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'Imported cultural behaviours' to blame for moral breakdown of VI society- BVICC

- said VI must turn from its wicked ways & choose a better path
The BVI Christian Council (BVIAA), through its President Bishop Paul A. Ricketts, has said there has been a noticeable and troubling uptick in violent crime throughout our communities, and has called on the territory to repent and return to moral foundations. Photo: BVICC/Facebook
The BVICC is concerned that unacceptable behaviour is now seeping into our schools, with even our high school students increasingly entangled in acts of aggression, rebellion, and lawlessness. Photo: Team of Reporters/File
The BVICC is concerned that unacceptable behaviour is now seeping into our schools, with even our high school students increasingly entangled in acts of aggression, rebellion, and lawlessness. Photo: Team of Reporters/File
The BVI Christian Council has acknowledged the efforts of the Minister for Education, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro (AL) and her team, in responding to the indiscipline and violent behaviour is schools, but said it is becoming clear that the solutions we seek cannot come from systems alone — they must come from a change of heart and a return to moral foundations. Photo: GIS/File
The BVI Christian Council has acknowledged the efforts of the Minister for Education, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro (AL) and her team, in responding to the indiscipline and violent behaviour is schools, but said it is becoming clear that the solutions we seek cannot come from systems alone — they must come from a change of heart and a return to moral foundations. Photo: GIS/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The BVI Christian Council (BVIAA) has said there has been a noticeable and troubling uptick in violent crime throughout our communities, and has called on the territory to repent and return to moral foundations.

More concerning, according to the BVICC, is that such behaviour is now seeping into our schools, with even our high school students increasingly entangled in acts of aggression, rebellion, and lawlessness.

The Council, in a letter by President of the BVICC Bishop Dr Paul A. Ricketts on June 14, 2025, acknowledged the efforts of the Minister for Education, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro (AL) and her team, who are working tirelessly to respond to these challenges, but said it is becoming clear that the solutions we seek cannot come from systems alone — they must come from a change of heart and a return to moral foundations.

Modelling the wrong ‘cultural behaviours’

“Over the years, we have gradually moved from a territory once known for peace and stability to one where almost weekly, the headlines report incidents that would have once shocked our conscience. We must acknowledge that this shift did not occur overnight.

“About 25 years ago, our society began modelling certain cultural behaviours — particularly those from abroad — that, while seemingly progressive, have contributed to the erosion of our spiritual and moral compass. We sought to emulate systems that have long struggled with their own consequences: broken families, spiritual disconnection, and violence normalised through entertainment and media. In doing so, we have sown seeds that are now bearing bitter fruit.”

BVICC said what the territory is experiencing is not merely a social or psychological crisis, but a spiritual one.

Choose a better path, not one imported or imposed- BVICC

Noting that the brokenness of our homes is bleeding into our schools, our neighborhoods, and our national identity, BVICC said true healing demands reflection, sincerity, and the courage to confront the truth—even when it is uncomfortable.

“It calls for a collective commitment to reconciliation, fostering unity, and building bridges where divides have long stood. We are not calling for performative gestures of sorrow, but for genuine, godly repentance that leads to transformation.”

Quoting Proverbs 14:34, BVICC said the scriptures remind us that righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

“This truth remains relevant, even in our modern society. If we truly want to see healing in our land, then we must turn from our wicked ways — both individually and collectively — and seek the face of God,” BVICC said.

BVICC is inviting the Church to arise, leaders to reflect, and the people to respond — not in fear, but in faith.

“Let this be the moment where the Virgin Islands chooses a better path — not one imported or imposed, but one rooted in truth, love, and righteousness.”

23 Responses to “'Imported cultural behaviours' to blame for moral breakdown of VI society- BVICC”

  • facts (16/06/2025, 09:36) Like (21) Dislike (14) Reply
    This is so true. The cultural behaviors from some of those other Caribbean islands have negatively affected us indeed.
    • @facts (16/06/2025, 10:52) Like (19) Dislike (5) Reply
      I doubt very much that the cultural behaviors of the other Caribbean islands have had as much impact as some of the things that we have adopted quite gleefully from America without discrimination or evaluation.
  • IMPORTED CULTURE ? (16/06/2025, 10:03) Like (19) Dislike (7) Reply
    WE BLAMING EVERYBODY ELSE FOR OUR OWN WRONG DOINGS , ( IS THAT GOING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PROBLEMS ❓️???? ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ADD - XENOPHOBIA & HYPOCRISY - AS FLAVOUR • YOU BETTER GO " SID DUNG "
    • @Imported Culture (16/06/2025, 10:49) Like (23) Dislike (1) Reply
      Yes, imported culture. And I am not talking about from the Caribbean. Over he past few decades, across the region as a whole, we have adopted the values and lifestyle of North America (and not necessarily the best parts). Contrary to what some local bloggers suggest, most Caribbean countries have traditionally valued and promoted integrity, hard work, good manners, respect for self and others - the kind of positive values that built our societies. However, across the region - including here in these Virgin Islands - we have turned away from those values and have become copy cats of all things from North America including the good, the bad, and the ugly. Reclaiming our traditional values does not mean hating or going back to the stone age. It does mean recognising what is best for us and promoting it.
  • hi (16/06/2025, 10:09) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    We are tired of these people's ever-changing narratives. The former BVICC boss, evangelist, etc., Rodney of Living Water ministry, came up with the same narrative but never offered any solution to the problem. Stop this firefighter's attitude and act on the problem. We need action, not a title. Everyone becomes Google and AI doctor these days. We need doers, not speakers.
    • @hi (16/06/2025, 10:40) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      To be fair, over the past six months or so, the BVI Christian Council has met with the premier and with other government officials and has offered to be part of the solution. Give them credit for trying.
  • question (16/06/2025, 10:16) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wasn’t Christianity also imported?
  • Wrong (16/06/2025, 10:21) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
    It's the indigenous cultural behaviors that are to blame for the breakdown of BVI Society:

