Premier on Festival debate: Accept change and evolve!
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has urged persons to accept the changing face of the Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival, arguing that the territory’s melting pot of different cultures and other influences are the most likely reasons behind the new look of the BVI’s signature cultural event.
“I think everyone who has access to the media, who can travel, you know, every society that has people who come from other places, it’s going to influence your culture. You know, we are not in a vacuum,” Dr Wheatley said at a press conference yesterday.
Premier Wheatley’s comments come in the wake of a smouldering dispute over the evolution of the traditional cultural depiction of the Virgin Islands’ heritage into what some have dubbed a carnival-like atmosphere, particularly during the festival parade and a few other traditional emancipation events.
Decades ago, there were just a few families which were directly descended from slavery that were living in the Virgin Islands, the Premier explained, but he said all of that has since changed.
“You will expect that things are not going to be the same. They’re going to change. And persons will have to accept the fact that things change and things evolve,” he stated.
Moving forward though, Dr Wheatley said persons need to be intentional about the changes that they choose to accept and those that they choose to reject if there is a desire to retain elements of the culture that seem to be disappearing, particularly among the youth.
He argued that there is a definitive role for the Education Ministry to implement a strategy capable of influencing the younger generation and said his government has already taken steps in that direction with the introduction of a cultural and heritage policy.
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Yes let old Ms p tek that in her backside
You should be ashamed of your you Mr. Wheatley your parade not even teaching the teenagers children nothing that why in your d7 the young teenagers who go to the bvi high school using drugs you even don’t know this you don’t do nothing its a shame. Stop making yourself look good the governor and some persons don’t know the half of u but soon they will.
Evolve for the better ! Strive for quality.
Downgrading the character and the quality of life and the people of these VI to match what is the septic location in the northern hemisphere is a no win but typical of a people that are self destructive.
Self destruct and blame the wyt sector .
There was a cultural policy that was done before your government came in. Don’t lie to make it look like you started this Little Andrew.
Evolve in an effort to become what is the lowest of factors is typical of a self hatred mentality.
Why not choose better rather than lesser..
Nothing has been left that has not been adversely affected by the outlook of unworthiness recently adopted by the VI.
The schools/education is the most affected and predictably the dark future of these VI.
I wonder if anybody else like me is seeing that WE, The British Virgin Islands are in BIG TROUBLE. IF something don’t happen fast in our Political Environment, WE are doomed. Something happened some years ago and its not for the better. Even Ray Charles can see the BVI in trouble in all aspects. Where there is no vision, the people perish. The people of the BVI are perishing. We can name any area in the BVI and agree that something is not right. Many are seeing it and are talking but its just Talk, Talk, Talk…..
The irony of the near naked dry humping in the street while the Government offices turn you away for having bare shoulders or wearing shorts.
I can not go to any other country and tell them to change their culture because I reside there. This is foul! We can use other avenues to incorporate our “melting pot” Music Fest, perhaps the creation of some type of Carnival but the festival should retain its original purpose. Festival should be the time we showcase our culture and I do mean in its entirety! Fungi, food, clothing you name it but 2 tell us evolve is a slap to the face!
The reason its getting worst is that we PRETEND like the issue is the politicians and not us which is WRONG. You can elect who you want but until the PEOPLE change their nasty ways the BVI will continue its downward slide. Its always easy to blame elected officials but dig deep and you will realize the people are the real problem!! Instead of facing this fact and making the necessary changes we convince ourselves that we are not the problem, pass the blame elsewhere and carry on with our selfish lives. Look within!
I see the same faces, not sure what change he is referring to. I do see a different culture, one more perverse.
Natalio, I am probably your biggest critic. But finally you managed to say something sensible.
Good job.
“Accept change and evolve”
Unfortunately the BVI has accepted change and DEVOLVED
Starting with you as a choice for Premier, Sowande!
That’s the problem. We allow people to come here and follow their lead instead of the opposite.
The LCDs now dominate the narrative in the BeVI. It’s not about the older people being out of touch or culture evolving (so get over it), or any such thing. There is no redeeming value in the rampant vulgarity that is becoming the norm — the dry-humping in the parades, the gynecological displays by women as they bend over and gyrate in their thongs. The premier’s statement on the matter displays a disturbing absence of leadership in yet another area of BVI decline.
Change is good. Good change is Great! The owners and organizers of the troupes that displayed tasteless non-cultural costumes should make better choices next year. Culture should display the beauty of the country and tie into the reason for the celebration. The parade should be a family affair. In all honesty, the fit of the costumes on some participants was very disgusting to the eye.
@ Virgin Islander:
I Thank you for your response and I concur.
