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‘We can’t sit back & let the Brits take over again’- Radio show caller

From left: The Commissioner of Police Michael ‘Mick’ Matthews, Superintendent of Prisons Mr David Foot and incoming Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Kim Hollis QC are all UK nationals. Photo: VINO/Internet Source
UK national Mr Phil Sharman will fill the post of Auditor General in August 2017. Photo: Provided
UK national Mr Phil Sharman will fill the post of Auditor General in August 2017. Photo: Provided
Talk show host and retired civil servant Mr Doug Wheatley has reserved his comment about the many UK nationals being appointed to powerful positions in the Virgin Islands civil service. Photo: VINO/File
Talk show host and retired civil servant Mr Doug Wheatley has reserved his comment about the many UK nationals being appointed to powerful positions in the Virgin Islands civil service. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The issue of United Kingdom nationals taking up top positions in the Virgin Islands (VI) was expressed by a disgruntled caller to the Speak out BVI show aired Tuesday June 6, 2017 on ZBVI 780 AM.

Nevertheless, a dissatisfied resident voiced his frustration to Doug Wheatley, host of Speak out BVI, about persons from the United Kingdom coming into the territory and being placed in high powered positions.

“Some time ago I called you concerning the way things are going in our country, where it relates to the appointment of these, outsiders, I call them. Today, I heard that Neil Smith is on vacation and I also heard a rumour that he is not coming back. Therefore, our financial secretary will be taken over by someone from Britain again.”

The caller stated that he is very scared because too many persons from Britain are coming in the territory and taking over all of the top positions.

“If we have a system that we voted for the government, having this government put in place and then in some way being control by these outside persons, something just is not right about it.”

Something has to be done

According to the distraught resident, something just has to be done “because we can’t sit back and let the Brits just come and take us over again. We can’t do it. This is why I asked persons like you, who been around for a long time and have quite a lot of knowledge in that area, where you see us going.”

The caller urged Mr Wheatley to give his views on the matter and asked for solutions that can help the country from going back to the colonial days.

In response to the caller’s worries, Mr Wheatley remarked, “my comment is going to last an hour and a half. I’m going to have a special show where I deal with that but I haven’t forgotten you at all.”

Can’t be justified

The caller to the Speak out BVI talk show suggested that people are using the behaviour of the government to justify why persons from the United Kingdom are taking up the top positions in the territory.

According to the caller, “Personally I don’t think nothing happening to the government to justify why they sending in these guys from the UK to come here and look over us. I don’t see it. There must be some other checks and balances that can be made without having these so called guys come in and just watching our every move and running our system.”

The caller continued, “We send away all kind of people to the best universities and they’re back here….. Why do we need them (British), they’re not better than us. Come to think about it they have a lot of problems themselves. They have problems in their own systems. Who is going to be called to look over theirs? That’s why I said something needs to be done.”

The talk show host said that he is fully aware of what the caller is saying and he has prepared a response but as he stated before it will take an entire show. Additionally, he will take the point of view from a historical position on the matter.

The Head of the Prison Services, Director of Public Prosecutions, Police Commissioner and incoming Auditor General are all United Kingdom nationals.

29 Responses to “‘We can’t sit back & let the Brits take over again’- Radio show caller”

  • Brit (07/06/2017, 19:50) Like (33) Dislike (24) Reply
    Think of independence. You want to use the UK passport and you do not want them to run the show?
    so sad, so sad.
    • island man (08/06/2017, 19:33) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      I will like the BVI to take charge of their own affairs but to be honest this Government is just too corrupt. For instance, why are we digging-up the road in East End every year and why are we not paving the road in a professional manner. Just to much corruption to support family and friends. Ok, so let the British enslave we a-s ah second time.
  • 1 (07/06/2017, 19:51) Like (40) Dislike (6) Reply
    all we need to do is get rid of the NDP then we good
  • legal team (07/06/2017, 19:53) Like (32) Dislike (11) Reply
    When are we [Virgin Islanders] going to accept and understand,from a constitutional observation,and the british nationality act,that the virgin islands belongs to Her Majesty-The Queen,of Greatt Britiain and Northern Island;and britons will always have top positions in Her Majesty's BVI. We [virgin islanders] belongs to the virgin islands,the virgin islands does not belong to us.It belongs to the Queen of England..
    • Well (07/06/2017, 20:20) Like (10) Dislike (6) Reply
      @legal team. We had better work towards changing that before we end up like Haiti when they did get themselves from under the French.
  • Time to get serious. (07/06/2017, 19:59) Like (28) Dislike (3) Reply
    We have qualify people at home and abroad squeezed out of all kind of top positions because of favoritism, nepotism, croonism, status by names and along unspeakable class structure growing up, the house nigger vs the field nigger division, and yes, some instances by pure wickedness.

