Cost of rent has to be controlled — Walwyn
Former legislator Myron Walwyn has suggested that there needs to be a more focused approach on improving the cost of living for persons in the BVI.
Walwyn, while speaking on the cost of living issue on the NDP Radio programme last evening, February 27, shared a suite of measures to address the current economic situation and commented that rent control should be among these considerations.
According to the former Education Minister, the issue of economic improvement should also be tackled by increasing salaries and decreasing expenses.
He further suggested that some young people may be among those that find the cost of rent in the territory out of reach, particularly as they are comparing the various living options on offer.
“The cost of rent in the country has to be controlled to some extent,” Walwyn stated. “You have young people who might want to start off on their own and you go to one place and the rent is one amount, the comparable place, you know, you see the rent is a lot higher.”
Walwyn’s comments echoed similar sentiments previously expressed by Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley on the issue of fair tenancy laws.
Retirees will always feel the pinch
In the meantime, Walwyn suggested that retirees appeared to be a neglected group, having not received an increase in their retirement allowance for nearly a decade.
“I look at a particular group of persons, retirees, for instance. When last retirees got an increase?” Walwyn asked. “You have persons who are living off of a pension amount probably that hasn’t been increased for 10, 15 years while there’s an increase in cost of living constantly.”
Walwyn suggested that this situation also needs to be addressed and has to be looked at from different angles. He further noted that, regardless of what is done in the area of the cost of goods, those persons in that small bracket will “feel the pinch” all the time.
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No body want to hear him let he go tell the courts about the $1.6 m wall and his arrest and charges
you could feel the hatred from you with that statement. Get away! No space for people like you. Take your hate and insecurity elsewhere. I wish Myron all the best. He is a good man and still has a lot of good to offer this country.
The average person living in this country is paying rent for their homes. This country very badly needs rights for people paying rent like others do, but it’s a tough sell when the people renting have so much sway on local politics.
control the banks and the housing project and leave business alone.
control your price in your restaurants.
another election gimmick
Will you also be controlling the banks while you’re at it? Even the government can’t provide affordable housing (i.e. Joe’s Hill Manor). Start with the banks and their ridiculous interest rates.
Thank you very much for this Mr. Walwyn. Welcome back!
I want to hear him. I trust Myron more than all those others. This whole thing is a witch hunt orchestrated by the political elite to marginalize him. I was elated to see that he made the decision to run. Myron is a good person and I am confident that his name will be cleared. I have worked in the government service for 15 years now and what I follow about this case is plain nonsense and those pushing it fully well know this. Go Myron!
Finally, someone who cares about addressing real issues. Youths and elderly.
If you can only ignore the messenger here for a second, you will find that his message is important! How in the world can persons, young or old, afford the cost of living on their own at this time. Rent has increased, electricity has increased, groceries have increased, doctors’ visits have increased. Everything has increased! Aspiring politicians, seasoned politicians all must now do the right thing! Though the COI took place we still cannot see the right things being put in place. I know that the Belonger status for instance is a vexing issue for Virgin Islands who feel that the granting of Belonger status to persons who’ve met the requirements of 10 years is wrong. You must know as well that it still isn’t and never has been applied by the law. Those new applicants since the COI findings who’ve resided in the Territory for 10 years or more are now applying for residence status, not Belonger status.Those persons who’ve previously been granted residence status are now applying for Belonger status. It’s taking more than 20 years in reality to become a Belonger, except by marriage which takes between 6 and 10 years! Persons are eligible after 5 years. The processing of these applications can take 2 – 4 years or more. Having said all of this we are all aware that some people “get lucky” by knowing the right people. Let’s hope that this luck ends and the law prevails when this whole COI debacle is behind us.
Let’s hope that rents are indeed controlled. Let’s hope that those who win the next election really do have the people and the country’s interest at heart. I would expect that they will indeed see the voters beyond the polls this time. Let’s hope for proper roads, not the kind of farm roads we are forced to traverse daily. Let’s hope that all our taxpayers dollars are used for the development of our country.
