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‘This entitlement thing’ is a real problem- Dr Shakima Stoutt-Ottley

- local businesswoman said she would love to see more young people with drive
Local entrepreneur Dr Shakima Stoutt-Ottley, speaking at the Rotary Club of Tortola Entrepreneurs Economic Forum held in Jost van Dyke Conference Room at Maria’s by the Sea on November 8, 2022, said she would like to see more drive in young people rather than an entitlement mentality. Photo: Facebook
Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL) was among the audience at the Rotary Club of Tortola Entrepreneurs Economic Forum held in Jost van Dyke Conference Room at Maria’s by the Sea on November 8, 2022. Photo: Facebook
Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL) was among the audience at the Rotary Club of Tortola Entrepreneurs Economic Forum held in Jost van Dyke Conference Room at Maria’s by the Sea on November 8, 2022. Photo: Facebook
The panelists on the Rotary Club of Tortola Entrepreneurs Economic Forum also included Mr Clarence Faulkner Jr, St Clair H. Fleming Jr, Shea O. Alexander, Shaina M. Smith-Archer and Alexandra V. Durante. Photo: Facebook
The panelists on the Rotary Club of Tortola Entrepreneurs Economic Forum also included Mr Clarence Faulkner Jr, St Clair H. Fleming Jr, Shea O. Alexander, Shaina M. Smith-Archer and Alexandra V. Durante. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- “We have a culture of ease, we make things too easy, we don’t create challenges for our young people. So sometimes they come to you and they expect so much of you because I don’t like to use this word, but this entitlement thing, it has caused more of a problem than we can correct right now because persons are not pushing themselves to the limit.”

This is the harsh reality in the Virgin Islands, according to local businesswoman Dr Shakima Stoutt-Ottley.

Dr Stoutt-Ottley’s comments were made at the Rotary Club of Tortola Entrepreneurs Economic Forum held in Jost van Dyke Conference Room at Maria’s by the Sea on November 8, 2022.

‘The drive isn’t there’- Dr Shakima Stoutt-Ottley

The issue of entitlement among locals has been a talked about topic for a long time and is often confirmed by employers, who in the past have said they are willing to employ locals but the work ethic is lacking in some cases.

“And then I want to go to the fundamentals of how we raise our youths, this is something that I have encountered as an employer.

“I would love to see some more young people with drive. Sometimes you really want to help them, you really want to give them a job, but the drive isn’t there. So, the thing is we have to find a way now to get those young people to understand that ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship. We need to find some way to challenge them so when they bump into these opportunities possibly later or earlier in life, they have encountered some testing times so they can take risks but safe risks,” Dr Stoutt-Ottley commented.

Drug running the alternative to bank loans?

The local entrepreneur was among the panelists asked what they would say to persons who turn to drug deals for money to expand or start their business, since it is a real challenge to get loans from banks and also the paper works required by the banks are sometimes too much for persons applying for financing.

Dr Shakima Stoutt-Ottley had also said she was sure the Financial Investigation Agency (FIA) had policies in place to discourage such an undertaking.

“We have to make sure that it is riskier or more difficult for someone to enter a transaction like that because they fear the consequences that would be given if they were to be found. To have this kind of transaction,” she stated.

The panelists on the Rotary Club of Tortola Entrepreneurs Economic Forum also included Mr Clarence Faulkner Jr, St Clair H. Fleming Jr, Shea O. Alexander, Shaina M. Smith-Archer and Alexandra V. Durante.

30 Responses to “‘This entitlement thing’ is a real problem- Dr Shakima Stoutt-Ottley”

  • spot on (11/11/2022, 10:04) Like (29) Dislike (3) Reply
    Shakima is spot on!
  • Exactly!! (11/11/2022, 10:18) Like (29) Dislike (3) Reply
    I 1000000000% agree with her.
  • yea (11/11/2022, 10:41) Like (10) Dislike (5) Reply
    She got my vote! ????
  • lol (11/11/2022, 10:52) Like (30) Dislike (1) Reply
    And instead we try and support what you are saying because it is the Gospel truth some of us would want to criticize. But as I said, you hit the nail on the head.
    I only wish that more BVIslanders would face the truth and stop burying our heads in the sand like Ostrich.
    THE TRUTH SHALL SET US FREE.
  • yo falling asleep aunty (11/11/2022, 11:16) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Dah one deh falling asleep just like the person she sang about
  • fact (11/11/2022, 11:47) Like (14) Dislike (6) Reply
    Many of the so called legit businesses around the world were started from the profits of contraband whether its illegal booze back in the day, weed or coke now. No bank want to deal with the broke people anymore, that is a fact. They make it impossible to do anything so I do not blame people for doing what they have to do to get by. When we 'make it' it's easy to call down people for the choices they are forced to make but only who feels it knows it. Right now the banks or Government are not helping anybody. The people have been under tremendous economic pressure for over 5 years and no help, but then they are being judged for hustling to make ends meet. You can tell who know nothing about the real struggles of the people in this Territory. I do agree with her though on laziness and no drive, it's a problem probably globally but seen far too often here in the Territory. Everyone seem to want something for nothing.
  • mad max (11/11/2022, 12:25) Like (19) Dislike (7) Reply
    I genuinely don’t understand how people can say they turned to dealing drugs because they couldn’t get a loan. Do they not have morals? There must be other ways than becoming a criminal. Isn’t there?
    • @mad max (11/11/2022, 16:41) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
      Banks have morals? List the other ways you speak of!
      • mad max (11/11/2022, 19:13) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        Working hard. Get a skill and qualifications. Taking second/third jobs.

