We did not claim Melanie, Melanie claimed us- Bertrand Lettsome
So what’s the fuss about? Well, the public embracing of Amaro, including Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith has sparked some debate, at least among bloggers and public activist Donald deCastro. Among the criticisms, especially among bloggers are whether it was right to embrace Amaro as a VIslander and if she was from another country such as Jamaica or Guyana, whether she would have been embraced in a similar fashion.
Speaking on his new radio show ‘Straight Talk’ on Tuesday January 10, 2012, Mr. deCastro also questioned whether it was right to embrace Amaro in the way it was done as she is not a Virgin Islander since she does not have birth rights. Amaro was born in Florida but spent some of her childhood years on Tortola, where she has a number of relatives.
One of the guests on the programme, Bertrand Lettsome, made it clear, however, that the Virgin Islands did not claim Amaro but rather Amaro claimed the Virgin Islands and the people responded accordingly. He also said that there are many persons who were not born in the Virgin Islands but claim it as their country. “We are a very embracing people as it is a part of our culture and it is very easy for people to feel a part of these Virgin Islands.”
Douglas Wheatley added that people always look for positive persons to embrace and that the situation was no different in the Virgin Islands. He backed up his statement by asking if the person that killed John F. Kennedy was from the Virgin Islands whether the people would have been keen to claim him as a Virgin Islander.
Meanwhile, Premier and Minister for Tourism Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE in a telephone conversation recently, congratulated Ms. Melanie Amaro on her splendid performance in winning X-Factor along with a $5M recording contract and said, “You have made the Government and people of these Virgin Islands extremely proud. We were "rooting for you from day one; we were admiring your progress; all hands were on deck voting for you each week, Melanie; we had thrust our weight behind you 110 percent because we wanted you to win.”
The Premier also told Ms. Amaro that on December 22 many came together and joined with her family at UP‟s Cineplex for a „Let‟s Go Melanie‟ Watch Party. “We were intrigued with your poise, grace, humility and the strength of your voice,” he said, adding, “You are an inspiration to us all and we are so proud of you, so much that December 23 was declared „Melanie Amaro Day‟.”
Premier Smith had also asked Ms. Amaro to put the Virgin Islands high on her priority list of places to visit stating, “The invitation extended along with a stay at one of the Territory’s flag ship properties are compliments the Government and people of the Virgin Islands.”
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