • age 53 (29/06/2013, 12:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    a black governor NEVER in my life time
  • wise up (29/06/2013, 23:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    A non-white Governor might just be as bad as the white boys
  • ausar (30/06/2013, 21:02) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    I second the motion: "Blackness for Governorship"!

    Could it be that "whiteness" is the main factor that determines who actually carries out the mandates of the Kingdom?

    Well, the verdit is in: After centuries of "blackness" in the Kingdom, skin whiteness or those persons that possesses such, can only be "trusted" to carry out the mandates and wishes of those who control the Kingdom!

    • LogicalConclusion (01/07/2013, 13:00) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Ausar here you go again.
      No matter the nonsense you wrote here, which does not deserve anyone's attention for it contains nothing useful or true, I'm noticing this: through these forums you are exposing yourself as a person deliberately using untruths to spread hate and division in our community.
      Why would you do that?
      Are you spreading this mumu stuff so that perhaps we believe you and ... I don't know ... chase the white people out?
      Or perhaps you are trying to influence us to take other sorts of action against our fellow residents who happen to have white skin? What do you suggest? Maybe just encourage black people to throw a few cuss words at the next white person they see? Maybe insult someone in public because of their skin, or even better, mess with their children's heads by telling them they are evil?
      Or why don't we just follow your whole approach to its logical conclusion and attack these white people with more than words? If you are correct that people whose epidermis contains very little melanin are indeed bad humans and they are all trying to enslave those among us with higher melanin content, why don't we just organize some lynchings? Grab some of them - any of them, because they are all evil - and string them up in a tree? Or maybe you'd enjoy mowing them down with an automatic weapon like they did in St. Croix back in the '70s?
      Either way, if we follow the direction of your comments on these blogs, that is the logical conclusion. It is impossible to see how your thesis can go any other way. You see, ausar, hate has a way of gaining momentum once people deliberately seed it into a community. And this is what your baseless comments all do.
      You are clearly against Martin Luther King. You must think Malcolm X before he died was just a sell-out. Presumably Bob Marley was half evil because he was 1/2 white and treated many whites with love and respect. And yes, the most popular man on the planet, Nelson Mandela is a bad-minded fool who has been working for the evil white race for all these years.
      Yes, Ausar, your divisive and disgusting attitude to the Truth, and to your fellow human beings, is a fine example of the shameless, deliberate use of utter bullcr*p to forward a hateful agenda.
      I fail to see how it helps us BVIslanders understand or resolve the many complex problems we need to be dealing with in these times.
  • my two cents (02/07/2013, 23:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Governor is doing exactly what he is supposed to do. ...NOTING FOR THE NATIVES


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