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Gay marriage: A possible third economic pillar or abomination?

- Moderator of Inter-Secondary Schools Debating Competition Cromwell Smith asks
A talk show host has asked whether the territory should make it legal for gay couples to be joined in holy matrimony in the Virgin Islands and reap millions or whether that would be an abomination. Photo: Business Insider
Talk show host Cromwell Smith aka Edju En Ka said one of the arguments is that marriage is a contract and just like how heterosexuals could get married, same sex people should be able to get married too and 'have that same contract, and that same spirit'. Mr Smith was just putting out topics for possible debate and was not expressing his own opinion. Photo: VINO
Talk show host Cromwell Smith aka Edju En Ka said one of the arguments is that marriage is a contract and just like how heterosexuals could get married, same sex people should be able to get married too and 'have that same contract, and that same spirit'. Mr Smith was just putting out topics for possible debate and was not expressing his own opinion. Photo: VINO
Members of the audience at the Ministry of Education and Culture Inter-Secondary Schools’ Debate 2017 preliminary round competition at Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in Paraquita Bay on Monday January 30, 2017. Photo: VINO
Members of the audience at the Ministry of Education and Culture Inter-Secondary Schools’ Debate 2017 preliminary round competition at Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in Paraquita Bay on Monday January 30, 2017. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- A talk show host has asked whether the territory should make it legal for gay couples to be joined in holy matrimony in the Virgin Islands as millions could be reaped, and possibly turning it into a third economic pillar or whether the decision would be an abomination.

Smith, also known as Edju En Ka, laid out the arguments for possible debate at the recent Ministry of Education and Culture Inter-Secondary Schools’ Debate 2017 preliminary round competition at Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in Paraquita Bay on Monday January 30, 2017 where students from the Bregado Flax Educational Centre and the St George’s Secondary School debated the topic ‘Gay marriage harms the institution of traditional marriage’. St George’s Secondary won that debate.

“If tomorrow we were to pass legislation saying come to the BVI all ye with heavy laden and want to get married, we will give you rest. You could get married in the Virgin Islands if you are of same sex couple, we could make millions of dollars,” he said. “We stand to make millions of dollars in tourism if we were to legalise same-sex marriage; it could almost be a third economic pillar,” Smith, who was the debate’s moderator, stated.

On the flip side, Mr Smith said there is also the issue of gay marriage being considered an abomination, according to the Bible as he quoted a passage from Leviticus.

Gays should be able to get married

According to Smith, there is the argument that marriage is a contract, an investment in case anything happens to one spouse.

“I have known heterosexual couples, who did not get married, who live together for many years and then when the man dies, the children swooped in and put the woman out of the house. She did not have no papers, no documents, nothing, and when the man was sick she was there and at that time children were nowhere to be found,” he said.

“So marriage is a contract, so just like how heterosexuals could get married, same sex people should be able to get married too and have that same contract, and that same spirit.”

He then asked, “Would you feel like we would be selling our souls to the devil if we legalise same-sex marriage?”

It should be noted that Mr Smith was throwing out the ideas for the audience's consumption as the debate's moderator and did not state at anytime that those were his personal position on gay marriages.

Debate

Based on the topic thrown out by Mr Smith, a young school girl, a male college student and a Christian woman shared their views.

“I say no because God did not create man and woman for a man and man or a woman and woman to get married. That is specifically why he created a man and a woman in the Garden of Eden,” the young girl said.

“You mentioned the revenue that we could get, but at the end of the day do we really want to give up our morals and our culture just to get a little bit more money in the BVI?” the young college student asked.

Meantime, an older woman gave her opinion saying there should be no discrimination.

“God has given all of us the freedom of choice to serve him or not to serve him and from a Christian point of view, I believe in the traditional marriage, however, we shouldn’t discriminate because God give us that freedom, we shouldn’t discriminate against people who are of other beliefs or who practice other things that are not our religion.”

