Without expats, the VI would turn into a ‘slum’- Hon Turnbull
He was debating the Immigration and Passport Amendment Bill 2025, after its second reading during the Continuation of the Third Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA), on Monday, April 22, 2025.
Hon Turnbull said, the Virgin Islands’ (VI) story goes beyond being built by those who were left in the territory, as many also left to find opportunities in neighbouring Caribbean islands and territories to provide for their families.
“While those of us who went to other Caribbean islands and territories went to provide, there were other persons that came to live among us who helped to contribute towards the building and development of this territory,” he reminded.
That Hon Turnbull said is a “significant part of the story” of the VI.
We are one people- Hon Turnbull
Due to the African heritage shared by Caribbean nations through slavery, Hon Turnbull said, “We have so many similar traits, that’s why so many of us have some of the same dialect and accents and cultural aspects of our diversity, Madam Speaker, we are black people, we are Caribbean people, we are one people.”
He reiterated that the Virgin Islanders cannot choose to say we are one people only when convenient to them, and so it must be the story.
Hon Turnbull said having left the VI in 1994 to finish his schooling and returning in 2005, he realised this attitude towards expats has always been there, but was more pronounced.
He added that while Virgin Islanders have a right to be proud, it cannot lead to prejudice towards others from the Caribbean.
VI would become a slum without other Caribbean people- Hon Turnbull
Not filtering his words, Hon Turnbull said, “If we were for a second to send home everybody who we don’t call or consider indigenous Virgin Islanders, you know what the BVI would become? A slum, and I dare anyone to debate me on that.”
Hon Turnbull told the House there is nothing wrong with elevating the Virgin Islands and pushing its agenda, however, it should not be done by stepping on others.
The essence of what “we do has to be unified”, he added.
This way of thinking, he said, comes from the “very colonialistic way in which we were brought up from slaves into where we are, and it exists right now even in the systems from which we continue to operate here in the Territory”.
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60 Responses to “Without expats, the VI would turn into a ‘slum’- Hon Turnbull ”
Sir, I beg to differ with your statement. Take the village of East End as an example. The place has become deplorable because the village is a hub for expats from other Caribbean Islands coming to or transitioning to the USVI. Take a look at all the derelict vehicles along the roads or on some people's properties, vehicles stripped down to the bare core. This is not a BVI practice.
I can understand if you say apartments would be empty or employers would have issues with replacing workers, but to put down your own in such a negative way is, in itself, an insult. Many Virgin Islanders take immense pride in their surroundings, fostering a sense of unity and shared values.
Sound to me like we (indigenous) need to get up off our arse. Stop sending children away, raising them to be consumers and start raising producers.
Both our parents and grandparents are indigenous BVISLANDERS. No expatriats were significant in our growth from a bird sanctuary. Our people fought off the engish man and through our hard work we developed both our tourism and financial services markets.
No expatriate has held the post of Financial Secretary for a reason. We built the BVI with assistance yes but significant no.
I take great exception that my work is compared to any expatriate. PERIOD.
cuz idk how our annual budget big and got USA currency but we look like a watered down version of 3rd world country...
but i agree without the expats we will be like USA Who got rid of theres and can't find no one to work tough jobs.
the nightlife women only like office jobs they only get a lil bruised when they go on speed boats
then we have our young men who chasing fast life so they dont got time for that either
and ofc our prominent families in bvi who suck on the country for their own benefit to place their own in positions of power
we would be salt salt
And if you hired a consultant to do the research using whatever data Government does keep for itself, the conclusions will be in favour of who pays.
This place is a circus.
BVI IS GREAT!!!! AS SMALL AS IT IS!.....
Mehson @Blackbueaty, east end always been a ghetto ! East end have more bums than anywhere else on the island and other islands of the BVI. Most died now .. rest their soul.. don't blame islands man .. and do u even know what the term "island man" means? Aren't u from an island ? An island that can't compare to none !!! Absolutely none of the islands these expats are from! They only here for the currency and that's it. If the BVI had its own currency it wouldn't hold no damn weight! Ayo always against expats and wonder why yall can't flourish in life. Back home they all have houses, lands etc and yall in yall own country have nothing is diabolical lol that's crazyyyy work! When they leave they're to a home! Only here in the bvi they put up with the bul***
Perhaps, I would have made my sentiments on this issue, a bit less raw, but, your statements, have been spoken!
For you see, the many of expatriates, from the Eastern Caribbean, do menial work, at the salaries for which many Virgin Islanders, would never find themselves, to be engaged!
Here on St Thomas, it is St Thomians, that clean the sides of the road.
It is St Thomians, that handle the hauling of trash.
It is St Thomians that are the "CNA", types, of caregivers, that clean the poo, of the elderly, and disabled.
In other words, there is no job in St Thomas, that St Thomians will not do. For you see, these careers, brings major rumenerations, to the provider !!
But on Tortola, such activities, are regulated to the less fortunate, the lowly educated, and the permanent "expatriate", underclass.
LOOK, at how we hate to clean our own personal and public environs..
.Beautiful homes, but mucky,looking,landscaping!
When this territory realizes that all work- honest work, is good work, and deserves the respect for what it is, this country, will no longer be deemed in a slum- like existence!
The British took full control of these Virgin Islands in1672 and has control them ever since. They were neglected and almost forgotten, service delivery was almost at a vanishing point. The planter class/ colonialists viewed the islands as impoverished, the poor house, and only useful as a bird sanctuary, intending to transfer residents to Antigua, headquarters of the Leeward Islands Federation. That didn’t happen.
Nonetheless, Virgin Islanders were left to fend for themselves. Demonstrating signature Virgin Islander ‘ rugged individualism’, Virgin Islanders worked collectively and tirelessly developing a peasant economy, ie, fishing, working ground, sailing, etc. Some migrated to the DR, PR, Cuba, USVI, Antigua, etc. Without Virgin Islanders, these places didn’t become slums. The VI was not a slum before mass immigration. Mitch owes Virgin Islanders an apology; a true apology.Obstinate in a calypso said, “ wet yur han and wait for me.” Well, voters are wetting dem han and waiting for the fellow who is suffering from Napoleon complex to Xed he out. I digress.
The VI transitioned from a little neglected sleepy hollow with a subsistence agricultural economy to a service-based economy—-tourism and financial services. This new economy created new jobs and skills, requiring import of labour. Again, the VI was not a ghetto, slum, before mass immigration. In regards to immigration and immigrants, I borrow an observation from a friend and fellow blogger who asserts that as a community’s standards of living, quality of life, per capita income, etc, improves, locals are disinclined to perform some tasks which must be done. A community have several choices when this occurs, ie, a) do nothing, b)increase the price to do the job to incentivize locals to perform them, or c) import labour. The VI chose the latter. However, the immigration and labour policies was not effectively managed to meet the mass immigration inflow. Today, though, the VI can boast of having one of the highest standards of living, quality of life,, per capita income, etc., in the region. In arguably, expats came to work, contributing in the growth and development.
Moreover, all VI residents must take pride in the community, keeping it clean, aesthetically pleasing.
Mitch full of sh**.