Could the VI have a Premier of Arab descent?
Abraham Tarabay and Hani Hussein appeared on the Real Talk Show as the final guests of the 10 most Fascinating People in the BVI Series hosted by Karia J. Christopher. The programme was aired last evening February 6, 2013 on CBN 51.
During the programme Tarabay said he felt the VI had an identity crisis. “I think that we have an identity crisis here in the BVI…” He added, “I don’t think that we truly know whether we are Caribbean, British or American.”
Mr Tarabay explained that he felt the VI had changed from what it was when he was growing up, in that the community back then was much more closely knit. The identity crisis that he saw, Tarabay explained, has led to many persons perceiving themselves as outsiders, even though they may have been born in the Territory.
“What I would probably say, or what I would ask,” the guest on the show said, “is that if you don’t know about a certain race or a certain culture, you can always find out, you can always try to understand before you judge.” Mr Hussein agreed with him on this issue and suggested that persons could come to members of the Arab community to clear up these misconceptions.
Mr Hussein also made an attempt to dispute the notion that Arabs were taking over the VI.
He felt that persons of Arab descent had been the subject of much scrutiny, particularly after the events of 9/11 in the United States (US). “…I used to get, like phone calls, people calling me up, cussing me out… I used to basically have confrontations on the basketball court.”
Mr Tarabay didn’t blame persons for this behaviour though, but emphasised that “people need to understand that not all Arabs are bad and not all bad people are Arabs.”
An Arab Premier in the VI?
“My son is the next Premier,” Tarabay said in jest when asked whether he saw a possibility for an Arab becoming a future Premier in the Territory. “Arabs are very political,” he said, “…when it comes to politics, we take it seriously, in fact, I don’t see why an Arab BVIslander can’t become Premier or a member of the House of Assembly.”
He based his position largely on the fact that many persons that served as Prime Ministers or Premiers in the Caribbean were of Arab descent at various times. He mentioned that Edward Seaga of Jamaica was of Lebanese origin and said he didn’t feel it was far-fetched that one day his son or granddaughter could become Premier.
Mr Hussein partially agreed and mentioned Curacao and Trinidad as other examples of this but differed somewhat in his take, “In my opinion I don’t’ think that anyone from the Arab community is going to attempt to run in politics…”
He felt the issue was a sensitive one and also encompassed the concept of respect for persons in the Arab community. “We respectfully step aside from that part of the community, because we know it will have criticism,” Mr Hussein said after explaining that both guests had been actively involved in politics in the background in the last election campaigns.
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72 Responses to “Could the VI have a Premier of Arab descent?”
You all have black, local leaders for the past 40yrs but in 2013 you can't bathe your funky crutch or walk certain streets without being splashed with raw sewage. people should be judged on merit not religion, race or creed.
Hust your nasty @$$ go back on the banana boat you idiot!!!
Yes, Yes, Yes!!! Many of us Christians are HIPOCRITES; however, it does not change the fact that our foundation was built on Christianity and no matter the hipocrites, we want to keep it that way.
billyb (07/02/2013, 08:52) Like (19) Dislike (11) Reply
No, No, No, your son is not the next premier of the virgin islands. Although I agree with you that much has changed since we were young, the fact that this is a "Jesus Christ" centered community still remains the same. Your people do not believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and as Christians, we need Christians as leaders, not Arabs.
Yes, Yes, Yes!!! Many of us Christians are HIPOCRITES; however, it does not change the fact that our foundation was built on Christianity and no matter the hipocrites, we want to keep it that way.
And you think the Arabs are being Prejudice? Please make sure you understand what the Arabs have faced here in the past and are still facing to this day and age......take a hard good look at yourself first.
I think that before there is an Arab Premier they would have to be more integrated into the community. Right now it feels like locals are good enough to hang out with, to be customers in their stores and date but not good enough to be a part of their family by making them husbands or wives. I also do not feel like they give back Community wise (or maybe they do and it is not well talked about or even publicized). Although I will say this that I do remember that Hani's store did donate some money to a charity and perhaps still does.
Edward Seaga who was mentioned is partly of Middle Eastern decent married local black women. When that starts happening maybe there could be an Arab Premier.
You say a few Arabs are married to locals I only know of one. If there is more than one I can bet my last dollar that none of those “few” are women married to local men and that you can most likely count the number of Arabs married to non Arabs in the BVI on one hand. If I am wrong someone correct me on it. I can not count how many Locals are married to persons from other Caribbean Islands etc. on both my hands and toes.
I am a BVIslander however that is only part of my family tree. Part of my family tree is in another Caribbean Island although my roots are mainly here. When you are part of a community you will often see persons picking someone from the community that they are a part of and love to be their mate, unless say, you met someone away on studies or living abroad. However members of the Arab community actively go back to the country of their parents to find a mate after being up and down with local girls/women. I have roots in another Caribbean Island but when I was ready to settle down I did not go to that Island to find a mate. Maybe it was luck that I and other non Arab members of the community were able to not go too far and find someone from right here in this community.
I do agree with you that once you publicize your good deeds that it is no longer sincere but those churches who they donate to must be truly ungrateful because for the most part you would still hear buzzing in the community without them being in the media. Maybe the Arab community should not focus so much on giving to ungrateful churches that as you say “demonize them” and seek out other worthy causes/charities after all the church’s tithes, members and fund raising events should be able to keep them afloat.
Lloyd-bazaar
Lloyd-bazaar
Many people in the community do not like to see change and this would be a issue that will be going on for ever. As a BVI islander there is so much jobs that can be created with in the BVI that can host all these different race. Look at the way the city looks you have garbage men stop working at 11 am, where if you have them work all day the place will look proper.
To see men and woman that make there goals stand out we should thank them for what they have done. People are jealous easily by the improvement that is going on and to get over that there should be a challenge with in them self.
WE ALL ARE IN THIS WORLD FOR A SHORT TIME,WE ALL HAVE AN APPOINTEMENT WITH DAETH. SO RELAX, LIVE, LOVE. THE BIBLE MUST BE FULL FILL. WE ALL HAVE TO USE THE ERO DOLLAR, WE ALL HAVE TO BE RULED BY THE ONE WORLD ORDER, WHAT CAN WE DO. THIS THINGS ,WILL HAPPEN, BE PREPARED,TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ,CHILDREN .LET US NOT BE FRIGHTEN. JUST PRAY AND ASK GOD TO KEEP US SAFE IN ALL THIS HAPPENING. YOUR OPINION MAY NOT BE MINES, BUT IF WE THINK ,WE WILL SEE IT UNFOLD IN OUR VERY EYES. RELAX.THE WORLD MUST GO ON. READ REVALATION LOTS MORE TO COME.,WHAT CAN WE DO GODS LOVING CHILDREN BUT PRAY AND STAY IN THE BLOOD. AMEN
first: most arabs are black, the reticence of some arabs in terms of marriage is religious and not racial
second: most muslims are asian or african (very few are arab) many arabs are christians
third: most arabs do not support the governments in their native lands (many are here because of this)
fourth: many arabs(this is changing) are patriarchal and would frown upon their women marrying outside their own extended clan or country. Many rightfully lament that arab women do not date black men but even amongst themselves many are insular to wit there is NOT ONE union on Tortola of a Palestinian with a Lebanese!
Muslims and christians can live their personal lives as their beliefs dictate. They can marry who they want. Once they follow the law of the land and leave extremist or fundamentalist beliefs behind in their homes it really is not a problem if they run for political office.
These are the 3 things you never give these decent in your country I don't care where they born