BVI News

Theodore James

Over the past few months there have been many talks on taking responsibility and having pride in ourselves and in our territory. On the national front, our leaders have taken on one aspect of developing a sense of pride through a national song and dress competition. When the song and dress are chosen, they should represent us as a people.

The more we listen, the more we hear of projects that will bring more visitors from all over the world to experience the secrets that the Virgin Islands has to offer.  With all the good that is being done, I intrinsically believe that pride goes beyond the superficial.

VI Triple Crown Experience

My experience at the first leg of the ‘Triple Crown’ was wonderful for the most part. People were out to have fun in the sun and to enjoy every moment possible. With all the excitement in the air, I felt my attitude change to one of disappointment.

To see so much disrespect to our sovereign ruler, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and to our invited United States Virgin Islanders and their leadership as both nations’ national anthems were played, my demeanor could not cover the shame.

Though many people were standing, so many more where sitting, children were running all over the place and there were so much talking going on. As I stood, my heart sunk because I realized that not many people were sensitive to the moment.

Environment

One of the greatest ways we can express pride for territory and self is by participating in keeping our surroundings clean and beautified. I have visited other territories where garbage was almost everywhere you turn. Their government did not provide sufficient garbage bins throughout the territory but to know that here in the Virgin Islands we have garbage bins all over the place yet so much garbage can be found through our  mangroves, on our beaches and around our communities.

Volunteerism

What about me? What is in it for me? Since before the general elections last year to this day, those are the questions I regularly hear. There is no doubt that the times are hard for many of us and sometimes those two questions must be asked.

However, it is hard to ignore that more and more of us are becoming selfish. It has come to the point where everything is about getting paid.

There are many groups that volunteer their time, finances and expertise and that is good however there is so much more that can be done to better ourselves and our communities if we pull together to help remedy the issues that surround us. Must we continue to rely on the government to solve the ills that plagues our society? If it is that we desire, then we should not have any problems paying more taxes.

Legislation

Having had discussions with a few government agencies, I realized that certain laws were not in place that addressed the concerns I raised. This led me to ask these questions.

· Should there be a law that fines property owners for unkempt yards?
· Should there be an added tax to cover the cost of garbage collection especially since garbage is being left on the side of roads and not in the bins?
· Should there be an increase in property taxes to cover the cost of processing raw sewage once buildings are hooked up and the sewerage operations are complete and fully functional?
· Should property owners be fined for dumping or pumping waste water on roads?
· Should there be a law that fines property owners who neglect to clear overgrown shrub and grass that follow their property line that is in line with roadways.
· Should there be a law that mandates property owners to landscape their properties?

The point is, no one should be forced to clean and beautify their yards and surroundings, it should be habitual. However this is not a practice for the majority of land owners in the BVI.

I continually hear people say that we should not copy other places and speak of the way other people in other territories live. However, I believe that if other places have a system that works in alleviating problems, then why not learn, amend the system or law to suit us and adapt it if it deals with the problems we are facing.

National Anthem and Territory Song

I do not recall while attending Primary or High School that it was mandatory for students to learn and recite the national anthem. At most, all that was required was to know the first verse and to standstill at the playing or singing of the national anthem. Not only that, the only time I recall where there was practice or talk about the national anthem was in preparation for the Queen’s Birthday Parade.

As I look at the way pride is expressed in places like North Korea and Japan, I wonder where our sense of nationalism is when it comes to giving homage to our Monarch. How many of our children in primary and secondary schools know the national anthem? Will our students be required to learn the national anthem and the territory song? And even if there are those who may not know more than one verse of both songs, do we understand the importance of showing utmost respect? Are athletes the only people that understand this?

We are proud when delegations represent the BVI in the Olympics, regional biking, culinary competitions and other significant activities, but pride must be expressed beyond sending teams to the Olympics to compete. Having pride goes beyond recycling, reducing of waste and reusing of containers. Pride should be expressed from within the soul of a man, a woman and child.

I have seen where people do not have concrete homes with big spaces, the car with the tricked out rims and the salary to travel the globe but their yards are kept manicured, their homes are clean and organized and they present themselves as proud and unashamed.

It does not matter what our government and non-profit organizations do to beautify this place for visitors and for us who live here. If we do not perceive that what is being done is an investment and a benefit to our lives, we will never care nor cherish the beauty this territory has and the beauty that is to come.

If we believe that what is being done to improve our territory is in the best interest of us, then we must consider ourselves as stakeholders and as stakeholders, we must demonstrate a higher level of pride, love and respect for self, among ourselves and the territory of which we reside.

Creating that level of pride requires an attitude adjustment.

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