There is a fear of losing our country – Edju En Ka
He expressed this opinion on the Umoja talk show which was aired on August 30, 2012 on a local radio station.
“There is this fear in our community, among Virgin Islanders that we are losing our country,” the host expressed. “I believe it's a real fear.”
The host also felt that there is an integral role for government to play in allaying that fear, stating that in examining the role of government, he found that there was lack of effective law enforcement.
“The feeling that I get is that, the persons that are charged with representing us are somehow not enforcing those laws.”
Smith further questioned the reasons that would make Virgin Islanders express a fear of “losing [their] homeland.”
“The Constitution,” he noted, “states that all Virgin Islanders are afforded certain rights and privileges; it doesn't discriminate between indigenous Virgin Islanders and other Virgin Islanders.”
Locals, he thought could assuage their fears in the knowledge that there are laws that protect Virgin Islanders.
In examining a ratio of the population figures as well as those of the registered voters at the last elections, he felt that although there were less than 50% of locals that made up the current population, which places Virgin Islanders in a clear minority, they are essentially still the ones that hold the political power.
From this he noted, it is clear that, “[they] are the only ones that can vote.”
“The power is still there...for us to wield, to maintain our policy of life and not to have that policy of life [destroyed] and taken away from us.”
Smith believed that a sense of responsibility needed to be instilled in order for the country to be maintained for locals and those that come to live among us.
Co-host of the show, Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru, also felt that persons needed to recognize that, after being a part of the electoral process for some decades now, we are the ones responsible for putting rules in place such as those that govern the Immigration Department, and also for ensuring the enforcement of these rules.
Sowande felt that when these rules were not being enforced, “we have to look to our legislators.”
In doing so, we also have to look to ourselves because we have elected those legislators “time after time.
The hosts continued by discussing the need for holding politicians accountable, asking what was being done to ensure necessary skills are transferred and laws are being used to protect all.
One caller on the programme felt that “If we don't respect [our] own law[s] who will respect it?"
Another caller thought that an understudy programme should have been instituted so that skills could be transferred to mitigate what he agreed was essentially an immigration issue.
He believed the ball was dropped in the trade licensing arena as well.
The caller contended that if the country wanted to appear as leaders in the financial, political and other arenas around the Caribbean then, "we gotta start over and get this thing right."
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24 Responses to “There is a fear of losing our country – Edju En Ka”
Without a doubt there is genuine, gripping fear held by Virgin Islanders that they are losing control of the social, political, cultural and economic affairs in the territory. There are a number of emperical facts that are fuelling t
his fear. First, expats now outnumber the local population. Second, they are outnumbered and poorly represented in certain key skill areas. Third, see they expat holding positions that Virgin Islanders at our stage of development should be easily occupying and performing effectively. Fourth, they see Virgin Islanders with expat parents being elected to the HOA; this is a fait occompli. These are but a few issues that are driving the fear. Moreover, the fear being exhibited by Virgin Islanders is not unusual. It is typically human behaviour that is exhibited in developed and in developing countries. Fear is a natural and normal emotion that should not rule us. Instead, we should use it to motivate us.
Further, the fear is real. And as Sowande and Edju En Ka noted government action or inaction played a role in getting the territory into this divisive and unhealthy position. However, locals also played a role in cultivating the condition. How so? We contributing by not effectively preparing to take full advantage of the rising economic growth and development. We continue to choose soft skills and not the hard skills demanded by economic development. We are not holding elected officials responsible and accountable. We demand and expect too much bending of rules, deviation from policies and political patronage. We focus on short-term interest and not enough on long-term interest.
There is increasing opportunity in the BVI. But opportunity does not matter if one does not prepare for, value and take advantage of the opportunity. Preparing and taking advantage of the opportunity starts and continues with effective education and training. Thus far the BVI has done less than a stellar job in effectively investing in its human capital. We got drunk on a little success and let forest burn due to a heavy focus on the weeds. The little things are important
but progress requires a holistic, system approach. Lets reboot and get a positive grip on this unhealthy fear.
We can blame and blame everyone else but at the end of the day it is WE who have messed this situation up, and most of the reasons are in Diaspora's post.
Question is, what are we going to do about it? Time to start bettering ourselves, not just grabbing what we can.
I hear financial services is eing taught in the schools, but I cannot understand why because there will be no jobs left for them if action is not taken soonest.
Is Virgin Islanders fear of ceding control of the BVI real? And if so what are they doing to diminish that fear and regain control of their homeland? Moreover, when one is confronted with an issue or problem, one can either fight or flight. If Virgin Islanders are truly and genuinely engrossed in fear of losing control and influence in their homeland, they need to fight (not literally) vigorously to regain control for the current, as well as future generations, of Virgin Islanders. They need to craft a plan and work the plan. This plan must include as a core element education and training. Without achieving a critical mass in effective education and training, Virgin Islanders will not win the war to regain control and crush the fear.
Often times expats are at the tip of spear in regards to Virgin Islanders losing control of the country. Well, lets examine what really happened. Starting in the mid 1960's, the BVI'S economy transformed itself from a subsistence agriculture economy to the current twin towers of the economy---tourism and financial services. The BVI currently enjoys one of the highest standard of living and quality of life in the region; its per capital income is~$38K with an~$1B GDP. The BVI experienced exponential economic growth and had to import labour to meet the growing demand. Though the economy experienced rapid economic growth, economic development did not keep pace with economic growth. Specifically, we probably under invested in the human capital needed to meet the new labour demand. This under investment resulted in having to recruit skilled personnel from throughout the Caribbean and elsewhere. Another factor, in addition to the small population and ineffective education and training, that contributed to skill shortage was the emigration of Virgin Islanders to the US. Moreover, economic growth was not effectively followed by infrastructure, social, cultural and environmental growth.
Clearly expat labour was needed to fill a labour shortage and meet the growing demand for both skilled and unskillled labour. In hindsight could our labour needs have been managed more effectively? Perhaps. Nonetheless, expats came and are still coming; all roads seem to lead into the BVI and at last report there were scores of different nationalities in the BVI. Expat contributed to the growth and development. Some may argue that they were compensated for their work effort. Nevertheless, they still made positive contribution. And many have established deep roots in the BVI. This deepening of roots and integration into the society is not unusual for immigrants. There are many instances of this throughout the Caribbean and elsewhere. This is evident in the USVI, North Africa, UK, Southwest USA, Southern Florida........etc.
Virgin Islanders do not need to live in fear. They need to efrctively the leverage they possessed inspite of bring outnumbered.
Section 12 of the Constitution makes provision for equal rights and justice for all virgin islanders and all residents of the virgin islands.look at the message-not the messanger.
Our Constitution declares in sub-section 1."Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.
Sub-section 2 declares "Subject to such limitations as are prescribed by law,equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms.
In my own interpretation,with the law on right to own lands etc..in the BVI,the indigenous virgin islander must continue to show those people in authority that the legislators need to amend some of the old laws in respect of owning lands etc.. in the BVI.Over the years,expats and locals have developed good relationships-to a point where we have sacramental unification of marriages between locals and expats.So this is already spiritual unity,and there is social unity between expats and locals.I don't believe that virgin islanders are fearful of losing their country to outsiders:I just believe that virgin islanders need to know their rights under our Constitution,and stand up for these rights.And if they have a rightful ownership to something in the BVI,go and get it,based using the law which gives you ownership.Don't allow another person who has no right to it take it from you,then blame that person for taking it. In most instances,priority is given to the virgin islander.Brother Cromwell,thanks for this article,giving persons the opportunity to express their Constitutional views on this topic.The topic is not about you.May the good lord continue to bless you.One love in god's name.