Host of Speak Out BVI, Doug Wheatley felt that there was a symbiotic relationship between expatriates and development in the Territory. Photo: VINO/File

Speaking during his talk show “Speak out BVI” aired locally on September 25, 2012 Wheatley said “Persons who come to these islands, come because of an opportunity they were looking for, in most cases, an economic opportunity to better themselves, to build a build a better future for themselves and to earn a fair wage.”

He felt that out of that wage they usually send home a certain amount of money [remittances] which might be used to support the everyday livelihoods of their family or build homes or even for investments in businesses.

“They see a goal in coming to a place like the VI where they see that they would be able to accomplish some, if not all of their life’s dreams,” he expressed.

The host shared an experience of meeting a young man who, he said, came to the VI because he wanted to build his home back in his native country and to buy musical instruments to start a band back home. Wheatley added that the young man related that so far he had built his home and was now working on buying his musical instruments.

According to Wheatley, expatriates help to build the infrastructure of the country and help the social services of one kind or another, which is needed in order to "keep a country".

Persons on work permit, Mr. Wheatley added, have found themselves in the position of being able to get a trade licence and to operate a business while on work permit. Other persons he, noted, have been able to purchase land and property.

The symbiotic relationship, Mr. Wheatley agreed, comes as a result of expatriate workers needing the VI to accomplish some of their goals and vice versa.

The host also revealed that due to certain challenges, there are a number of young men locally who are unemployed. This was even after the attention given to the situation by current Minister for Education and Culture, Myron V. Walwyn whom he felt has changed the situation somewhat.

Wheatley also felt that this has led to the recent question of whether or not the VI should continue to give out work permits at the rate it was "doing in the past" while being cognisant of the fact that a significant segment of the population are without employment.