Dickson Igwe. Photo: Provided

OK, migration is a combustible subject. Why? Because human beings are naturally weary about newcomers and outsiders appearing on their turf. And islanders have always been much more insular, weary, and suspicious, of outsiders, than populations from large continental nations.

And Britain is a typical example. Insularity is arguably one reason Britain has an unhappy marriage with her European neighbours. And the cry against migration into the UK this 2013 is part of that island dynamic. In the USA, migration from Latin and South America is a hot button issue raising the collective blood pressure of Republican Conservatives, especially.  

Another probable cause was put forth by a de facto leader of the Virgin Islands opposition recently. In a radio programme on St Lucia sometime in July or August 2013, Honourable Julian Fraser alluded to the stresses and strains in the present Virgin Islands migration dynamic. The seasoned legislator stated that it may be indicative of a slower economy. And one feature of a slowing economy is decreasing tolerance of aliens by nationals. Britain too has seen a declining tolerance for aliens, especially minorities, within her borders, and that may be the result of her own slow economy.

When times are ‘good,’ people are too busy making money and living the ‘good life’ to be concerned about foreigners taking ‘bread out their mouths'. It is when times become difficult that the entitlement enthusiasts come into their heyday, and the politics of fear, division, xenophobia, and jingoism begin to come into play. In any event, the Honourable lawmaker, on the St Lucia radio programme, also alluded to a reverse migration trend.

Reverse migration begins where ‘infrastructure improvements on poorer islands, such as the building of resorts, international airports, add developments in local agriculture and small scale manufacturing, bring about economic growth. This improvement in economic conditions enables aliens to return to take up new job opportunities in their homelands. And this may be happening as evidenced by increasing challenges in Virgin Islands residents finding tenants for their apartment properties.   

Now, indigenous Virgin Islanders - if one reads and believes a particular segment of the online press - are today feeling increasingly swamped by the migration dynamic. The fact is the population has changed dramatically from what it was 30 years ago, with a majority expatriate population. There is further, an increasing demographic of people born or naturalized in the country, with both parents aliens. This is the fastest growing population segment. The change in the country’s population mix caused by migration is permanent.

A recent current affairs TV show featured a Virgin Islands female from a prominent family. This matriarch stated that her son, who apparently lives abroad, visited the country recently. Her son noticed that there was a look of disgruntlement on the faces of Virgin Islanders. This charming, genteel, and old world, West Indian lady, asserted that her son was aware of this general state of unhappiness. And this look of unhappiness, she stated, was despite the material gains of recent times: gains that have made Virgin Islanders and belongers much better off than their forebears. The Virgin Islands possesses one of the highest incomes per capita in the region.

For this Observer, and very happy resident, it was a revelation. Now, whether this unhappiness is linked to the large scale inward migration of the past two decades is a good question indeed. The matriarch appeared to determine it was more the result of a new materialism that has taken away from a previously close knit community model. However, she suggested that large scale migration was also a reason for the disappearance of traditions and values that were once at the root of Virgin Islands community.  

Well, the first story in this distillation of national media narratives appeared on July 11, 2013. It was titled, TERRITORY’S ECONOMIC HISTORY RECOUNTED. The very intelligent piece highlighted the fact that affluence visited the BVI after decades of post slavery rural poverty probably in the late 1970s. Affluence began to be felt in a previously agrarian Virgin Islands at the latter half of the twentieth century, owing to a growing tourism industry.

This was first evidenced by "a very rich man named Rockefeller just passing through on a visit, who liked the place so much he decided to set up Little Dix on Virgin Gorda.’’ This 5 star resort, "became the biggest employer in the VI at the time.’’ Then, another man, "named Carey, sailed along and set up what became the world’s biggest floating hotel, The Moorings.’’ The Moorings is a yachting and yacht charter business that is also a crucial employer in the territory.

Years after tourism started to gain traction in the VI, a new financial services industry appeared, and as a consequence, "the Virgin Islands was able to pay for thousands of her children to get educated- there was so much business all around- that more people from outside came in to work," and there was full employment.  ‘’

"However, in the last decade problems really began to escalate," probably the result of mass migration, and a new materialism that began to undermine a previously precious village culture. The village was a paradigm that placed family and community at the centre of life in these islands.

Sadly, this village type community dynamic no longer exists.

To be continued...

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