Our people are dwelling on negativity
Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton said many residents continue to dwell on negativity despite the positivity and potential that exist in the Virgin Islands.
Skelton urged residents and elected leaders to reject the narrative that local leaders cannot accomplish any good for society.
“Don’t let anybody tell us we’re all that bad and can’t do anything good. The Bible says good and bad exist together. The one that succeeds is the one you feed the most. And all our people seem to be dwelling on now is what is bad, the blogs, everything that is negative we are swallowing it,” Skelton said in the House of Assembly on July 13.
The seasoned legislator posited that though problems exist in society, there is still much to be proud of, especially the advancements seen in health and education. He said these developments were brought about by policies implemented by Virgin Islanders and not the British government.
“I grew up in a time when only a few of us could make it to secondary school and the rest of the people had to go find jobs and learn trade and things like that. The British government did not help us with high school, they did not! And our healthcare system, they did not! These are all the good things we have done,” Skelton added.
He also said people may conclude that leaders can accomplish nothing based on the current situation in the BVI, where much change and turbulence is occurring. However, he said this is “only a snapshot” that does not capture the entire story of the BVI and its progress over the years.
“That’s what I was trying to tell members earlier today – you take a snapshot and you believe that is life. That is not life! If you go back, you’ll see all the good things this country has done to get here. So to just dispel all the good things and say we’re a bunch of criminals and thieves and all the negative things, what about all the good that happened in this country,” Skelton said.
Despite the negative international press the territory has received in the recent past, elected leaders generally take offence to negative statements residents make about the BVI. They maintain that the BVI has much to be proud of as a low-crime jurisdiction and an economy that remains competitive despite its size.
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You babble and dance around the true point here like every good politician!
In the grand scheme of things why don’t you put forward examples of advancement and achievement versus the billions squandered since the late 80’s. In inequity as to what we have received for those revenues is staggering. Secondly to date, not one of you talking heads have explained where all that money has gone. It seems a great many elected members past, and present have seen remarkable growth in both their businesses and personal wealth – coincidence?
We as a people have every right to be disgusted with what we have gotten for the revenues that have entered the Public’s purse over the last few decades! We should be the shining example of all in the Caribbean to see, yet here we are, with very little to show for it but unwarranted arrogance and dilapidated infrastructure, poor social services, pitiful education, banking cartels, rogue police, etc., etc. .
As a people we are torn between of what we are more ashamed of …. our elected officials or the current state of our Country. Regardless of which comes first they are intertwined with the ineptitude of those we elected.
Explain that to us please Sir!
For nearly 50 years the BVI have had a water issue that non of the leaders seems to get right! Roads are still a hot mess! Many government departments are under staffed, underpaid and highly neglected etc. The problem with the BVI is that they would build structures with a hefty budget,finish up to 75% and hand over the keys fooling the public that it’s 100% ready. Then there is no maintenance plan to keep things running smoothly and all goes to shit in a few years!
Halfway through the year of 2023, I suspect the last 6 months would be like revelations. Not just in the VI, but global instability and fault lines are in place for great world changes!
Be prepared for world in chaos it’s going down.
Hon. Ronnie I am disappointed in you to say the least. I think your Senior years are creeping up on you. Can you name some of the positives that our Territory has experienced over the last 16 years?
Electricity Bad.
Education losing most of its Teachers.
Roads in a mess.
Waste Management a mess.
Water and Sewerage a mess.
Drugs and Guns rampant.
Healthcare only by the mercies of God you come out alive.
Treasury empty, can”t get our Increments.
NHI Brokes.
Social Security will be brokes in a few years.
So tell me, only the people seeing and knowing this and ALL you Politricians gone BLIND??
That’s the problem in this Territory. You all want to keep the real truth away from us BUT we know better. If this is what you gone in there to spew, Thank God you didn’t make it to Premiership..
Agreed! So many past and present legislators have seriously wealthy whilst serving as politicians. How does this happen while the country suffers? How have they prospered so much in personal business and not used the same business sense to make the country prosper?
Or is their wealth built at the expense of the country?
@ Salty Fish….
There are persons in this country who as long as their business is thriving, as long as their cheques are clearing, as long as they can get the occasional or I dare say regular handout, as long as their friends and family can continue to benefit…. all is well with the BVI.
They have no care for this country. Some of them fighting tooth and nail for positions in this country yet we are seeing no advancement of the territory. But those cheques always clearing though.
Always remember they was a gentleman, who at one point would be down on his knees, almost to tears and surrounded by so called “prayer warriors” saying he was praying for this country.
Now tell me did Govt paid Julian Willock’s legal bills from Mark’s reinstatement to COI accusations? to millions in fishers farmers to millions in district #1 to million Covid relief to purchasing Chateau in VG land next to it Toad Hall I just can’t see why people of the country can’t see what’s happening under their nose.
1/ Mr. Skelton are their corrupt politicians? 2/ are their dishonest politicians? We all know the answer is “yes’. That’s the narrative. Truth cannot be negative…
You watching your country go to the dogs due to corruption, continuous poor decision making and people turning to crime and when you speak about it you dwelling on negativity. Make a list of positive advancements the bvi has made in the last 10-15 years then compare it to the list of negatives ; the negatives win by a landslide. Meanwhile nothing getting do to stop what’s been happening with bad spending by government, everything still cost double or more the suggested retail price, crime rise to where somebody being shot is not particularly shocking and all the infrastructure falling apart. We let in so many expats that we vastly outnumbered in our own country then complaining that our culture and values disappearing; Some people opinion on the state of the bvi only considers their personal situation but big picture is we not doing good.
The truth of BVI’s progress from Granting aid is not disputable, and no one is trying to dispute that. However, to use past glory days as justification for what’s happening today is disingenuous. We cannot live in the past, no matter how positive it may sound. The negative things happening today is what we need to deal with, address and correct, set new course for continued betterment for all the people, that’s what’s on the table now, not glory days gone by.
Mr Skelton, based on these statements attributed
to you, you are more nauseatingly disrespectful and dismissive to we the people and their varied sufferings imposed by the elected Governments than I could ever imagine.
Why you feel compelled
to announce your insults so publicly can be attributed to your disdain for those who trusted you enough to vote you into Office.
I wonder how many of them will be wearing court clothes next year?