Sowande Uhuru: Lack of unity in the VI prohibits possible endeavours
Mr. Wheatley made this statement on the show that aired on September 13, 2012 on a local radio station.
He stated that in terms of the control Virgin Islanders have over their own economy, they have not displayed the type of unity as members of the Arabic community who live here.
He added that the members of the Arabic community own supermarkets, clothing stores and electronic stores “they doing a lot of things that we feel we cannot do, and we’re struggling to do.”
Sowande Uhuru went on to say that Virgin Islanders fail to do those type of things because they lack unity, “and most people recognize that the Arabic community practices unity….Corporative economics, this is something we are failing to do.”
Mr. Wheatley said “We could raise that money to do that cruise pier; I think the cruise pier aspect of it is just $25 million, we could do that, and these are the types of things that would help us lessen our dependence on foreign investor[s] and foreign investment is less secure.”
There are many examples where, Sowande added, “the people who own something here, who are from here, they’re not going anywhere else. If we expand, of course we expand elsewhere but we’ll still remain here.”
In acknowledgement of what Mr. Wheatley said, Host of the show Cromwell Smith aka Edju En Ka, in his ‘2 cents’ said the local business community, “the men and women in the Virgin Islands who are Virgin Islanders” need to take more of a stewardship approach for the country they have.
“They need to have increased stewardship or an increased feel of responsibility for the country and the role that they are playing, not only in the development, but in the provision of basic needs for the people of the country.”
Smith added that there are indications that many of the local businesses prefer to employ migrant labour rather than local labour.
“…We have to also look at that and encourage our local businesses to understand their stewardship.”
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7 Responses to “Sowande Uhuru: Lack of unity in the VI prohibits possible endeavours”
It strange, though, because when you see, as an example, the turn-out for the funeral of the late mother of Dr Smith, you see that we are a very community-aware people. We just don't show it until times like that. If only we could show it in all things we do as we develop our country.
And yes, Farmer Brown, that's one of the problems - we love to hate on each other almost as much as we love to hate on outsiders.
One ting I know, it isn't easy to turn Wild West capitalists into caring, social-aware community people, but it is possible. A lean in that direction would be good for the BVI.
We should include and respect all who live and work within our community, but the VI should remain THE VI, in culture, in speech, in nature etc. No other country wouldn't expect any thing different.