BVI News

The Virgin Islands (VI) is at a crossroad in its development.  Many of its sons and daughters contributed immensely to its present ascent up the growth and development mountain. But there is still much work needed to propel it to the mountain top.

Consequently, a modern-day Joseph is needed to continue, complete, and sustain the ascent.

In a few short months, Virgin Islanders will stream to the polls to peacefully and democratically elect a new government for the next four years to continue the ascent.

This new government will be faced with a myriad of   critical issues.  Some of these critical issues include lack of effective master planning, an effective education and training plan, an unraveling social fabric, accessible and affordable health care system, economic diversification, slumping economy, sound and strategic public policies, effective protection of environmental/cultural/archeological resources, skyrocketing crime, among other issues. Thus, it needs a modern-day Joseph to address these issues.

By now many of you are probably thinking that it must be a full moon and     that I’m missing a few screws with all this talk of a modern-day Joseph.  Fellow Virgin Islanders, hang with me and read along, for there is a salient point to the story. And at the end you can tell me if I’m really out in left field.

Many of you are familiar with the Old Testament book of Genesis that narrates the story of Joseph, the eleventh and favorite son of Jacob. Joseph’s envious brothers sold him to some Ishmaelites who took him down to Egypt and, in turn, sold him to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh.

In Egypt, Joseph was blessed, well-favored, and quickly recognized and rewarded for his demonstrated leadership and management talents and skills. For example, Potiphar appointed him overseer of his home and all his property. But Joseph fell in disfavor with Potiphar’s wife who falsely accused him of accosting her and had him cast into the dungeon (prison).  However, even in prison, Joseph’s leadership and management skills surfaced; the Keeper of the prison committed all the other prisoners to him.  In modern parlance, Joseph had the “Midas Touch,” for everything he touched had a positive outcome and turned platinum.

Joseph’s crowning achievement in Egypt was Pharaoh appointing him ruler over all Egypt to coordinate the logistics of planting, harvesting, and storing food during seven plentiful years to feed Egypt and surrounding lands during the seven lean years that immediately followed the seven plentiful years. This action resulted from Joseph’s interpreting of Pharaoh’s dream.  Nonetheless, Joseph’s action during the plentiful years was successful and positioned Egypt to meet the need of its citizens during the lean years.

Clearly, he was a strong leader and an effective manager, demonstrating the ability to get the right things done at the right time.  Moreover, Joseph grasped the vision/mission—meeting Egypt’s needs during the lean years—and developed plans, goals and objectives, strategies, and tactics to achieve the mission. Similarly, the situation in Ancient Egypt mirrors the current situation in the VI, and as in Egypt, a Joseph-like leader is needed to prepare the territory for the future. The gist of the modern-day Joseph reference is to highlight the need and importance of using current resources to prepare for the future.

Currently, the VI enjoys one of the highest standard of living, as well as one of the highest per capita income, in the region; the VI’s per capita income is approximately $41K.  Further, tourism and financial services are the pillar and the foundation of the economy.  Information gleaned from the government website indicates that tourism and financial services account for approximately 70% of GDP, 65% of all income, and 75% of government recurring annual revenue.  Moreover, the current year proposed expenditure budget is approximately $260M ($288M in projected revenues) with a GDP of over $1.0B. The VI is doing well economically relative to other countries in the region.

Nonetheless, a review of the annals of history shows that  nations, empires….etc (Roman, Greek, British, Ethiopian, Assyrian, Mayan) rise and fall, undergoing phases of (1) difficulty and challenge, (2) survival, (3) growth (comfort), and (4) decline.  The U.S., Europe, as well as the rest of  the world, is  mired in  a stagnant economic downturn, resulting in slowed spending, reduced demand, diminished output, and increased unemployment.

Moreover, gazing beyond our shores shows that some of our close neighbors who once had booming economies are currently facing economic challenges; and we can learn many lessons from their experiences. The VI is not immune to booms and busts. It has had this script and seen this rise and fall movie before.  In the 1800′s sugar was king and the core industry in its economy, albeit, a plantation economy.  But emancipation, the Sugar Duties Act (1846), tax revolt, coupled with a series of devastating hurricanes, hastened the decline of the sugar industry.

After the decline of the sugar industry, the economy wilted and Virgin Islanders resorted to subsistence farming, livestock raising, fishing…….etc to make a living. Additionally, many Virgin Islanders emigrated to St. Thomas and Santo Domingo in search of work. And if we are not mindful and vigilant, we may experience a sequel to this movie.

Loss of competitive advantages, internal instability, rising crime, offshoring concerns, U.S. and European policy changes, and economic downturns in major markets are some threats that can adversely impact the economy. Often times movies are fairy tales and make believe, but this movie is real and affects real lives.

Now is the time to shore up our competitive strengths and capitalize on opportunities to stop/slow the production of this movie sequel. This bust was driven, perhaps, by events beyond the VI’s control. But can the next bust or slow down enjoy a softer landing?