    Something must give...that's all I have to say.
    • Blame HR Managers! (08/06/2017, 11:19) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ Time to get serious - I concur wholeheartedly - that is the crux of the matter! I have long held that in the BVI we manufacture one thing - WEALTH for certain connected individuals and their cronies/families. That is why we have a brain drain in ALL aspects of BVI society; with the old guards ensuring by any means necessary that individual thinkers and qualified persons are not to achieve what THEY (elitists) have conjured up for themselves and associates. The class structure being pushed on us daily is the work of these Uncle/Aunt Toms that want to preserve their status quo. The revolution is on its way and the rebels will take that which belongs to the people back from the hands of these vile faux reps. and their minions!
  • tola (07/06/2017, 20:05) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    My comments is we elected a governments that was to do a good job so if these minister leading us in big trouble I guest there is where the UK will step in so I think ayo should blame this government for waisting people's hard working tax Dallas an jus blowing it doing nonsense
  • We too blame.. (07/06/2017, 20:45) Like (38) Dislike (3) Reply
    Stop blaming the Brits, or the whites.or the expats. We are the one doing it to ourselves... The greed, the oppression of our own from our own...Anyone of you work in a company with all black managers... Trust me, don't pray for it, its a prison camp, a slave house....if we want to play the blame and insecure game, let's start with us..
  • Jacperlance (07/06/2017, 20:48) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
    That caller got to be one ignorant fool just braying like a jackass. You want to do something about it, encourage your leaders to go independence. As long as we are a territory of Britain, then they will always dictate the pace and there is nothing we can do about it. Some of these callers just showing how backwards they are.
  • Brrritishh! (07/06/2017, 20:55) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    Oh!, all of a sudden. TOO LATE NOW!. we done already shot each other dead.
  • lone one (07/06/2017, 21:25) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    the older heads think them to old to listen to the young ..freemdom of speech is what this place need not more tag along everybody have some thing to bring to the table remember the the youth of today is young an routhless .... freedom or speech smart guys
  • Curly (07/06/2017, 22:18) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    It is sad that there people in the BVI with this mindset. What century do we live in. Everyone contributing to a society makes a successful one. I
  • belonger (07/06/2017, 22:54) Like (17) Dislike (9) Reply
    These Virgin islands belongs to us Virgin Islanders, and we must be in charge of it, although it is owned by Britain, this is not slavery and we ain't going back there, we have nowhere else to go but the VI. We should fight tooth and nail to preserve it for us and our younger generation to come. Britain must understand this.
  • liberal (08/06/2017, 00:19) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
    However, if the people of the BVI continue to sit on them backside and unite for a good cause to get the NDP out of office by March down to the Governor's Office demanding a dissolution of the HOA so that we can get a better set off people to work for us the people... Guys some good people to give us the representation we deserve and get those jokes out who are playing with our freedom our past reps worked hard for.. For starters I can see us giving chances to Dancia, Collin, Carl, Titley-O'Neal from the college, Marlon, Alvera, Mr. Flax, Fraser, and a few more I wouldn't mention but for you to come up with.. We need a team for the people and country.. HELP US Oh LORD!!!
  • bad (08/06/2017, 05:19) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
    Yes so why you want to have the U K Passport and you don't want them to come and work in your country ? Think about that just saying
    • Comepeople (08/06/2017, 10:29) Like (9) Dislike (7) Reply
      Listen, BAD, Virgin Islanders did not ask for no friggin UK passports. We used to go where we want without that passport. The Brits do not give nothing for nothing. They are a chip off the Colonizers. They can't help themselves. We never used to run to UK to live; we more went to the US. This is a decision that we will have to make as a people. The UK's aim is to take this country from us clandestinely. They will send their people, put them in positions and then flatly 'frig' us. We been pussy-footing with the UK for too long. What the hell did Britain give to us in the past 40 years? A prison and that's it. This is a vexing matter. Virgin Islanders must not fear; get up and remove ourselves from the UK. They left EU; we must leave them too. It is leave or return to slavery, and slavery we are not going back to. Unite, Virgin Islanders.
  • Lord O... (08/06/2017, 06:39) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    Let's wait and see the out come. Stop jumping the gun...they may just stop the ship from sinking and save us from drowning...
  • JayEm (08/06/2017, 07:19) Like (21) Dislike (11) Reply
    Let them come!! BVIslanders are too prideful. Want to be incompetent and in charge at the same time. Let them take over. Restore some order in this God forsaken place. And to the people commenting... stop chatting foolishness about independence. To do what??? Starve???? As much as we borrow from the queen and import goods and services from other countries??? We cannot afford it. I want to know who the hell put this independence dream in alla yall heads all of a sudden.
    • Not independent (08/06/2017, 17:31) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Amen!! We would cave in and collapse if we became independent anytime soon. We are not ready. The leadership in this country is far from ready. It is such a struggle right now and we aren't independent, imagine if we were...
  • Boo (08/06/2017, 09:20) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    Doug and the other commenter are quite disingenuous. Doug as a former Civil Servant well know how these appointments take place. After several levels of vettings and interviews by panels made up solely of Virgin Islanders and Belonger a recommendation is made to the PSC. The PSC again is solely made up Virgin Islanders who then pass a recommendation on to the Governor. The Governor is then effectively a rubber stamp unless something has gone dreadfully wrong which then will result in the whole process starting over. At this stage everything goes back to the same Virgin Islanders to generate another recommendation.