        Where does it end when you follow a criminal path?
  • Interesting (11/11/2022, 12:38) Like (24) Dislike (31) Reply
    She herself has an entitled mindset. A lot of mommy and daddy money babies want to be the loudest in the room speaking on drive and ambition...pot calling kettle black
    • @ Interesting (11/11/2022, 15:23) Like (21) Dislike (2) Reply
      You should change your name to “Bitter Betty”.

      Dr. Stoutt-Ottley has worked hard to establish her businesses.

      As a client, I applaud her efforts knowing she was not born into wealth and continues to strive for excellence for her clients and businesses.
      • c (11/11/2022, 18:18) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
        I feel like I wasted my time and money at her business. Typical.
      • c (11/11/2022, 18:19) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
        Don’t waste your time and money at her business. I did.
      • Okay, but hear me out (12/11/2022, 18:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        That may or may not apply to her but it does have who it applies to. They always had it easy because they come from well-to-do families but refused to offer assistance to someone trying to make it on their own.
  • Well said. (11/11/2022, 14:10) Like (33) Dislike (3) Reply
    Thank you young lady...U have spoken with courage and wisdom...Hoping to hear more from you in the future.
  • Putting nup resistance (11/11/2022, 15:07) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    The lady has put it nicely , but still there are those who will sell their souls to the ( DEVIL ) even if they know it's blood money / and we now have saint andrew as an example , of how you and your family lives can be jepodized for a few dollars / no amount of money is worth that , and here are some bloggers using lame excuses to sugar coat a justifiable reason for the youths to go in the drug scene ( .the brutal killing in fish bay , should of been a wake up call for us , but look at who the (BLAME ) was thrown at ???? and not a WORD from any of those wannabe holy boys or our wonderful politicians , what does that tell us ???? ( my respect to you miss for shedding some light on what's really happening here
  • jack (11/11/2022, 15:36) Like (15) Dislike (35) Reply
    Who locals she employs to know about their work ethics. She needs to speak on her own experience and stop talking nonsense about what others say.

    Prepare a proper speech when invited to speak and stop going on the podium unprepared and speaking nonsense. I am sick of those types of unprepared speeches. She claims to be a doctor and could not deliver a more empowering speech - Stupes. What's the difference????
  • Whoa (11/11/2022, 15:41) Like (15) Dislike (6) Reply
    Pot calling the kettle blCk. Haha.
  • Yes girl (11/11/2022, 15:45) Like (15) Dislike (9) Reply
    I GOT TO GIVE YOU YOUR PROPS. THANK YOU GIRL. LET THE NON FUNCTIONING, NO BASIC COMMON SENSE BUSH PEOPLE CRITICIZING CONTINUE TO CRITICIZE, THEY SIMPLE DONOT KNOW ANY BETTER.
  • down2earth (11/11/2022, 19:12) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
    Please show the people of the Virgin Islands what entitlement looks like! I guess Virgin Islanders should be second class citizens in their own country?

    If one wants to employ persons that can be manipulated at will and be paid minimum wage, play the entitlement card. That is the crux of the matter! And just so or society is going to the dogs.




    A native Virgin Islander to the Nth generation

  • My Goodness (11/11/2022, 19:37) Like (12) Dislike (4) Reply
    I was thinking the same thing like you jack. Here is a time to give a speech to motivate the youths and she is talking about entitlement. I work with some hard working motivated BV Islanders and i wish speakers will stop saying those negative things about us. Next time give a more prepared motivational presentation.
  • @ yes girl (11/11/2022, 22:48) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    all the charming fake politicians enthusiasm is focused on is propaganda and racial discrimination as an excuse fool the youths in to a false sense of entitlement while the country is experiencing corruption - guns - murder - drugs etc , so how can the youths be any better after they are being brainwashed by these intelligent hypocrites , who wants to keep them down while they prosper ,
  • Real talki (11/11/2022, 23:54) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    Real bush dr speech what college did she go to to obtain her doctrate must be on line or she bought it via china.
  • Sic (12/11/2022, 07:30) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Did that young lady have a topic on which to speak? Seems to me like she did not have a prepared speech. She went off on a tangent saying things she knows certain people like to hear.

    Why was none of the other panelists speech was not highlighted?
  • Fly Girlzzzz (12/11/2022, 09:19) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    She is spot on, AGREE WITH THE YOUNG LADY 100%.
  • question (12/11/2022, 19:07) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let me ask this....no Virgin Islander is ambitious? While I don't dispute the sense of entitlement is a problem, being locals or expatriates alike, there are none that are noteworthy?

    How about picking from.the few and using them to drive your point home, in a way that doesn't snub the noses of those who are trying to make it.
  • WEW (13/11/2022, 14:11) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    No problem here, I bahn here
  • ... (13/11/2022, 16:43) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply

    She full of sh** we born here and that should mean something



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