47 Responses to “Gay marriage: A possible third economic pillar or abomination?”

  • Citizen (02/02/2017, 08:09) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    No need to make excuses. What we sow we sure will reap.
  • Eagle Eye (02/02/2017, 08:26) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply
    By their fruits you shall know them.shame
  • He or she who's without (02/02/2017, 08:29) Like (4) Dislike (9) Reply
    Either Sin or SIN or sIN or SiN or siN we all doing it cause no one is perfect. If you personally don't like a certain type of (sin) just don't deal with it but don't bash anyone for theirs choices. We all are sinners and the biggest sin will be to denied that. But it's fully the men or woman who's for (gay) rights are either straight and goes how to their straight wife or husband after protesting.
    • @He or she who's without (02/02/2017, 15:19) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      I will not bash anyone but I will 'correctly handles the word of truth' . It is my earthly duty as a Christian to obey God's will.

      2 Timothy 2:15 New International Version (NIV)
      15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

      (What is Truth? God is Truth and everything God says is Truth and if your Creator says that your deeds are evil 'then your deeds are evil'.) It is not man that will judge but God and one day it will be just you and him in God's secret place together, no one else on earth will be there with you in your corner, no law makers, no law breakers. What will You tell Him then? 'God those people were bashing me so I decide not to lesson to Your Better Judgement, those people a hypocrites'. God will say to you on that day, yes but I am not a hypocrite, I am not sinful, and I did not bash you, I love you but you never loved me enough to obey my will for your life, 'the life I gave you'. You never cared to have a close relationship with me on earth and I cannot have a close relationship with you in death. (A 'true' born-again Christian have a responsibility to love and tell about God's love for mankind, but also to warn their brothers and sisters of future eternal punishment for habitual unrepentant sinful lifestyle habits.)

      1 Corinthians 6:9
      9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, 10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.…
  • FIRE (02/02/2017, 08:32) Like (33) Dislike (3) Reply

    Everything aint all about money. Why gain the world and lose ya soul?! 

    • Wha you really saying? (03/02/2017, 09:18) Like (3) Dislike (6) Reply
      Tell me how loving another human being is losing your soul? Especially if it's genuine. There's no logic behind ya'll words just traditional norms and ignorance.
  • dude (02/02/2017, 08:41) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    We not discriminating but leave that mess where it is. A bunch of lost people out here tryin to make big boy decisions when all ayo can barely whipe yall mess makin backside.
  • RAGE (02/02/2017, 08:54) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well maybe next they can discus legalizing a plant that puts young blacks in jail and makes whites rich
  • National Gays (02/02/2017, 08:59) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply

    That's an easy legislation to pass with this NDP government. Might as well they come out the closet what's the point we already lawless. So whateverrrr!


  • Really (02/02/2017, 08:59) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    A third economic pillar, really? I can understand it being a generator of money but come on; how much revenue can be derived from this avenue to be considered a third economic pillar. If thats what its gonna take to generate revenue then the country is really in worse shape than we thought.
  • got to got (02/02/2017, 09:13) Like (20) Dislike (8) Reply

    Gay marriages should NOT be allowed in these beautiful islands. Churches in BVI here is time to stand up as one and demonstrate. If u don't stand up for this cause this shows me that you all are for this and u know the LAWS OF THE ALMIGHTY FATHER.

