Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Bernadine A. Louis was Governor’s final nominee with wholehearted support!

-As controversy continues over the other two; Mrs Parker & Demers
Ms Bernadine A. Louis is the daughter of former Legislator, Cyril Lewis Walters and his late wife – former Educator, Lucia Walters nee Potter. Photo: Team of Reporters
Governor John J. Rankin who now seems to be unpopular with residents of the Virgin Islands has been labelled a “racist and dictator” by Cindy Rosan after he sparked outrage from all sections of the local population with his other two nominees. Photo: GIS/Facebook
Governor John J. Rankin who now seems to be unpopular with residents of the Virgin Islands has been labelled a “racist and dictator” by Cindy Rosan after he sparked outrage from all sections of the local population with his other two nominees. Photo: GIS/Facebook
The other two controversial nominees are Jamaican national Tanya Cassie-Parker and Caucasian American national Susan V. Demers, who both have belonger status. Photo: harneys.com/martindale.com
The other two controversial nominees are Jamaican national Tanya Cassie-Parker and Caucasian American national Susan V. Demers, who both have belonger status. Photo: harneys.com/martindale.com
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Word reaching our news centre from senior sources within the coalition Government of Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) is that indigenous Virgin Islander, Ms Bernadine A. Louis was the final of Governor John J. Rankin’s three nominees to the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC).

Mr Rankin, who now seems to be unpopular with residents of the Virgin Islands, has been labeled a “racist and dictator” by talk show host and political activist Cindy Rosan, after he sparked outrage from all sections of the local population with his other two nominees, which he allegedly bullied his way to have them remain on the CRC, according to the sources.

Who are these two?

The other two controversial nominees are Jamaican national Tanya Cassie-Parker and Caucasian American national Susan V. Demers, who both have belonger status.

Some residents claimed that Mrs Cassie-Parker wanted the Virgin Islands constitution to be suspended following the release of the Commissioner of Inquiry report, while others accused Ms Demers of being a ‘racist’ who does not have the best interest of the people of the Territory at heart, however, our news center, could not independently confirm those claims.

One nominee by Mr Rankin, who was met with unanimous approval by both the Government of National Unity and Cabinet, was Ms Louis who is the daughter of former Legislator, Cyril Lewis Walters and his late wife – former Educator, Lucia Walters nee Potter.

An Indigenous Virgin Islander -Ms. Louis

Ms Louis, a Virgin Islander, has years of experience at the management level while employed in the civil service.

She served for 27 years as a government officer in a number of positions, including the Assistant Chief Librarian of the Library Services Department for a few years, then became the Chief Librarian/Director of Library Services for over 11 years. 

Ms Louis, a fifth-generation Virgin Islander, was also a senior officer in the Ministry of Education and Culture where she was an Assistant Permanent Secretary, Ag. Deputy Permanent Secretary, and also served as Ag. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture and Ministry of Health for brief periods when the substantive Permanent Secretaries were on vacation leave.

Her last position in the Government of the VI was that of Private Secretary to the Minister for Education and Culture. She retired from the Government Service to take up senior positions at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College where she held the posts of Director of the Learning Resources Center from 2007 – 2012, and Dean of Workforce Training from 2012 – 2019.

Educated & well qualified

She currently holds the position of Director of the VI Studies Institute – a research institution responsible for all matters on the history, culture, and contemporary issues about the Virgin Islands. Ms Louis has also lectured in public administration for the Open Campus of the University of the West Indies.

Ms Louis’ training is wide and varied. She holds a Certificate in Public Administration, a Certificate in E-Government (both from the University of the West Indies), Two Bachelor’s degrees (Library Science and Administration from UWI and Brock University in Canada), A Master’s degree in Business Administration, and Master’s level certification in Project Management respectively (Wright State University in Ohio, USA and Laval University in Quebec, Canada), in addition to commencing her Doctoral Studies in Adult Education.

