E.G. Maduro slams Hon Walwyn for talk on banning USVI entertainers
Mr Maduro, in an exclusive interview with this news site, was alluding to the recent ranting of Hon Walwyn who had told a local news site of possibly putting a clamp on the sister territory’s entertainers from performing at Festivals in the Virgin Islands in 2017 since there has been no resolve to the difficulties faced by VI entertainers wanting to perform in the USVI.
In April 2015, a number of musicians from the Virgin Islands had expressed frustration and embarrassment that the US Virgin Islands border patrol continued to restrict them from travelling to perform in that territory for gain and that the National Democratic Party (NDP) government seemed to be dragging its feet on the issue.
The matter had reached boiling point when musicians who were slated to perform at the St Thomas Carnival on Sunday April 26, 2015 were reportedly suddenly told by the St Thomas Carnival Committee that they could no longer accommodate them since they were not able to get the usual US Visa waiver for their bands to travel to the island to perform.
The local musicians had been deeply upset by this development since they would have invested money into preparation for their various performances in the USVI for carnival weekend.
Possible repercussions?
“I don’t think the Minister should even entertain such a thought. They have to continue to be in discussion, both us (VI) and the USVI on the matter. I don’t think that they are putting sufficient energy into the discussion and that’s why the problem exists up until this day. There must be some way to amicably address the matter. We have to learn to stick together.”
According to Maduro, “What if the United States Virgin Islands decides that they are going to stop us from using their dollar? Do you know what that means to us here? We have to learn to think carefully before we talk certain things.”
The talk show host said the issue is something to be discussed between the two territories.
Mr Maduro cited the strong bond of friendship that exists with the USVI and VI as one that is over a century old and which is kept alive by the annual ‘Friendship Day’ celebrations.
“Our friendship go way back long before I was born. We haven’t just started to spend US money. When the [USVI] was under [Denmark], we use to spend [Denmark] money too.
“We always had and have an excellent relationship with the USVI and people from St John use to come every Saturday on that boat to buy our provisions and so and we use to go to St Thomas to work and so and send home money to our families. That is a major part of our friendship.”
He went on to say that there are more VIslanders residing in the USVI than on the US mainland.
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27 Responses to “E.G. Maduro slams Hon Walwyn for talk on banning USVI entertainers”
man's personal business has nothing to do with it. It just shows his small and petty mind. To be fair it stems from his frustration at the politician's incompetence but he lacks the balls to call them out because he depends on them so he barks up the wrong tree like a crazy mongrel dog.
Nobody didn't say they can't play. There are rules and regulations.
I wonder if the Honourable minister knows how many BVIslanders are green card holders and living in the BVI. As Edmund say this can have a ripple effect. Myron you need to chill the hell out. Stop being a bulldog.
My advise to you is let sleeping dogs lie. Things have and should be done the right way. ST.Thomas and Tortola is allies.Please don't try to mess that up.
Besides somebody please educate these people on International Politics and the role of the US Federal Government. All US homeland security and Immigration issues fall under the US Federal Government. All the artist have to do is apply like everyone else for the right papers to perform in US VI. What is so hard to understand about that?