    • New world (02/02/2017, 11:27) Like (16) Dislike (10) Reply
      The churches here are the biggest hypocrites around. Sitting in the church on Sunday wondering who ya gonna screw Monday, who ya gonna rob you ya gonna teif! Love is love, whether is man-woman or woman-woman, allow them to become married. If you dont plenty of other islands in the Caribbean will and again the BVI will be left behind. Welcome to the new world. Eve didn't come from some rib bone.
      • @New world (02/02/2017, 15:31) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
        (If you dont plenty of other islands in the Caribbean will and again the BVI will be left behind.) I will pray that 'ALL' islands in the Caribbean will make a choice to obey God and not evil. I know that God's rewards has been proven time and time again to be more than enough to sustain than that of Satan's crumbs.
  • Worrying (02/02/2017, 09:18) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    How concerning that the young people commenting showed their already ingrained discrimination whereas the older lady had an open and progressive attitude.
  • cay (02/02/2017, 09:29) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    The man was misquoted
  • i from here (02/02/2017, 09:31) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    FOH Fire Blaze !!
  • v (02/02/2017, 09:35) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Excellent point you brought up, freedom of choice without discrimination.....with that being said we should freely be able to disagree and choose not to have homosexual marriage as a part of our culture, and we should be able to do so without discrimination. The power of choice goes both ways, the same way they have a right to their choice of being gay, we have a right not to allow that kind of marriage here.
  • LEAVE THE SH..T MONEY (02/02/2017, 09:40) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    money earned from evil is dirty and it will add more evil spirits over the place. Be satisfied with what you got. Its like being out of money and say I going go out and screw to make some money. Same thing
  • Yes (02/02/2017, 09:45) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    No casinos, no gambling on the track, no national lottery, but bring the bend wrist gangs to be joined on holy matrimony. You got to love the BVI!
  • Yes (02/02/2017, 09:49) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is that baldy and steemy in the photo?
  • hmm. (02/02/2017, 09:58) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply

    The bible is practically clear on what is expected on women and men when comes to have relations to the same sex. No christian, none who truly believes in what the bible says. Would say that we should not discriminate. That is none sense. On the other hand she is entitled to an opinion. We should embrace everyone that is homosexual or not. But at the the same time, tell those who practice homosexuality that, if they truly know that it is a sin and that is why God made male and female. It could have been two male or two female. The creator did not make any mistakes. we as human beings has a choice to accept God or reject by being or own God. Mr. Smith, shame on you. It is bad enough that people a shacking up and that also is a sin. As Christians we should inform people that sis is sin , but we do it with love.

    • @hmm (02/02/2017, 15:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Well Said!!! A 'TRUE' Christian Believer bearing good fruit!

      Matthew 7:16-17
      16By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.…
  • farmer (02/02/2017, 10:07) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply

    When I thing about this topic and study my animal...nature my male sheep dont go with another male infact they fight over the females. Having said all dat if we evoke God in our topic we should go all out and call sin sin. What about the man and woman who live together when they are not married isnt that sin in God's eye? What about the other "sins" that are allowed to take place right in our eye and we look the other way? How could we see "the mote in another person's eye when we have a beam in ours"?

    • @farmer (02/02/2017, 16:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Why add more sin to our basket. How will we be able to carry all that sin...we can barely carry the sin that we harvest ourselves. Are we to invite others to add their sins to our lot. Heaven Forbid!

      Man may look the other way but God does not....

      1 Corinthians 6:9
      9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, 10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.…
  • Online Now (02/02/2017, 10:28) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    I have no problem with gay people or the concept of gay marriage. What I don't quite understand is how we would suddenly make millions of $'s out of it. Is there a large queue of gay couples waiting for the BVI to change their laws?
    • No (03/02/2017, 09:11) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      No but gays and lesbians from across the world will come to get married here and use it as a honeymoon one time...... think please
  • Ganja the money tree. (02/02/2017, 11:06) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    Ganja. Don't under estimate it. We are going to get left behind. Legalize it. The best natural medicine. Regulate and control it. Then tax it. It's a money tree.
    • Really (02/02/2017, 14:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      That even better than this preposterous idea; way more more to be generated for this form.
  • Money verse (02/02/2017, 11:44) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    For the love of money is really the root of ALL evil.
  • Know Your History (02/02/2017, 11:49) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    Marriage started as a unity between to families who were willing to combine resources. The parents would go in search for a man to marry their daughter and vice versa. Then two families will would agree to hold a ceremony that sanctions their union: Marriage. A baby is born into the family to create a permanent link/ covenant between the them.

