Minister Hodge confirms Lemurs’ arrival
Some nine ring tailed Lemurs have arrived in the Territory.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Hon. Omar Hodge has confirmed with VINO that nine Lemurs have arrived in the Territory for Sir Richard Branson’s Moskito Island.
“They are here and they went through the proper channels,” the Minister told VINO. The Lemurs arrived on Wednesday May 11 and is nine of the 30 that Sir Richard has gotten permission to bring to his island.
The Lemur saga first reached the public domain by VINO following an exclusive interview with 9th District Candidate Lorie Rymer who had disclosed of the permission granted to have the Lemurs on Moskito Island.
The topic has since been widely debated both locally and internationally and several concerns have surfaced regarding Lemurs and environmental concerns for the Virgin Islands.
However, Minister Hodge told VINO, “Sir Richard Branson – A man who is as British as the Queen is British, he will not come here to mess up the country.”
“I cannot afford to go down that road, we have to have the providers to keep these Virgin Islands going, this man (Sir Richard) if he got 12 Lemurs, he will have 12 doctors for them,” Minister Hodge explained referring to the treatment and precautions that Sir Richard Branson will take with the primates.
On February 14, 2011 on VIP radio programme, Let’s Talk, Minister Hodge had explained that he visited the island and disclosed the lemurs “are not going to be anywhere else but on that island. They are afraid of water so they can’t cross the waters it is obvious so I said why not it is tourism. They talk about rabies and these sorts of things, dogs carry rabies, cats carry rabies. So I didn’t see any problem with that once he is going to keep them there and they lie in the trees and lie in the bed right next to visitors. If they love animals so I don’t see a problem for giving permission for them to go to his islands”.
In an Associated Press interview, Sir Richard had said he hopes to find a way to address concerns of critics who fear the non-native primates will harm local birds and lizards. He said he plans to start with the relatively common ring-tailed lemurs, which he is acquiring from zoos in Africa, Sweden and Canada, but hopes to eventually have more than a dozen species on Moskito.
“Maybe in time we could find one or two other islands in the world, preferably bigger islands, so that if Madagascar continues to destroy their habitat the lemurs will at least survive somewhere on the planet,” Branson was quoted as saying in the AP interview.
18 Responses to “Minister Hodge confirms Lemurs’ arrival”
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we run things…..not laurie and the talk show alliance
tell them and we will be abck in power after the elections so let them tek dat and smoke it….
Allu may just run the money show on Necka after elections..with you VIP Stupidist at the helm….LOL
vino boy you all jammi…Hodgeee look how you going lose dey election over some monkeys
DAMM RIGHT. I ANIT VOTING VIP AGAIN. NEVER!!!!!
can we eat these lemurs as them is not giving we work so I hungry
You St. Kitts and Nevis people custom of eating them so go ahead boss
Look not everybody from St.Kitts/Nevis does eat monkey. Stop your stereotyping!!! Pretty creatures but their eyes look vicious.
no need to be ashamed of your heritage so what if he are a monkey eater????
Well sah, money things. Guess Hodgeee can’t afford Branson to pull out that source of funds. This looks some monkey business. I better not find any in my yard a few years from now………
I am so sick of these blogs…please band them vino
Guess the heat is on Village Girl…lol
What the hell the cookie jar man means by Branson is British as the queen? Is this another biwater?
You people need to educate yourself….Lemurs are not Monkeys…Jesus Christ deman!!..goodness gracious people read more
TO: I KNOW IT ALL; who the hick put you to be some super teacher…hush and setta…your comments made me snooze
The VIP presents itself as the representative of the “small man,” the poor, the ordinary citizen…etc. But it seems to be populated by too many with GIGANTIC egos, power thirsty/hungry. They all want to lead but there can only be one leader at a time—-Premier. Very few want to follow and be team players. It is back bencher vs. ministers. This attitude and behavior makes the party appears to be dysfunctional. The party lacks discipline. It makes one wonder what is the VIP’s mission, objectives, strategy, tactics…etc. As a Virgin Islander, it’s my plea to VIP, NDP, POP, and UP not to slaughter the VI’s interest on the alter of personal ego, the grab for power and status.
On the subject at hand, the People’s Man seems to be not following the will of the people’s wishes, for bringing Lemur to Mosquito Island does not appear to be a burning issue for most Virgin Islanders. Nonetheless, the People’s Man is forging full speed a head in a dictatorial manner. If memory serves me right, he made it known that he was the minister and need not consult with anyone on the Lemur issue. Did a cost-benefit analysis show that bringing Lemur is huge benefit to us. Furthermore, what is the benefit? We know that the cost to us is unknown. I’m not a fan of term limit, for I believe that the people should determine who their representative should be. But the attitude displayed on this issue, along with others, is causing me to take pause and strongly reconsider my position. The VIP is better than this. The humble, iconic, incomparable H.L. Stout must be restless. Rest in peace Olde Boy better days are ahead. Hopefully!
ok i do not have the time of the energy to real this long epicycle. .but all i know is WE VOTING FOR OMAR
Well said!! However, you are making way to much sense on this site. You state facts, you have decent grammar and you’re talking the truth! RUNN, they hate that over here!!!