‘We have done good things in this Territory’- Hon Ronnie W. Skelton
The Opposition Leader was at the time speaking during the debate for the second Supplementary Appropriation Provision (SAP) of 2023.
Hon Skelton reflected on when he was growing up and said there was “nothing in the Territory”, but said we can look at the Virgin Islands (VI) differently today. He said, “only a few could have made it to secondary school while others had to go and look for a job”. Today that is not the case, as secondary education is available to all.
He also mentioned, as an example, that his colleague and veteran Member Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) made it to secondary school. Most often in those days, if you were not from Road Town, it was hard to make it to secondary school where there were limited spaces.
We are much better off today- Hon Skelton
Hon Skelton noted that when he graduated from High School there were only about “four persons with degrees, now today everyone has a degree”.
The politician, who made it back in the HoA for another stint after losing in the 2019 general elections, opined: “Do not let anyone tell us we are bad, we have done nothing good or all of us are thieves and criminals.”
The Leader of the Opposition also warned his colleagues in the HoA, “not to worry about all the negative blogs" and that they "need to become emotionally strong”.
He commended the Government on having two new Ministries and said the Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) was well within his legal right under the Financial Management Act to bring a SAP to the House.
Hon Skelton also cautioned that the regulations in the financial services sector may be having negative fallouts on some local businesses.
Many have argued that the narrative by the UK-sponsored one-man Commission of Inquiry (CoI) headed by Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom was to portray the local political class as being all corrupt, not able to follow laws and policies, and not capable of governing themselves.
Many in the progress class have rejected that narrative and pointed out that it was the locals who built the Virgin Islands with little or no help from the UK.
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25 Responses to “‘We have done good things in this Territory’- Hon Ronnie W. Skelton”
Everything is relative and relatively speaking the territory is struggling.
Are you still here to read this?
Well what's up? Cant get a flight or can't purchase the Ticket?
I am willing to buy the Ticket once its a never to return one way, and i am also willing to send you $150.00 USC for the next three months just to make out as you start.
Let me know in six years how you are doing, maybe i will send you another 150. You would not even have to say thanks. It would be alright you ungrateful Skunk.
Dont forget to leave the Immigration Stub at Beef Island , for it's more valuable than you.
Moreover, the VI was left supposedly by the colonialists as only useful as a bird sanctuary. And indeed Virgin Islanders hard work, sacrifices, etc, built the BVI to the level it is today. Today, it can boast as having one of the highest standard of living, quality of life, human development index, and per capita income in the region. However, it let its guard, lost focus, planned poorly, got drunk on its success, etc, and the governing process faltered, exhibiting poor and c inappropriate behaviors, etc., allowing the UK to roar back and take control, threatening to suspend its constitution. The VI needs to get its swagger back, take charge with a plan and how to strategies, etc to get back on track. This will require the collective, cooperative, and collaborative effort and energy of All Virgin Islanders. Those riding in the wagon must leap out, those standing on the sidelines looking on , etc, must join in moving the country forward. Hoping, dreaming, etc is not going to the BVI on the right course to get to its destination. Our politicians play a key role in getting the VI to its destination. They must pass the best policies to get the ship of state safely to its destination. Policies are social contracts between government and the people who reside in the BVI. The people must awaken from their deep slumber and hold their elected members feet to the fire. Keeping the stars and kicking the dead weights to the curb.
This social class situation presented unequal access to education, health services, housing, nutrition, employment, social services, transportation, justice, etc. Some may say why not let sleeping dogs lie, for the territory is beyond that. Well, is it? What happens in the dark must come to light. Just like how we should not let the atrocities and dehumanization of slavery and colonialism lie. Similarly, we should not let damages of social classism lie. We should not pretend it did not happen as the colonialists and imperialist want to pretend that slavery and colonialism did not happen or they were not that bad while whitewashing black history, banning books, limiting instruction and speech, etc. Hogwash!!! It is way pass time for reparative justice for the exploitive , abusive, dehumanization action etc. of slavery and colonialism.
Moreover, due to its tiny size, and lack of natural resources, the VI was forgotten and neglected by the colonialists. In some quarters, it was viewed as a little sleepy hollow, the poor house of the West Indies and not worth investing any scarce money on even on basic services, ie, education, health, roads, communications, economic development, etc. The British has had full control of it since 1672 but it has treated it as it treated its larger colonies, ie, poor healthcare, education, physical infrastructure, economy, social services, etc and as a pitiful place.
Nevertheless, through hardwork, grit, persistence, signature rugged individualism, sacrifices, etc of a few warriors, ie, Christopher Fleming, Theodolph Faulkner, Noel Lloyd, Hamilton Lavity Stout, and a myriad of others it was able to pull its self up by its bootstrap with little help from the British who having exploited it of its meagre bolted from it with Eusain Bolt speed. Well , it was more like supersonic speed supposedly categorizing it as only useful a Bird Sanctuary. Nonetheless, as another blogger note, it can boast today as having one of the best and highest standard of living, quality of life, human development index, and per capita income in the region. The Bible says that the rejected stone becomes the head stone. Today, all roads seem to lead to the VI, which some castigate as a hell hole. Some 120 + different nationalities call the VI home and still coming. Gentrification is on rise by those who once label it as only useful as a bird sanctuary. The VI boots has some broken straps that needs fixing. Vigilate, vigilate, vigilante!!
[lets lead like eagles, not careen off the cliff like eagles ]