Natalio D. Wheatley responds to controversial BVI News article
On Wednesday August 17, 2016, on my radio show, “Things to Talk,” I made comments which were reported on by various news outlets. These news reports on my comments were not received well by a sizable number of people. Some will see my response to these news reports and their comments as damage control, but those who know me understand that I am not afraid of criticism.
Some have even mentioned that people will not vote for me in the future, but I have never valued votes over truth and justice. I have been criticised before, and I am sure I will be criticised again, but what prompted me to respond were the concerns of a few people whose opinions are very valuable to me. Also, I was being associated with traits that could not be further from my character, such as hatefulness, divisiveness and the like. Therefore, I will clarify my comments and engage in a broader conversation that many of our leaders are afraid of but which remains necessary.
Unity not division
Firstly, I will deal with this idea that I am hateful and divisive. My life’s journey illustrates that this is not the reality. Some of the closest persons to me are migrants from other countries. My son and daughter are of mixed heritage. My heroes, like Marcus Garvey, Maurice Bishop, and Walter Rodney are from different Caribbean countries. I have promoted black unity everywhere I have gone, and I am proud to say that I have people of all races as my friends. I have actively worked towards the goal of Caribbean unity, probably, more than most in these islands. Even during my radio show when my controversial comments were made, I acknowledged that it was Marcus Garvey’s birthday, and I remained committed to his vision of black unity; I also spoke of celebrating Caribbean culture during our emancipation festival.
Locals have rights
I am also a passionate defender of the rights of locals. I take a lot of criticism for defending local employees, local businesses, and local culture. It has become popular to denigrate, defame, and disparage locals. However, I am proud of the many immigrants who have respected local culture, partnered with us in building the territory, and recognised the rights of locals. It is more than possible to support Caribbean unity and respect the rights of locals at the same time. These are not mutually exclusive.
Immigration management
Immigration is a phenomenon that must be managed, and I do not think that our leaders have done a good job in this area for the last few decades. You cannot import a huge segment of the population in a very short period of time and not expect tensions to arise. The problems that many immigrants and locals describe and find painful are a direct result of unmanaged immigration. People must be sensitised to what is the appropriate behavior in a specific country. They must be given clear information about the do’s and don’ts of residence in a new country. Some things are obvious, and some deserve an open-minded conversation and debate, but it would certainly be unfair to blame immigrants for any action perceived as inappropriate, if it hasn’t been clearly communicated by the leaders of the society.
Emancipation Celebration
This brings me to my specific comments. BVINEWS began quoting me in the middle of a sentence, did not give proper context for my comments, and wrote a headline, which was not a good representation of the point I was making. My main point was that the VI Emancipation Festival should be about emancipation and VI culture. In my opinion, this is not a radical idea. I challenge anyone to show me a country outside of the Virgin Islands that promotes VI culture and history. This doesn’t apply to pan-Caribbean celebrations, such as Caribana in Toronto, Memorial Day Carnival in Atlanta, Nottingham Carnival in London, Labour Day Carnival in New York, and Miami Carnival. Every Caribbean country puts their culture and history on display during their emancipation celebrations. Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Grenada, and others are not afraid of their local culture, and if you go to their celebrations, you can expect to get that first and foremost, but, for whatever reason, our government does not have confidence that all nationalities will be attracted to the village to participate in local culture and celebrate local history.
Caribbean Music Festival
VI emancipation celebration has become like a Caribbean music festival. I have no problem with music festivals. I actually love artists from Jamaica, Trinidad, St Vincent, and the Dominican Republic. But I constantly ask myself, “What does this have to do with our emancipation celebration? How do these performances revere the incredible achievements of our ancestors?” Everyone can acknowledge that the answer is simple: these events have nothing to do with emancipation, and, given our ancestors’ great sacrifice, I think it is a shame.
Flags
Now under the current format, we contract artists to perform from various countries in hopes that the residents from these countries would attend. This is done primarily for money, and migrants CANNOT BE BLAMED FOR THIS. They do exactly what our government and committee expect them to do, which is to come and support these artists. When they come, they wave their flags, and I must be very clear, I never blamed any national from any country for this. It is completely appropriate for non-nationals to wave flags at what is essentially a music festival. I proposed during my radio show that a different approach from this music festival be taken, and I doubt that anyone would be waving flags at the freedom-focused event I am proposing. This flag waving phenomenon is directly tied to the Caribbean music festival format, which private promoters can take responsibility for throughout the year.
Bless those that curse you
Some people used this opportunity to attack me personally. They questioned my competence and angrily used words as weapons. Luke 6:28 says, “Bless those who curse you.” I think this is a much better practice than “an eye for an eye.” With that said, God bless all of those who disagreed, even those who were quite vicious. My back is broad, and I can respond with kindness.
Disappointingly, some used the opportunity to denigrate, defame, and disparage the territory. They spoke about the festival being nothing without expats; they called our local music noise; and spoke about our “smallness.” Others said that the VI would not survive without them, and that they built the territory.