    1) Hiring incompetent family members instead of qualified competent persons.
    2) Colluding with foreign criminals to support smuggling in and out of the BVI; e.g. Andrew Fahie
    3) Committing white collar accounting crimes to distribute funds from the BVI Treasury to cronies, family members and criminal pastors.
  • Hmmmm (16/06/2025, 10:22) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    And he brought his imported cultural behaviors from Jamaica too. No offense I love my island people.
  • hmm (16/06/2025, 10:44) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    I agree with this but is we keep importing these people to the detriment of our country as a whole out of personal greed and wanting to collect work permit money. How you does fix greed?
  • Huh? (16/06/2025, 10:53) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
    Imported cultural behaviours? Hmm. Incest was not imported. Mehtehness was not imported. Laziness was not imported. Feeling of self-entitlement was not imported. Want to be running drug ring with the Sinaloa cartel was not imported. Thiefing the public money under the guise of stupid parties and to give to mother, boyfriend and sister for car repairs and credit card bill was not imported. Wheel and come again yuh hear.
  • kudos (16/06/2025, 10:55) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank you BVICC, thank you Bishop Ricketts, for stepping into the line of fire. You will be attacked, but somebody needs to stand up and speak out. Let us all work together to try to find solutions to our societal challenges.
  • resident (16/06/2025, 11:21) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    Every Caribbean island had similar culture. Helping one another, village raising the children, low crime etc. Every Caribbean country now has the same problems. High crime, delinquent behavior, can't talk to children etc. So to put the blame on other countries is not accepting the blame. We have moved away from our traditions and family life. It's not an easy fix. Better support for parents and teachers will go a long way to begin to tackle the problem. What will NOT help is blaming residents.
  • Culture??? (16/06/2025, 12:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Which culture are you talking about? From the time man sinned against God. The scriptures says that there is none good, not one. For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God. The only remedy, is for all to examine ourselves, repent and return to God standard of true godliness. From the top to the bottom. God is still looking for a man to call sin by its rightful name, a man who cannot be bought or sold. A Josiah. Stop the blame game.
  • Swear (16/06/2025, 13:18) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    whole time is america he talking about yall love to spread this narrative about prejudice against other caribbean islands
  • Killer Queen... (16/06/2025, 13:29) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    People like this who deny any responsibility only propagate the issue... all people should take responsibility for themselves. Pretending the 'cause' is 'foreigners' (as with all problems in Natures Little Secrets) just provides an excuse for the multiple BVIslanders who participate in less than desired 'cultural behaviour'!!!
  • BuzzBvi (16/06/2025, 13:46) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    Where was Andre Fahie imported from again?
    Oleanvine Maynard. Where she arrive from? She come back? Kadeem?

    But VI thinks all VI Islanders innocent. Look at the prison population. But of course how many times have a read that they are only there because they were discriminated against and wrongfully arrested.

    A no criminals born here fantasy land we live in.

    But all have heavily illegally tinted cars to hide in.

  • Senior native citizen of the British Virgin Islands (16/06/2025, 15:08) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Your observation of immoral cultural behaviors are only partual, not to total, as you would love to have us believe. Personal, and community wide ungodly behaviors ranked first.

    The B.V.I Christian Counsel is as strong as its weakest disunified organization members
    Jesus Christ oranized one (1., solo, only. organized church, and prayed for its undivided unity, in St. John 17.
    As of this day, June 16, 2025, the numbers of christian break-away, splintered, if you please, denominations worldwide have surpassed 100,000 plus, in my honest opinion. Competition, compromise, selfish ambitions, unhinged from God's Holy Spirit guidance, and other worldly lust, practical ungodliness, is the root cause.

  • Imported (16/06/2025, 15:26) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    He is imported as well. This man fell on his head. We called upon all the expats to leave his church because we are the problem. No more collection for him.
  • Ju (16/06/2025, 15:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's a 6xxx thing
  • See… (16/06/2025, 16:25) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Even expats starting to see it got too much expats here
  • @ @ IMPORTED CULTURE (16/06/2025, 16:28) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    THATS HOW YOU CANE ACROSS / AND YES WE ARE BLAMING THE ISLAND PEOPLE AND THE WHITE COLONIALIST SLAVE MASTERS FOR EVERYTHING , WHEN WE ALL KNOW OTHERWISE , BUT YOU MAY HAVE A POINT THE CARTELD WAS


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