Giving belongership status can reduce remittances - Hon. Fraser
One of the issues said to be affecting the economy is that of remittance. This was raised by a resident of Sea Cows Bay at the community meeting called by Third District Representative Honourable Julian Fraser, RA at the Valerie O. Thomas Community Centre on May 30, 2013.
Hon. Fraser said it might be possible to reduce remittances from the Virgin Islands to other countries by seeking to change the status of some expats living in the Territory but noted it was the kind of discussion that is avoided because so many people take it in the wrong way.
"One of the things we can do in the BVI is to reduce the level of remittance (The money that people come to work here send back home), the one thing we can do is change people's status," suggested Hon. Fraser.
According to the resident, who had expressed her view about the travel tax increase as announced by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith in the House of Assembly, "There is a difference between us going to St. Thomas to shop, Moneygram and Western Union. When we come from St. Thomas nourishment come back, materials come back but with Western Union all that come back is a phone call from the other end saying the money has reached or it didn't reach."
Seeking to explain his suggestion, Hon. Fraser said that if a person comes from another country with an immigrant status to work in the VI they tend to send the money back to their home land. However, if given the status of a Belonger that person is more likely to seek to build his/her home in the VI, which means the monies remain in the Territory.
"It’s a very difficult situation. This would have to be a national strategy on the part of government and no government could implement a strategy like that in four years...The challenge would be that with governments changing regularly the priorities may differ," said Hon. Fraser while adding that governments of the Virgin Islands do not do the required long term planning. "We only plan for four years and after four years it dies."
Hon. Fraser described the concern raised by the resident as a "heavy point".
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38 Responses to “Giving belongership status can reduce remittances - Hon. Fraser”
And if they become belongers no one is stopping them from sending home money.
The most bone-headed idea ever!
Lmao! What a crock of horse sh@#. Whats more funny is that his supporters against island ppl in everything but agreeing with this stupid idea. Its just votes he looking.
How come no one taking about the NDP trying to run rings around the Immigration board to get people redients and belonger status even after the Board rejected some of the names…what a sell out of my country!!!
I KEEP SAYING ITS THE OLD PEOPLE FRASER FOOLING OFF, THERE ARE MORE OLD PEOPLE THAN YOUNG PEOPLE ATTENDING TO HIS MEETINGS, HE THINK THE YOUNG AINT GOT THERE HEAD ON.................WHEN HIS PARTY HAD POWER HE NEVER HAVE MEETINGS LIKE THESE NOW HE WANT TO TELL US WHAT IN THE 3RD THAT HE TRIM OFF HIS HIGH TOP TO A LOW CUT.........STRUPES
CONCLUSION, ignore them. THIS ONE "welsa" is just a paid NDP blogger
Right now if I should asked the Minister for an update of the amount of expat who has lived her for the past twenty years or so, I would hope he can refer to more than 30 person. Most of them have moved on, there is nothing more for them to stay here for, a little piece of paper won't make a difference, and like one blogger say, they could take it back. Leave the people alone and let them be. They have stayed her for twenty and thirty years and it really won't make much of a difference.
I trust that we will one day wake up and smell the coffee.