Let’s hope that something is done about the loud scooters! Let’s hope that there exists a noise abatement act that is enforced. Let’s hope for more street lights and regulations as it it relates to the outside appearance/cleanliness of the surroundings of our private residence vis a vie our neighbors, and in and around dumpsters. Let’s hope that stray dogs that threaten our lives, and other stray animals stop roaming our streets. Yes, tourists enjoy seeing the chickens and cats on the roads and at open restaurants and in the middle of the road but they are a nuisance! Let’s vote as we must and keep our new government accountable from day 1!
It need addressing but you cant put kart before horse you gotta control the banks first else how you not just fixing one problem by creating another you gonna just be moving the struggle from the tenant to the landlord.
The rent allowance for Mosquito and Necker workers is $1,800 in Virgin Gorda. Why you want to save this guy money!?
If they paying, you are a fool not to take the money. The other poor folks making $6/hour out of luck!
Pure election BS. No way will any elected official propose a cap on a voter’s use of his property. When zoning was proposed in 1994 all the elected officials except the proposer said no way whould they support an effort to control the landowners use of their property, which is why we have bizarre mixes of use; bars next to churches, historical sites, etc.
How about instead get a bunch of your wealthy country persons together and build low income housing!!
Would /did you talk to the insurance companies??from talking pi**?
Remember he said , he cannot do anything for the Locals..I guess he needed a Mean test. Lol!
You come back with that l** again. It will not work this time. Your l**ng put the country in the hands of the head coach and see where we are. I believe that you forgot that locals pay rent as well.
Dont worry Mr Walwyn, you will soon be getting , free accommodation from His Majesty as a reward for what you have done to BVI.
How many rental units are owned by belongers who don’t think twice about charging as much as possible to expats? What is the reason to believe that they will willingly control rents? Laws? In a country where accountability is not part of its culture?
The problem here is everyone works off emotions and ignore statistics. Decisions and policies should be based on hard data and not how people wake up and feel on any given day. When the BVI starts taking things seriously and understanding the economics, data etc are apolitical, then we will see some progress. Until then we will have people talking out the a** about things they have no clue about. I like Myron but nothing needs to be ‘controlled’. We need to figure out the root causes and address them accordingly, not pander to the regular man giving the impression that government can just press a button and change the cost of living. It is much more complex than that and need real thinkers involved. For starters, the BVI needs more revenue generation in the private sector and less dependence on government. With that comes the nasty word, INVESTORS!
I sincerely pity people like you. You must be a broken person inside to say these types of things to other people. This place would not get any better once it has citizens like you. Someone has brought a serious issue forward and this is the level you have taken the conversation to. Whoever you are you should be ashamed of yourself but I guess you have no shame.
Noooo One will be telling me what I must rent my home for unless Branson et al in the world of Rental is required to do the same.
Half these unappreciative ungrateful and destructive wanderers in the VI should be paying for the priveledge to be here under a roof.
Cost of living beyond your means? Move to one of the other 200 countries in the World.
You have that choice and I have the choice to price my goods at satisfactory profit if/ when the market allows. Free enterprise in a Capitalist Society.
The problem starts with the government, The governments greed is what really cause these high prices. If the government would ease up on the taxes of the banks, businesses alike, then the cost of food, utilitys, education, medical and transportation etc would ease up on the people! Then also the government now will be able to enforce a controlled cost of living for the all persons of the BVI. Its like a chain reaction, the government comes down hard on the businesses and then the consumers feel it! The Bvi so customed to paying high prices that we just keep quiet and accept whats thrown on the table for us until one day we realise that poverty on the rise.
A great idea as long as the government has the funds to build properties, and, be the landlord, because, no private enterprise is going to build or own rental properties if income is controlled.
ok so I want a two bedroom for eight hundred, when you get those price controlled please let me know.
But he has and the DPP had one job to present the evidence in the case and nothing to date.
people always taking people words and twisting it. He did more for locals and expat more than what this VIP has done in the 3 years.
VIP and PVIM is not for expats and they are for a selected few of locals.
The problem isn’t the government, the problem is a very small population that imports everything and this entitlement attitude that despite the small size, we can open 1,000 businesses and they should all make everyone rich. Wake up! The BVI needs more people, more investments, less people depending on government to get by. With more people, the bank fees, supermarket rates everything is spread across a wider base.
He looking out foh he people dem dats y he gone purcell to run
We have to face the reality of life today. Yesterday’s price is not today’s.