    Listen up. These decision are being made by Virgin Islanders who are repeatedly throwing their own locals under the bus while using the Governor as a scapegoat. Wake up!
  • Stoptalking (08/06/2017, 10:31) Like (12) Dislike (7) Reply
    Why does the person have to be a UK national to fill the post if there aren't any Virgin Islanders? Can't we find a Caribbean National? These white faces are reminding us of the Colonial era. If they don't stop frigging us up in these Virgin Islands, Barry say, "you will hear." We are not going to talk much longer.
  • wize up (08/06/2017, 11:00) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    At the end of the day; can we in all honesty and sincerity prevent the UK from doing what they wish in this territory: take a look at your passport:there is a line in my passport "British Overseas territories: UK reserve the right to infiltrate however our leaders have to do far better: the 60s were good: the 70s were good: the 80s got better: the 90s got better: here we are in 20s with a host of issues and who to blame(our own people)....leadership really matters
    • @ wize up (08/06/2017, 12:11) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      Exactly. Ppl complaining about British powers overtaking us, but what are our legislators doing to lead us? We could stand to benefit from some External force and guidance. Ppl in this country don't know what they want.
      • Boo (09/06/2017, 11:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        These decision are made by local people sitting in Ministries in the Government Service.
  • JON (08/06/2017, 12:36) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    About time people start to wake up. This place is being run plantation style.
  • Not independent (08/06/2017, 17:27) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    This person speaking as if we are an independent country and we are not currently under Britain "those outsiders". Think of it as a situation when a parent allows a child to do something on their own and after several attempts and over a period of time you the parent realizes that the child continues to make a muck of things, you the parent step in and assist so it does not all go to waste.
    We are so quick to judge and oppose change, perhaps that narrow mindedness and dictatorship attitude is what's bringing them in.
  • Corruption (09/06/2017, 08:47) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Too much friend friend in our country when it comes to these important jobs. Locals take it over and is pure corruption throughout.
  • BitterPill (09/06/2017, 20:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    You can say goodbye to the UK if you wish, but then you say goodbye to your UK passport too. Totally independent, that's what you want isn't it? You want these local crooks running the show, squandering your tax money by over-paying for contracts to 'family' contractors, spending millions on international property so your elite class can enjoy vacations in New York and London whilst the plebs argue and bicker over food and water. They already do all of that by the way, so just imagine what it would be like if they were free from the UKs watchful eye, free to empty your pockets for their own greedy needs. It would be a disaster. As Bvislanders your identity is diminishing as it becomes more Spanish. This has nothing to do with British expats or British workers in top positions. It has everything to do with the mentality of a lot of people here: starts with r and ends with ist.


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