Study History & be Humble
I will remind all those persons that not many other nationalities were here in the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s when things were tough. People like Theodolph Faulkner, Glanny Fonseca, and Carlton DeCastro were the ones who fought for local representation; people like Howard Penn, J.R. O’neal, Charles Bruce, J.O. Georges, and others provided leadership to the community; visionaries like H.L. Stoutt, Willard Wheatley, Cyril Romney, and others put us on the path to success. Now, people from all over the world can come here to experience a better life. Be humble and give the proper appreciation to those that made it possible.
Build the VI
And to those who claim to have built the VI, you did not work for free. Actually, the true test of commitment to a country or territory is what you are willing to do without being paid for it. Now I ask, how many migrants promote VI culture and history? How many respect the traditions? How many promote the protection of local businesses? How many people take interest in local affairs? I personally know many expats who volunteer, participate in service organisations, give more than is required on their jobs without compensation, and help to build local institutions. I celebrate them for helping to build the VI. To all others, locals and expats, I challenge you to do the same.
Responsible Reporting
In closing, I will also issue a challenge to the members of the media. Writing stories that stoke the expat vs. local conflict will certainly get you hits that will attract advertisers, but will it help the territory? These issues can be reported in such a way that mutual understanding can be the result. The story was written in such a way as to achieve maximum shock and awe. We all have a responsibility to solve the problem of disunity in our community. This is a part of building the VI. I am certainly committed, and for the good of the territory, I pray others are too.
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12 Responses to “Natalio D. Wheatley responds to controversial BVI News article”
Expats need to respect and care for these beautiful islands and its people and Locals need to respect and appreciate those of us who genuinely care about this place and are helping to build it. The more unity we have, the more powerful we will be. One Love.
But as you say, many expats love these islands and contribute a great deal. It is not easy to do that in the face of constant xenophobia and being made to live year on year on a work permit even after ten, fifteen, even more years so that people's whole careers, their economic lives and family lives are invested here, when they ought to be provided some for of security. This is not just for the benefit of those expats but also for this country. Of course we have finite infrastructure and resources and need to manage things so that local opportunities are there but it is only by retaining the best talent here and having them vested in this country that these opportunities abound. We can't support half a million people but we do need to grow the economy and the population. All they seem to get is difficulties and requests for more money and more volunteering, whereas legally they can be asked to leave within a matter of months. Expats, particularly in financial services, do enthusiastically given their time and money for a range of causes nonetheless but hey, be fair. Don't make them waste time visiting labor and immigration every single year. Let them own property and open businesses and change jobs because this is what happens in life. Let them have leading schools and healthcare, decent water and electricity and some first world amenities - notice that these are items that most locals would wish to have - more importantly - as well. See, we all want the same opportunities.
We are dealing with severe pressure and contraction in financial services which, like it or not, pays for the BVI to run. Other countries have had leaders pander to local xenophobic rhetoric and have chased away their important industries leading to high local unemployment, plummeting living standards and high crime.
It is time for the politicians, the laws and the local consensus to readdress "one BVI", readdress immigration and trade and business licensing to attract the best people in who can innovate and create wealth and opportunity here, create the conditions where locals have genuinely high quality training and education and genuinely varied and meaningful career opportunities. We should be competing to attract and retain the best talent in financial services, and welcoming them, getting our kids to emulate them by going to the world's best schools, otherwise we will find that it simply moves elsewhere along with all of the money and job opportunities that go with it. Look at the mistakes others have made. Look at Bermuda and Cayman and their growing incorporations and funds and captives markets and contrast to our recent significant decline and see how the US wants to browbeat our clients up to Wyoming and Delaware and how the Channel Islands, Mauritius, Seychelles, Singapore and Hong Kong also want to take the business we have, even if some of them are also our clients. And they want our key people. Act before it is too late.
Now you are suggesting that government open the flood gates. I think and you know the result will be the same as everywhere. The people with the resources will oppress the others. I mean one of the people from the group you are representing have even suggested that the government allow the Chineese to come in and be given an area in the BVI, like Wickhams Cay, in a totally exclusive arrangement so that they can develp wealth here.
Bear in mind the people of whom you speak came here because they saw an opportunity to improve themselves, lets be honest. I live here because it is my home. The financial services were already here when they came. There are key players who helped set up this opportunity to gain wealth. Look around, they are all citizen to the best of my knowledge, not just because of the role they played but they had a genuine interest and did not denigrate the people of this country. Lots of other well meaning expats live amongst us happily and have made great contributions
But I think that government cannot just open the gates as you are suggesting. This is a small island and they need to consider their own people's welfare first. Look at what is happening in the US. I think government will like to satisfy every law abiding person in the BVI, as they have been doing over the years, but that is not feasible, just as I think BVI Islanders cannot just go to any country and get what you are asking for. So please be balanced and practical in your comments.
If you want to see the writing on the wall look at the financial news re BVI and the FSC and work permit stats. We can save it but it requires some effort all round.
Saying they just came here to do better is moot, just as Locals go off island for university and for work. And the very point is that they can go, with their clients, elsewhere if they are encouraged to. And no, many who have been here decades have no BVI status at all. Contrast with our competitors where those who were expats are naturalised and "allowed" to spend their hard earned resources in the local economy rather than swanning off to Spend it elsewhere, as well as to mentor the new generations coming through and act as advocates for the jurisdiction.