Rent is out of control. There are a number of factors affecting it but it is ridiculous what some people charge. There needs to be some guidelines.
Mr. Walwyn, it seems like every four years you have sang the same tune. You like other politicians seem to only understand the common man struggle when you need our vote. We the people have had high rental rates for more than a decade now. For the times that we have voted you in what have you and your administration done for us? I am sick and tired of being sick and tired of these stories. Please stop the promises and let’s get this country fixed. No more promises, solutions please.
You should have run at large, You have learnt your lesson. I want you back in.
Welcome back Myron
Do not allow hatred to cloud what is best for this country.
Do not allow the born here syndrome to use someone to help move forward the country
Do not allow the ONLY criteria of born here to decide competency
Allow your minds to think big
Who has been the most competent Minister of Education in the past 3 decades?
Which Minister has pushed the most young people in the past 3 decades?
Which Minister gave ALL High School equal opportunities to the right of CXC examination ?
Which Minister had the vision to build a Technical College for our boys and girls not academically inclined?
Which Minister brought in programs at HLSCC to better equipped our PRINCIPALS to execute their jobs in a more competitive and competent manner?
Which Minister introduce Smart Boards and online training so we had the first cohorts of students writing CXC Caribbean wise on line ?
Which Minister began awarding teachers for their stalwart contributions to Education on a National basis ?
Which Minister took interest in SPECIAL NEEDS children and had teachers specifically trained ?
THE LIST can go on isn’t that what intelligent people do when deciding who is best for the job .
The vicious hateful comments shows how porky minded and shallow ..: Think above and out of the box . This is the 21st century
This illiterate electorate will bite anything that resembles a bone.
Apartments are considered businesses so let’s see him try to attempt swinging that garbage
It’s called ( PROPAGANDA ) and that wigged dude on the yellow site who bis specializes in that , is at work again especially since the BIG youth kicked he and his precious WiG oFF his throne , ( he thought he owned for life ) ? so he on the loose / another one of his hobby is blogging racism under different names ?, that KID needs help , CSC should pray for him / or a vacation with the owner of BALO- Mr PuMkiN
After costing us millions on a wall he desperate to get his hands on the treasury but we say no way
Hmmm … if you are charged with a crime should you run for elected office? With Head Coach on trial in Fl, would it be a good look for the territory? Kinda messed up that this is a reality for him and anyone that is considering voting for Myron…. Let’s let’s talk about AW. Should he even be on a ballot? He made it past the VIP caucus. Says a lot about the VIP. No knock on A the man, just what our position would be dealing with the UK and others. We already blacklisted on on of the EU’s list. Do we need this issue now?
I can’t believe people falling for this,every election politicians telling us what we want to hear
Thought Myron was smart. He is bright but not wise. All he went through when he was lawfully elected as leader. He needed to Run independent at -Large , leave the Cobras and Zebras alone, they will always see him as an Island Man. Focus on uniting and improving the BVI.
It is not reasonable profit, it is extraordinary profit. Don’t use the banks as excuse. 80% of the houses are already paid. Its just GREED. Its a tough sell Walwyn but at the least you try to appeal to good human decency. I know of this situation where the father told me the apartment was paid up 15 years ago so he don’t have to kill the renters. Six months after his death the daughter who got the property incease the rent by $300.
While we are on the subject of high charges, let’s talk about capping the hourly rate lawyers charge. Isn’t $700 plus per hour steep, when a mason or a carpenter is earning $18 per hour.
Been arrested and charged is onr thing, but its the prosecutiin now to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. I can tell you, that wont be an easy task
Is the price exorbitant while the food ain’t all that? Am sure like myself you’ve never eaten there but hurt hate envy whichever one is sorely being expressed. Go get your head right by a psych ologist/iatrist.
Increase? FOR Retirement? Let social security handle that…. no need to increase annual budget paid for by tax payers.
Who will protect the homeowners from these banks? Who will protect the homeowners rights to evict non paying tenants?
I hope those landlord are paying their taxes and dues like income tax, social security and nhi for those same rent collected.
you are a sheep
Was he concerned when his government decided not to give civil servants increments or raises? These rich people don’t care about the poor. Don’t be fooled by political chatter.