Minister Hodge accused of giving permit to millionaire to import monkeys
Lori Rymer is accusing the Minister Hon. Omar Hodge for giving permit to bring in Lemur monkeys to Mosquito Island.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – An aspiring politician is accusing the Minister for Natural Resources, Hon. Omar Hodge, of blatantly refusing several agencies’ advise and went ahead and granted United Kingdom millionaire, Sir. Richard Branson, a permit to “bring in lemur monkeys from Madagascar for Mosquito Island”.
This allegation levied against the Minister is from Lorie Rymer, the 9th district independent candidate contesting the 2011 general election.
Speaking with VINO in an exclusive interview on Friday February 4, 2011 the livid politician alleged that Hon. Hodge approved the document without the approval of his Cabinet colleagues.
Rymer also spoke out on the issue publicly on a local television talk show on Saturday evening February 5, 2011.
“Sir Richard Branson has just applied for a permit to import lemur monkeys from Madagascar to be brought in to Mosquito Island. The technical people in Agriculture have refused to approve it and so have the people from Conservation. Now these are people who have been trained and have studied biology. They told the Minister we can’t allow that, it is in contravention of our laws and these animals could bring a number of serious diseases that can be very harmful,” Mr.Rymer disclosed to VINO.
Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Hon. Omar Hodge.
He further stated, “But then the Minister himself Mr. Omar Wallace Hodge has taken it upon himself to approve the permit so they can bring in these animals, who are going to be a nuisance destroy the
flora and fauna of the island. We might even have some of them coming over to Virgin Gorda to wreak havoc.”
Mr. Rymer assured VINO the information he revealed was “without a question very reliable.”
Sir Branson, the owner of the 125 acre Mosquito Island, is believe to owe over $2.4M in stamp duty, and according to Mr. Rymer the entrepreneur’s lawyers found “a way not to pay” but is willing to
bring in the monkeys.
“In this case I wonder who is the baboon? The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) and the National Democratic Party (NDP) handled the Mosquito Island development very poorly,” Mr. Rymer charged.
The Ring tailed Lemur is one of the nearly 100 species of Lemurs. Photo: wikipedia
He questioned also when Mr. Branson will begin to develop the island under the original non-belonger’s permit. The 9th district candidate opined that the British millionaire is taking Virgin Islanders “for a bunch of fools, and he just wants to have the bragging rights that he owns two islands in the British Virgin Islands”.
VINO contacted the Conservation and Fisheries Department which offered no comments. Minister Hodge also had no comments to give on the allegations when contacted by VINO.
28 Responses to “Minister Hodge accused of giving permit to millionaire to import monkeys”
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So Lorie what are your plans for Mosquito Island? I hear a lot of noise from you but where are your solutions and plans?
wwwwwwooooooooooooo and thoes monkeys look so sweet and lovable…..
They look like furry tailed rats. Dont we have enough rats in this place.The minister should not have such power, we need to change or laws or soon there will be nothing left
Maybe if you clean your house you would not have so much rats…
HODGEE YOU SELLING WE OUT AGAIN
there the cookie jar man goes again not listening to he techical people…gosh man monekys we aint want them here
‘is taking Virgin Islanders “for a bunch of fools, and he just wants to have the bragging rights that he owns two islands in the British Virgin Islands”’
Yes, i’m sure that’s exactly what one of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs is concerned about, bragging rights. A man who has consistently made incredible efforts, very quietly, to do much to improve living conditions for some of the world’s poorest and most troubled people.
http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/243-richard-branson
If a minister has bypassed proper procedure, then he’s at fault, and should be held accountable, something which should happen here.
That’s no reason for a totally un-called for slander against a man who’s pumped a lot of money into the local economy and employs a lot of local people. And yes, there is development taking place on Mosquito, maybe Lori should go and check the facts before speaking.
You give a website of what he is doing (richard) but is any of this charity or helpfulness being done HERE IN THE BVI????????
This guy got so much freebees out of the VIP now he turn against them. Another tractor. If he was in some Middle Eastern country they would have cut his head off…..he lucky he in lil lil Tola
Yea he reminds me of funny man Myron Walwyn who got so much and bite the hand that feed he
the shameful part is how Branson is always on TV speaking about his paradise. look his company named after the very country, and he won’t even give back by creating a reliable virgin airline service in the BVI
keep from hating on the man boss
I really don’t understand how some people really think, one minute he’s about money and bragging rights then he don’t care to start and airline (which will be a asset and proffit to him) and then it just goes on. In my view this is a man that has visions and making way for them. I’m sure if any of you all wa in his position to buy islands you would do so, and possibly try to create that tropical atmosphere along with exotic animals. ( thanks to him alot of people know about us) If the bringing in of monkeys is such a bad thing and against our laws why not adress who approved that such thing instead of bashing a man that’s doing things? If your legislative leaders were not unbalanced and for the people we would have no such issues like this. No would mean NO!
laurie is just a trouble-maker …..dont even bother with him…..he needs people like saddam to deal with
Not so fast and they said he is Uncle Tilford only competition????