30 Responses to “Bernadine A. Louis was Governor’s final nominee with wholehearted support!”

  • Fyah king (02/07/2022, 14:57) Like (13) Dislike (5) Reply
    Its y'all kind of people have the world how it is. Fake lifestyle and thinking y'all big.
  • rubber duck (02/07/2022, 15:11) Like (20) Dislike (22) Reply
    Very good pick but the other two must go!
  • women power (02/07/2022, 15:29) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    You go girl
  • Cindy (02/07/2022, 17:22) Like (1) Dislike (14) Reply
    When are we marching against the two?
  • Spill milk. Move on. (02/07/2022, 17:34) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Everything bothers the small few insecure, selfish, think they know it all.. More of who they want is on the committee, inspire of differ views which makes for healthy debates the voting on the agenda subject matter is whats important. Is a majority vote win process.
  • Stop playing (02/07/2022, 18:10) Like (17) Dislike (4) Reply
    Congrats to Ms Louis ♥
    You are the Best
  • Artificial (02/07/2022, 20:17) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
    controversy is the typical BVI intimidation tactic that is now DOA because of the CoI. The UK Governor is in charge of the CRC committee member selection so deal with it. But go ahead keep up this useless protesting and the UK will have no problem dissolving the temporary HOA, suspending the constitution and then replacing the constitution with the UK's much more modern version which will grant full voting residency status to any British citizen residing in the BVI for a year or who purchases land in the BVI.
    • josiah'sbay (03/07/2022, 08:11) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Constitution or no constitution those plans are in the works. Only independence can stop that plan. Begging, pleading or appeasing will not alter or stop their goal. We will loose our country because we are too afraid to fight for it. The we're not ready for independence cliché will not cut it; we have to get ready or be ready because that's the only thing that will save the Virgin Island, groveling won't.
  • Congratulations (02/07/2022, 21:20) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    An excellent candidate for the position. Do your thing Madam.
    • Yes (03/07/2022, 08:46) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      A librarian is exactly the type of learned open minded person by way of profession that is suited to this task.
  • Strupez (02/07/2022, 22:04) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    Once again, nobody is indigenous to the BVI or the Caribbean islands.
    • @ strupez (03/07/2022, 01:49) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Go take many seats ms b is fifth generation bvi so go smoke that
  • Awesome (02/07/2022, 22:12) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    She sounds awesome and has more than enough credentials to back herself up. Finally good ppl being recognized. Go girl!
  • josiah'sbay (02/07/2022, 22:40) Like (6) Dislike (7) Reply
    Some of us say that we don't care if the Governor makes selections but I say it's a absurd position to take. The Governor should have absolutely nothing to do with our constitutional review committee. Make it make sense that an agent for the UK of which we have to negotiate with is selecting members of our negotiating team. It's clearly a conflict of interest scenario. If the international community and the UN are serious about territories' right to self-determination they can't be okay with the neo colonial rule of the UK on its territories. We should be fighting colonial rule and establishing our own constitution in the interim while we pursue our independence. If we don't sever ourselves from the UK we will be integrated with no special considerations or special status and Virgin Islanders as we know us will not exist.
    • Secret Bear (05/07/2022, 07:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Lol a “conflict of interest” scenario, but Mitch nominating his daddy isn’t?
  • time (03/07/2022, 03:10) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply

    I dont know the jamaican lady and i do believe that a cross section of people should be on this committee, but the American lady should absolutly not be on it. i cant speak personally of her racist inclinations , but i have heard of such. she is absolutly not reoresentative of a good cross section of our beliefs in the territory. she needs to be withdrawn and replaced. we have plenty of great local legal minds who can fill those shoes.

    • Secret Bear (05/07/2022, 07:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Someone didn’t like a legal decision she made and decided to tar her as a racist. This is a personal grudge, nothing more.
  • 999 (03/07/2022, 03:10) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    looking forward to seeing movements in our country because looks at our streets/some communities still need lightning/public water and sewage systems needs improvement

    but keep an eye on the UK because she looking money please do not let UK manipulate the future of this country…….

    even the UK close pals scotland and Wales seeking to pull away from Buckingham Palace therefore be very watchful off the documents we create and the clauses
  • Anonymous (03/07/2022, 06:24) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    I like ms Louis the slave master ranking could have found two other different nominations who are less anti bvi and the people
  • Yes to UK (03/07/2022, 08:21) Like (9) Dislike (7) Reply
    josiah'sbay, All who speak like you are forgetting a few things, we belong to the UK and not the UN or the international community and most people of the BVI don't want independence for a lot of very good reasons, so shut up.
  • Racism the ever living (03/07/2022, 08:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I’d love to forgive and move on but when we look at the world today racism is still alive & popping. Currently we can’t touch anything Russian, watch anything Russian, if possible not think of anything Russian. No Russian culture from past centuries allowed.

    What does this have to do with the BVI?

    If we don’t stand up to and recognize racism, while the governor involved us by flying the UKrainian flag meanwhile Ukrainians are being forcibly conscripted and sent to their deaths, over racially rooted political posturing a direct result of neocolonial White supremacy refusing to accept global equality. Real talk no bs.

    Then it’s obvious we have let our ancestors down who existed in a state of perpetual suppression of truth, culture and language. Our ancestors did not come from Africa speaking English French Spanish nor did they come here seeing the world the way the colonizers did. It was beaten into them.

    Censorship of human culture, language & human cooperation based on race is utterly vile with no place in a post African, and Native American colonized world.

    They smashed temples in South America stole gold burned native books and now wish that information was available to learn about past peoples. After killing them. A sickness they have not remedied. Had their job been completed we would not have known of the Mayan calendar.

    It’s seriously disturbing & sad that these supreme sovereign countries have not matured since the days of slavery, ‘savages’ propaganda and the belief that black people have no soul.

    The racism is not directed toward us now so we should support it? No way.

    They can wage a war without all this racism or involving little BVI in their sanctions mess.

    It begs the question what have they in store for us as obviously that type of racist perspective has not been grown out of & discarded, instead it’s simply redirected (for now) and diluted (for now).
  • My girl (03/07/2022, 10:31) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
    Another day where Collins has not been sent home
  • VI Proud (03/07/2022, 13:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Now that Lady makes the Vi proud .
  • Yes to UK (03/07/2022, 15:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    @Racism the ever living, Its sad to see that someone took so much time to write such BS.
  • Interested (03/07/2022, 17:29) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Neither the Jamaican or the American should be on it.
  • Peonia (04/07/2022, 10:59) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Congratulations, good choice ,you go Miss walters,daughter of the soil,you deserves it ,very educated,and talented woman.The virgin islands best genealogist.
  • Secret Bear (05/07/2022, 07:18) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    “Indigenous Virgin Islander” is not a thing. No matter how many times you use this term over and over again will not make it a thing. Furthermore, actual news outlets do not identify individuals based on where they or their ancestors were born. Do you think The New York Times refers to “indigenous American Donald Trump?” Of course not. That would be ridiculous, and when you do it you sound like a complete clown with no media credibility whatsoever.


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.