Hostility between VI locals & migrants?
“It’s sad, now that we have developed to a certain point and we have so much to share, we have become so competitive and greedy and hostile…” said Edju En Ka on the Umoja radio show aired on April 18, 213.
The host further expressed that he was at a loss to determine what happened to the social transformation of the VI society where people who have a similar historic past and come from similar cultures are now at each other’s throats.
Earlier the host of the Umoja show said everyone was building the Virgin Islands and the Territory was growing and everyone was living together in harmony.
“We need to start examining the social atmosphere within the BVI, particularly regarding labour,” he opined. According to Edju En Ka, the employer-employee relationship might shed some light on the reasons for current behaviour.
“Is it that the Caribbean people that are coming to the BVI are a bad bunch of Caribbean people?” he asked, “or is it that BV Islanders are becoming more nationalistic?”
He also questioned whether locals may be feeling as if they were under some kind of threat and whether migrants were reacting to the actions of locals.
“Engaging in hostile discussions and activities towards each other is not going to solve the problem,” he added, “I believe that we might need to start having a dialogue as to what’s actually going on here in the Virgin Islands that’s creating this hostility.”
Historically, he noted, behaviours exhibited were never this way. Edju En Ka felt that some of it was due to a reaction to the behaviour of locals as well as the reaction of locals to the behaviour of migrants. “What came first?” he asked.
He pointed out that very few migrant workers have jobs ‘to give or to take’ and asked rhetorically how many migrant workers actually had businesses or were hiring persons in the VI.
The host then asked a number of serious questions, among them, “Who is actually depriving BV Islanders of the jobs? Is the migrant worker depriving the BV Islander of the jobs or is the BV Islander depriving the BV Islander of the jobs.”
He suggested that these issues be carefully examined with a view to where the hostility was being developed and what the causes were. “If we want harmony,” he added, “there has got to be justice.”
Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru said the task fell to those governing the Territory to establish policies, institutions and enforce laws to ensure that there was no injustice and social disharmony.
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51 Responses to “Hostility between VI locals & migrants? ”
That statement says a lot and we all know it is only used to drive home a point.
Sadly, we hear this phrase far too frequently ~ and never in a good way. If it was said with pride and at any time other than during a dispute, then I would be saying it every day! But that is not the case. It is almost always used as some sort of veiled threat or protest.
One well known event during which this phrase was used, was when a government employee verbally and physically accosted an immigrant who was working as a security guard at Prospect Reef Resort. He used the "I bahn heah" schtick to degrade the gentleman, who was only trying to do his job.
People who use that phrase apparently have no better way of communicating their grievances or they are simply wrong about the situation they are contending and have no other sensible ammunition to support their argument. So they dig to the bottom of the barrel. We are better than that!
Yea I was not born here, but it has been my home since I was a child. This level of hatred and disrespect did not exist years ago. Where have the love and peaceful co-existence gone. While we have to each work on ourselves, guest workers cannot go to another country and exhibit the level of hatred and disrespect I see every day. It is rude and unchristian to disrespect a man in his own house. Have the decency to leave if that is how you feel. Parents put out children who think they are old enough to disrespect them. It is a natural response.
We are tired of all you, what happen, you can't hear?
You might be born and raised in the BVI, probably to some Jam.....n slut who open her foot too quick, but you are no BVIslander so go home. I did not do any of the above, my land is mine, not the banks and certainly not yours, so GTFO of my country you ungrateful ignorant loudmouth. Only a Jam....n mouth big so, the whole world know that.
You are a complete a$$h@le if you think that every expat that works here came here begging. People here advertise posts internationally all the time and sometimes people would leave their home NOT because they can't find a job there, but because the overseas opportunity may add value to their resume and career. So don't get it twisted. I'm a BVIslander but I do know that many professionals especially that are here, can get jobs where they're from. Many do it for the experience, exposure and they might be getting paid more as well. But not everyone move here because their jaws were to the ground. That's the stupidest misconception ever and that's why some people can't move forward. Stop blaming people for answering job ads that are placed globally and regionally. It's very stupid.
You see these islands here? THEY ARE OURS. THE BVI IS FOR BVISLANDERS.
Bout move forward. If we don't want to move forward, it's our business. If we want to move backward, it's our business too. Damn, why are some people so damn stupid?
If there are no expatriates, of law firm, offshore company to Virgin Islands, you would have your eyes to cry.
This is not the tourist who trades turn.
How young are coming out with a high school diploma each year?
Where are the real statistics?
How you want are Features boss here could use a young man who has no qualification? Time is money and form a stable employee is not profitable.