Sir Richard Branson has a charitable foundation called Mother nature Rocks that is trying to protect animals around the world that are in danger of being wiped out. In Africa he’s opening up new corridors for the wild animals to migrate giving elephants enough land to survive on. In India he’s working on saving the Tiger (there’s only 2800 left in the wild in the world). He’s done much to protect the Whale and the Dolphin. In the BVI he’s been reintroducing the Flamingos’ that were wiped out 100 years ago by man. He has bred over 250 of them and is working with the BVI Government in a plan to move some to other salt ponds in the BVI. In Madagascar he’s been trying to help save the Lemur (made famous in the film Madagascar as King Julian!) by moving some from zoos around the world and putting them in the rainforest on Moskito Island. In Madagascar the species is in danger of extinction due to the destruction of their habitat.
Sir Richard already arranges for groups of school children to visit Necker to see the giant tortoises, the flamingo ponds and the wild birds. He will most certainly do the same on Moskito Island.
Yours
Jean Oelwang
Director. Mother nature Rocks.
Just so you know…there is nothing even approaching ‘rainforst’ on Mosquito Island. It’s xeric scrubland.
First of all learn how to spell the word mosquito!…..Who cares what Richard is doing in other countries to save animals. Point is we are a small country and we cannot afford to bring such species here. Monkeys are animals that carry alot of diseases and brining them here would only reap havoc to all that come in contact with them. WE DON”T NEED MUSTLESS WANT NO MONKEYS in our country! Point Blank! Needless to say they coming from Africa!, well help me Jesus, looks like you all trying to wipe us out with AIDS and other infectious diseases with these monkeys.
Also, you say Richard holds field trips for students to see his tortoises and flamingo ponds? Is that all he can do? How much would he charge a local like me if I wanted to stay at Necker island for a night?, the same $53,000 as every one else. http://www.bing.com/travel/content/search?q=Expensive+Vacations:+Caribbean+Island+Rental&cid=msn1131800&form=TRVCON>1=4100
Let’s face it. Richard is already making millions off our country so brining monkeys here will NOT serve no purpose other than killing us out as far as I see. Maybe he just wants to kill us so he can buy out the rest of our islands. Food for thought!
If Richard wants to contribute to our country let him spend his money more wisely in things that will benefit the people and the country as a whole, not benefit his pocket!.
Thank you!
you seem to forget that Necker and Moskito (CORRECT spelling – check it yourself on a map) both pump tons of money into the local economy.
there are around 60 or so staff (big majority from VG) getting paid every week (that’s a lot of wages), all getting paid and spending their money locally.
every construction/improvevment project (and they’re always doing stuff) involves local construction people and workers
raw materials are shipped in using local shipping agents, and every material that can be sourced locally is done so from local firms
all food and wine that can be bought locally is done so.
basically Necker Hotel is a business like all the othe Virgin hotels, and costs fortune to run, it is not a license to print money, and if you had ever run similar businesse you might realise that. Massive amounts of the money spent running the place goes straight back into other LOCAL businesses…. you need to understand basic economics a bit better
surely it would make more sense to protect the lemur’s original habitat rather than introduce an alien species in an environment that is not meant for them.
Elephant are threatened also, would you consider introducing them to the BVI?
I am still trying to understand why our governments sold any of our islands….struppsss
Island Girl, your answer lies in the Bible. See 4 of the seven deadly sins, you will find it there!
Because they are A$$holes. They sold Necker island for $300,000 and he rents it out for $371,000 per week. Do the math.
“But then the Minister himself Mr. Omar Wallace Hodge has taken it upon himself to approve the permit so they can bring in these animals, who are going to be a nuisance destroy the
flora and fauna of the island. We might even have some of them coming over to Virgin Gorda to wreak havoc.”
Does the complaining Minister really believe that Mr. Branson would bring a species of animal to his island that would kill all the vegetation? Also Lemurs do not Swim they don’t even like to get wet, so how does he expect them to get to Virgin Gorda and create all that Havoc? Sometimes getting the information needed to make educated statements is necessary, in order to be taken seriously.
dumbo monkeys cant swim….so they wont endup on vg unless they stowaway on a boat or steal it and sail it away by themselves
Can Monkeys Swim?
Glad you asked…
Yes, monkeys can swim. Monkeys will swim, to get away, from their enemies. Some monkeys like to swim, by jumping from the trees, into the water.
judilbug4, Answers Expert
First of all lemurs are… lemurs, they are not monkeys. And second, I’m sure they will have no problem getting to the other islands. There is a farming town in southwest Puerto Rico that has been dealing with an introduced pest for the last decade or so: MONKEYS. Monkeys that were being used for research on a little island off the coast of that farming town. Despite being “caged” monkeys, they found their way to the mainland, and are now sadly being hunted as pests. WHY? Because of some human idiot. I understand Sir Richard Branson has done a lot of good for the world. But sometimes even good people make stupid decisions. That is why regulating agencies, with people who know what they’re talking about, should be allowed to do their job.
Lorie, you are absolutely right. How can this be called an ecoresort, when the plan is TOTALLY DISREGARDING the BVI’s native flora and fauna. Mr. Branson also intends to replace much of the native flora with tropical rainforest trees….I wonder how he will provide enough water. And people actually buy his “Ecoresort” label! It makes me angry that people can’t see through the smoke and mirrors. Furthermore the ring-tailed lemur is one of the most common lemurs in the world. If he wants to do conservation, why not work with a rare species!!