    Coming into the industrial era, a middle class was establish and couples no longer had to depend on their parents. That's how romance came into the picture, especially after Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: A BOY AND A GIRL!! However, the Parents shunned at this new way of doing things but eventually they learned to embrace it.

    So coming down to the 21st century, Parents now have to learn how to embrace two men or two women in romance?

    Hmm... In my opinion that is not okay if it's for the sole purpose of romance and/or resources; it is a tangent from the original intention of Marriage. But if their parents find it in their hearts to embrace their journey, my heart will be filled with joy knowing that we can accept people for who they are.

    And please dont get me wrong, I still think Gay Marriage is incorrect but I believe Almighty God is the final judge.

    • Comment (02/02/2017, 16:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Almighty God as judged this sin...He said Do not Do it! God's wisdom is righteous, man's wisdom is flawed. (Yet God still loves us all.)
  • Hmph (02/02/2017, 13:03) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    A lot of yall keeping saying you don't want it to be apart of "our" culture. Just to let you know that it's just a service being provided. If you're not going to use it, why are you so mad about? As far as I know, Gay marriage is for same sex couples... Not heterosexual couples. If anyone should have a big say in this is the gay community. Ofcourse the heterosexuals are gonna cause a big uproar because it doesn't benefit them. Duh.
  • farmer (02/02/2017, 13:59) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    @know your history Did you "smoke" something? You said so much I beleive you had the whole j####t
  • vex (02/02/2017, 14:57) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    Half these anti gay comments are from gay people
  • Yes (02/02/2017, 15:53) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    My guess is "abomination"
  • student (02/02/2017, 17:17) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    lot of these people in the BVI like man!
  • jah know (03/02/2017, 10:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Legalize the weed, we dont want no seed to seed.
  • Quiet Syorm (03/02/2017, 15:38) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    A third economic pillar. Really! We need to wheel and come again. It may generate some revenue but how many will it employ? The VI needs economic diversification but this is not it. Is not the BVI a Christian nation and religious teachings are based on the Bible? Of course, there are other sins in the VI, i.e., adultry, lust.........etc. Nonetheless, homosexuality seems so unnatural. Just cannot imagine two old dirty bastards under the sheets and one driving some.w....d on the other. Eh! They cannot procreate. Yes, there gays and lesbians in the VI but keep that marriage thing off shore. No Sodom and Gomorrah.
  • @Quiet Syorm (03/02/2017, 19:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    @Quiet Syorm, did you mean Quiet Storm? You did not go there with that imagery:"Just cannot imagine two old dirty bastards under the sheets and one driving some.w....d on the other." You owe me for the dry cleaning for I spew maubie all over my expensive shirt, having read your comment. Lol! What is next? Two pancakes banging together. Y'all disgusting now. Keep it holy.
  • sda (03/02/2017, 21:13) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Remember what God Almighty did to Sodom and Gomorrah. Homosexuality is an" ABOMINATION ". So stop being wise in your own eyes and turn to Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
  • Hmm (04/02/2017, 23:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow!!! All of a sudden the "christian" community is looking at this as a THIRD!!!?? wow! Well if this isn't news!
  • trrefdrfds (05/02/2017, 22:34) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Not in the BVI. I will march all over Road Town and up country over the hills. Not here. Sodden and Gomorrah were destroyed for that. Don't place your sinful belief on me. Not here.
  • Respect to self (09/04/2017, 19:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    One again biggots minding other people business. Any loving adult couple should marry and love who they want. Christian God doesn't follow Jewish god, or Muslim, Rasta, Buddhist, or Hindu. Stop putting your religion on other people. If you care so much about marriage out law divorce. Anyone over child bearing age should not get married or if you are barron. Blacks and whites couldn't marry for generations. How about making that illegal again.

    Stop minding other people business and look in your own house. You gonna see real nastiness there


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