The mid 1800′s to the mid 1900′s was not an economically prosperous time for the VI.  Due to World War I and World War II or even the lack of interest, assistance from the Britain was limited. Nevertheless, the VI’s fortune started to change in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s with the emerging of tourism and financial services.

Today, these two industries are the twin pillars of the economy. They have improved and transformed the quality of life and the standard of living, catapulting the VI in a few decades from a little sleepy hollow to a migration Mecca. It’s a preferred destination for job seekers from around the globe. But to maintain this perch at the tip of the growth and development spear will require strong  leadership and effective governance.

The next national leader must lead the VI on a path to sustain and sustainable development. And as Joseph used the seven plentiful years to prepare Egypt for the seven lean years, the next Premier too must leverage the VI’s current prosperous circumstances to position it for either cyclical or structural economic downturn(s). She/he must use today’s resources to create a growth multiplier effect that provides cascading exponential value throughout the territory and well into the future. What needs to be done to capitalize on our current good fortune?

With effective short- and long-range planning, the current good fortune can be used to position the VI for the future.  As such I propose that we consider the following actions in planning for the future:

Infrastructure Services
Water and Sewage System. Program, budget, design, construct, maintain and operate reliable, quality, quantitative, safe, and easily expandable water and wastewater systems that meet the needs and expectations of growing community/population;

Transportation System (road, airport, seaport). Budget, design, construct, maintain, and operate a modern, world-class transportation system that meet the growing needs of the community;

Drainage System. Design, construct, maintain, and operate a safe, adequately sized and functional drainage collection and conveyance system that can accommodate increasing volume and velocity as result of land use changes;

Local Land Ownership. Protect and preserve land(islands), a non-renewable resource,  to the maximum extent practicable so that  they can  stay under Virgin Islander ownership into perpetuity;

Electric Power System. Program, budget, design,  construct, maintain, and operate a reliable, high quality  power generating and distributing system that meet the needs of residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Explore alternative and more cost effective means of providing electric power, i.e., wind, solar, thermal…..etc; and

Environmental/Natural/Cultural/Archeological Resources. Balance development needs with the need to protect natural, cultural and archeological resources for the use, education, and enjoyment of current Virgin Islanders and Virgin Islanders yet unborn.

Social Services
Education and Training. Develop and implement a world class, competitive education and training program that provide Virgin Islanders with  the tools and skills  to effectively fill any employment opportunities in the VI, as well as reduce the dependence on imported labor;

Health Care. Develop and put on line  a quality, accessible, and affordable modern health care system;

Housing. Create and pursue public-private venture  opportunities to provide quality, affordable housing for all income level in the community;

Immigration and Labor. Revise, implement, and enforce immigration and labor policies commensurate with the needs of the territory;

Art and Culture. Partner with the private sector to promote opportunities for celebrating and experiencing local, Caribbean, and international art and culture; and

Public Safety (Police, Fire).  Establish and promote policing (judicial system) framework that protect and respect individual rights and freedom yet keep the peace, fight and deter crime, and provide justice. Maintain fire system that is responsive relative to international standards and functional to protect life and property in urban, as well as suburban areas.

Productive Services
Tourism and Financial Services. Work at diversifying the economy by exploring and developing other economies to supplement tourism and financial services to sustain the high standard of living and quality of life that Virgin Islanders have grown accustom to.  Brake the plantation economy syndrome by moving from a passive to active incorporation into the global economy;

Light Commercial and Industrial Industries. Research and promote opportunities for  developing light commercial and industrial activities;

Fishing. Protect the VI territorial waters from international “poaching.” And  establish the regulatory and policy framework and support for enhancing  fishing for domestic consumption and  possible export of excess capacity; and

Farming. Promote and support local farming to supplement production of natural and healthier food, reduce imported food bill, and to enhance food security.

These are but some of the national issues that needs to be addressed.

Undoubtedly, we cannot deny that we are a small island nation (territory) with a dearth of natural resources.  We are a have not nation, for we have neither oil nor other natural resources that our trading partners demand to drive and sustain their economies. Instead, our economy is driven by external investments in tourism and financial services. And if one these stumble our economy can tumble. Virgin Islanders have tasted and grown accustom to a high standard of living and an improving quality of life; and they will be enraged with any retreat from this status. Thus, we need to take advantage of our current good fortune to prepare for the future; we need a modern-day Joseph to lead us on this journey.

But   which leader and leadership team will fill this role?
Is it the Honorable Premier Ralph T. O’Neal, VIP; Honorable Dr. D. Orlando Smith, NDP; Conrad Maduro, UP; Natalio Wheatley/Shaina Smith/Elton Callwood, PPA; or L. Allen Wheatley, PoP; or others that may emerge?

You decide. This is a crucial election with much at stake; and all eligible voters need to register and vote for the modern-day Joseph with the technical, administrative, interpersonal and problem-solving skills; coupled with the discipline, moral and ethical standing, courage,  potential, unselfishness,  humility, and  vision,  who can lead the VI through this crucial period of its history.

• Home
• About
• Free Classifieds
• Columns
• Contact Us
• Caribbean News Links
• International News Links