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VI needs to realise value of its ‘natural resources’- Radio commentators

Talk show host Mr Cromwell Smith aka Edju Enka and retired civil servant and businessman John Samuel believe that unless more Virgin Islands see the value of the territory’s ‘natural resources’ they will never reap the maximum benefits. Photo: VINO/File
Talk show host Cromwell Smith aka Edju Enka (right) and retired civil servant and businessman John Samuel. Photo: VINO/GIS
Talk show host Cromwell Smith aka Edju Enka (right) and retired civil servant and businessman John Samuel. Photo: VINO/GIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Rejecting the popular saying that the Virgin Islands (VI) lack natural resources, talk show host Cromwell Smith aka Edju Enka and retired civil servant and businessman John Samuel believe that unless more Virgin Islands see the value of the territory’s ‘natural resources’ they will never reap the maximum benefits.

The men were making the point on the weekly programme Umoja, on ZBVI 780 AM on Thursday August 25, 2016.

Mr Samuel shared the view that better planning and execution of the VI’s tourism-based economy will be realised once the value of these natural resources of these islands are recognised.

According to him, it is said that the territory is void of natural resources, when in fact, the populace is not aware of what they are exporting to the thousands who flock these islands.

“The BVI has tremendous natural resources and I think one of the faults of BVIslanders is that we don’t know what we charge, we don’t know what we exporting,” he said.

“We see hundreds of thousands of people come into the BVI and we don’t appreciate what they come into the BVI for and as soon as we realise the value of that natural resources I think we will be able to plan and execute our tourism-based economy much better, be able to manage it, to achieve higher aims from it.”

The businessman added that VI is trying hard to fit in when it was “born to stand out.”

“We seem to forget it and when we forget it we stray off and try to compete with other destinations that don’t come close. So we try to play their game and we don’t even realise that we have a different ball,” he remarked.

Also adding his voice to the topic, host of the show Cromwell Smith suggested that the uniqueness of these islands needs to be packaged and sold on the global stage.

“When we say we don’t have natural resources these things are our natural resources. Just as you cannot use rubber or copper out of the ground, you cannot use our sun, beaches and trade winds… without making it into a final product. You put a value to it, you package that product, and you sell it internationally.”

9 Responses to “VI needs to realise value of its ‘natural resources’- Radio commentators”

  • talk is cheap (29/08/2016, 17:32) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    money buy land.
    • my 2 cents (29/08/2016, 21:59) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      some of them have many elements of lengthy and unsuccessful record.
  • By Example (29/08/2016, 17:38) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    What are the comentators doing about the issues they speaking of?
    • Billfargo (31/08/2016, 17:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Talking about it! Do you really understand what they are talking about? That is the question that you need to ask yoursel.
  • ccc (29/08/2016, 18:12) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Please!
  • Street reporter (29/08/2016, 21:52) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    The BVI has alot of things. National song, National Dress, We need a national word. That will be "Greed" there lies all of our troubles and problems...
  • Go into politics (30/08/2016, 00:19) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lots of vague terms you got there, Mr. Samuel. What are these natural resources you are talking about and how can we exploit them?

    I'm not asking this to be patronizing but truly I'm not understanding where you are going with your point. You need to clarify yourself.
  • Boo (30/08/2016, 07:24) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    John making his bid to get into politics?
  • Who Can save us. (30/08/2016, 07:33) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    The No. 1 resource of any country is its children. This country did nothing and is doing nothing meaningful for our children... Where by other poor countries are giving free hot lunch to their children and free or minimal cost day child day care .. This country that was once prosperous didn't see the need to invest in its children the nutrition and care children needed....No Vision. Selfish. .Greedy .Ungodly. Thats why we are curse and sinking now because when God gave us plenty we didn't spread it around fairly and invest wisely..Now we need a savior.


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