Expat views on constitution shouldn’t be turned away
Constitutional reform commissioner Maya Barry has argued that views from around the territory should be welcomed in the ongoing constitutional review, including those from expatriate residents.
Speaking on the Real Talk show, Barry acknowledged that there is a fear or concern about persons who may have lived in the territory for just a few months having the opportunity to weigh in on the ongoing constitutional review process.
However, Barry said that the CRC feels that there is merit in those views. “We are looking at it from the sense that there might be value in the comments,” Barry stated.
According to the commissioner, many persons in the territory’s expat community are professional persons who come from countries where they also have issues.
“All the issues that we face may not be unique, and we get some very valuable insight from persons from elsewhere,” she stated. “They also live here, they have things to contribute in terms of what we can do, what we are doing now, what can be improved and we shouldn’t turn those away at all.”
The commissioner further argued that if there is indeed a fear by persons within the Virgin Islands, then that should be an imperative for persons to come out and for them to share their own views on the constitutional review. “We welcome all comments, and they certainly will be weighed, and we would look at everything that we see,“ she added.
In the meantime, commissioner Noni Georges said she, too, has faith that the CRC will be able to properly weigh and assess the views given by residents in the territory, but noted that the process does not end with the CRC.
“We [will] write the report and make the recommendations based on the topics that people felt are most important to them. However, it’s a negotiating committee that will take the whole process forward,” she explained.
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dis iz ahwe ting
from anybody are welcome but in the end it all comes down to recommendations by the CRC to the UK for a new BVI constitution.
Are you a human with certain inalienable rights, or a subject, and belonging to a race which deems owner of and itself superior to you?
Those are but two of the racial and political constructs and contradictions that still affect the intellect of the colonialist when an occupied people seek to emancipate themselves from the reigns of colonial and racial terror.
Hence, the CRC will not promote anything that is in the whole interest of the people of the Virgin Islands, as their is another more benign but powerful force guiding the entire process…
We had better realize what our lot will ever be under such mentalities and begin our sojourn into human self reliance and development.
Because you all are so bitter against who is not blood ties there is more to come ..As a Christian we must learn to love . HOw can you have a functioning society with such a huge population of expatriate without representation?? This is why there is so much divide . Find common grounds to exist in harmony . The church is not doing anything to heal this help with this white elephant . Some of them are of the same mind . Even though you say the right thing because you are not blood the do not want you to have a say neither in the church nor the civil service, not the learning institutions etc . This madness is going to tear apart the country . Why are people so disrespectful and discepible if you are not related
It is the white population, Asians and educated Caribbean “ down island’ people they are after . We see through you all with these ideas like plastic bag . If you elevate yourself or come elevated above any local while living here in any financial, educational or social aspect then you are not viewed as an asset to the country . You are viewed as a threat to their existence , you want to take over – . This is slavish mentality . That is why we are heading down a slippery slope . The horse already gone through the barn door …. Look at the tragic events taking place nobody is waking up that something is wrong ? Drama everyday in the news —- Who to blame ?
Andrew
People follow leaders —- Leaders lead a nation
“No taxation without representation.”
” HOw can you have a functioning society with such a huge population of expatriate without representation??”” What a statement…
First, the BVI did not ask anyone besides specialist career people to come and assume positions in areas the counrty had shortage in personell.
Second, Only in a small community like Tola would such luny tunne be raised in the first instance.Would you go to Stt, Pr, USA,UK or other and raise such idiotic statements.
Third, why do so many, Black and white, down islanders, UK and other whites and rgas seem to suggest that BVI and its people is a special place that owes them something?