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‘End the lip service’- Rajah A. Smith tells Hon Walwyn

- said Minister Myron V. Walwyn needs to do more than just talk about status for children born to expatriates in the VI
Businessman and Virgin Islands Party (VIP) candidate in the 2015 General Election, Rajah A. Smith has called for an end to the ‘lip service’ by Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL) as it relates to children born to expatriate parents in the Virgin Islands getting a difficult time to receive status in the territory. Photo: Facebook
Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL) is accused of being all talk and no action as it relates to correcting the issue of children born to expatriate parents in the Virgin Islands getting a difficult time to receive status in the territory. Photo: VINO/File
Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL) is accused of being all talk and no action as it relates to correcting the issue of children born to expatriate parents in the Virgin Islands getting a difficult time to receive status in the territory. Photo: VINO/File
Donald E. de Castro feels expatriates are the ones who create the problem for themselves since they are well aware that children born to them in the Virgin Islands will not automatically get status. Photo: VINO/File
Donald E. de Castro feels expatriates are the ones who create the problem for themselves since they are well aware that children born to them in the Virgin Islands will not automatically get status. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Virgin Islands Party (VIP) candidate in the 2015 General Election, Rajah A. Smith has called for an end to the “lip service” by the Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL) as it relates to children born to expatriate parents in the Virgin Islands getting a difficult time to receive status in the territory.

He described the situation as a “big” one and wants Honourable Walwyn, who has been vocal on the issue, to do more than talk.

However, talk show host on the Straight Talk radio show on 780 ZBVI on Wednesday March 8, 2017, Donald E. de Castro opposed his view, pointing the finger to the expatriates for the issue, since he said they do not seem to learn from the mistakes of other expatriates.

“Everywhere I go, a lot of young people come to me and talk to me about the problems that they have in the Virgin Islands and a lot of them have this issue where they have a kid, whether male or female, born to a BVI father and an expatriate mother, and they cannot get status in the territory,” Smith said while a guest of the Straight Talk show. “That is becoming a big issue.”

All talk no action

“You hear the Minister of Education and Culture talking about this over and over, and I think all he do is talking. How many times has he been to England and the Foreign Commonwealth Office to at least put a waiver to people who fall into these categories? You see the United Kingdom opened up its doors to Syrian refugees and to the world, and we have kids that born here in the BVI, who are over 18 years of age, and can’t get status,” Smith argued.

Expats do not learn

However, host of the show de Castro felt that the expatriates are the ones who create that problem for themselves.

“I understand what you say and I follow your argument, but I have a different view on that,” deCastro, playing the devil’s advocate, stated. “A lot of them put themselves in these situations and people are not learning from others experience. They come here, they know that even though the child is born here, that they are not supposed to get status…we don’t make the law, it is an English law.”

Stop lip service

In response to de Castro, Smith called for an end to the lip service by Hon Walwyn.

“But what happens to that child who stays in the BVI? And make the BVI their home? That is what I am saying, this lip service needs to stop.”

de Castro pointed out that the Government of the VI indeed has to try to talk to the UK government with a view to correcting it, and in retrospect agreed that the children should receive status.

22 Responses to “‘End the lip service’- Rajah A. Smith tells Hon Walwyn”

  • dog (09/03/2017, 11:40) Like (14) Dislike (12) Reply
    finally this rajah man taking something with sense
  • our laws (09/03/2017, 11:49) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    when you go to rome do as the romans do
  • British (09/03/2017, 11:52) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
    British Nationality Act is the model to follow. And it allows children of expats born to VIslanders to receive status. The parents just have to go through the process,and be successfully. I am a Vislander and have a daughter with a Dominican. When my daughter made 10 years, we both went through the process of the British Nationality Act,and today my daughter had her VI passport.
    The process works,and each needs to read and ask questions if they don't understand.
    • Bingo (09/03/2017, 12:20) Like (23) Dislike (6) Reply

      EXACTLY! These uneducated fools have taken over our airwaves talking pure bull sh××! I know many expats with kids who went through the same process and their kids have a BVI Passport and enjoy all the benefits today. Some people just love to remain ignorant as an excuse to play the victim over and over. Raja should have done his research before he went on ZBVI seeking to score political points for a political career that doesn't even have on wheels much less going anywhere.

  • HMMM (09/03/2017, 13:13) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    why roger dont go siddung?
  • i from here (09/03/2017, 13:29) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    I know Smith is trying to appeal to the island people but we no longer want our country to be over run...the NDP smart not to make any changes
    • I from here too (09/03/2017, 14:33) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      Ya'll so damn sickening buh don't want country to be run over. But ain't no problem when BVIslanders want to go somewhere else to live right? So they could get better opportunities and living conditions right? Smdh.
      • wize up (10/03/2017, 07:44) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        @ i from here too: good point because I graduated in 1981 and the majority of my school mates gone(back in the day they came back for the festival but they no longer come to BVI)...i personally think when folks come to BVI they must be more respectful but we have double standard(one standard for caribbean people while the white folks comes in and denies us access to our beaches)....very day we cuss out our vey own black caribbean tribe while some of we kisses the backside of the other inhabitants of this territory
      • ----------------------- (10/03/2017, 20:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Lawd thank you for the belly laugh!! Come on people defend it nuh?
  • Expat child (09/03/2017, 13:35) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    Why i have to naturalize where i born. Why i have to wait 5-10 years where i born. I am not a fan of this guy but i am one of those people he talking about. Some of you got special friends in high places and dont know what the ordinarily man go through.
    • answer (09/03/2017, 13:57) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      If your both parents are not Vislanders,and don't have no sort of VI heritage,your children have to go through the naturalized process.
  • lmao (09/03/2017, 13:44) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    Myron is talking, so what is Raja doing, yapping? Sometimes it's best to stay in your lane.
  • British and Bingo (09/03/2017, 14:00) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    British and Bingo need to open a consultant agency to educate these people.
  • wize up (09/03/2017, 14:10) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Question(only a question) is Mr Smith an affiliate of fraser(VIP) or fahie(VIP)....I have been told the VIP now have 2 franchises(we shall see what we shall see)
  • Mac -A-Roni (09/03/2017, 14:20) Like (14) Dislike (3) Reply
    U have Minister getting Santo children and getting passport not even being on the island and we who here can't get non.

    Agree wid you talking big dog.

    Leh myron go hall he garot backside and show action.
    • 45 (09/03/2017, 17:04) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      If im correct the said minister aint born here and if the woman from santo then that child is not eligible under the law cause it is a product of two expats. Either the minister broke the law or the passport office is prejudice.
      • nonsense (09/03/2017, 19:27) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
        The minister you referring to has right here in the BVI or he wouldn't be a minister today. Stop spreading false news
      • myrun (09/03/2017, 20:53) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
        And don't get too excited for I born right here for in a few years, thinking people will start to see the error of the opposition ways and we going right back in....
  • Xxx (09/03/2017, 16:43) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Both of them rajah and myrun just running their traps
  • ... (09/03/2017, 16:46) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I continue to think this is another fabrication meant to draw attention away from the actions being taken to reverse some of the laws in place to protect local and indigenous people of the BVI.
  • Just saying (09/03/2017, 21:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The man make an awesome
  • me2 (10/03/2017, 07:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree with Donald Decastro


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