… by watching prepubescent girls in tiny costumes simulate having sex – no thank you.
This man need to listen to the people and stop being a bully.
The issue is the politicians and the lack of leadership. Only 400 people voted for the man who is Premier. Clearly the political system is the problem. He has no mandate.
At least I am a man who respects the Elders Not a Boy who dis-respects. There is a difference.
You are an old VIP crook trying to promote Natalio. This is pure foolishness he is saying. Set Ah brain dead thief.
Natalio has obviously been compromised and probably loves the views of the flesh that was on display. I am disappointed in his comments and his cavalier attitude towards concerns raised by the people.
Fine Premier, so it is ok to turn BVI into stripper’s island?. No, No, NO In that case, Lets not waste money promoting BVI culture. The newly found nudity culture should be adopted as our new culture. Remember, the new culture war is targeting our children, marriages and families. At what point will you place value on what the country stand for. The magistrate courts and high courts would also have to allow inappropriate dressing.
https://legal-explanations.com/definition/lewd/
*Examples of Lewd*
1.Public nudity or indecent exposure is considered lewd behavior.
2.Sexual harassment in the workplace could also be considered lewd conduct.
3.Lewd conduct can also refer to the possession or distribution of pornography.
4.Making sexual advances towards someone who has not given their consent could be deemed lewd behavior.
5.Indecent gestures or crude language can also be labeled as lewd conduct.
*Legal Terms Similar to Lewd*
1. Indecent Exposure – Refers to intentionally exposing one’s genitals or private parts in public.
2.Obscenity – Material that is considered obscene has no artistic or literary merit and is deemed offensive according to community standards.
3.Sexual Harassment – Refers to unwanted sexual advances or conduct in the workplace or other professional setting.
*Acts of gross indecency against children*
1. It is a criminal offence for any person to commit an act of gross indecency with a child who is under the age of fourteen years.
2. It is also a criminal offence for a person to incite a child under fourteen years of age to commit an act of gross indecency.
3. The penalty for each of these offences is imprisonment for three years or a fine of $3,000.00 or both such fine and imprisonment:
https://caribbean.unwomen.org/en/caribbean-gender-portal/caribbean-gbv-law-portal/gbv-country-resources/british-virgin-islands
Accept change yes, but for the better. These islands have gone to the dogs. Once upon a time we had laws governing decent attire in the BVI and the striptease acts visible in our parades and Rise and Shine tramps were not tolerated. Sodom and Gomorrah, and our leaders have no issue with this high level of vulgarity?
May Heaven help us all.
Yall don’t see this man is on a script and he have orders to fulfill? If we were strong, educated and unified under one identity then how would the outsiders take from us? They are using people who look like us but do not represent us by buying them out and giving orders. The face of the BVI should not be changing if it means it will no longer represent what MADE the bvi in the first place.
This place is unfixable until we change our culture of corruption
How do you think our current 13 Legislators would respond to the question of corruption in the BVI?
Do you think there is a large majority of BVI Nationals who would agree that there is an overwhelming percentage of corruption in the BVI?
After learning about the Auditor General’s Reports on the amount of Tax payers money that was distributed through Grants and other means to some people, What do you think should be done or what punishment if any should be meted out to those responsible or do you think NOTHING should happen?
A BVI Cultural festival with little to know actual BVI cultureI. Way to go buddy!
For sure other leaders in the Caribbean and UK would have already stepped down or resigned but our politicians have no fear because the population has gotten so use to it people either back them because they are benefitting for themselves or don’t say anything because nothing changes. We are on a part to destruction and the Wheatley one thinks he is the Moses, but all of them are one and the same. None to tell none to don’t do it.
You are 1000% correct. A small percentage of the newly elected Legislators are honest but don’t have the will power to call Wrong, Wrong. Poor BVI. Again I say poor BVI..
is saying )> sir what vis your take on our emancipation festival (our master ) well right now am focusing on the food which is finger licking good and am looking some guavaberry as part of our culture to sip on
Mr Natalio Wheatley, please tell me – “Can our history/enslavement of the black race change or evolve????No!! That is the primary reason for celebrating/remembering our enslaved ancestors and their subsequent freedom. So, dignity, respect, and honour in this remembering should be in the forefront of our minds ALL the time. The celebration is not done in a vacuum…look back from where we have come…lest we get drunk with wine and forget.
‘He who stands for nothing falls for anything!’
A native Virgin Islander to the Nth generation
Simple, establish a dress code for parade participants make sure it’s fully enforced.
People don’t change who they are as a people to accommodate anyone. When visitors visit a country they don”t want to see themselves, they want to see YOU. We are so gullible and simple that we allowed our culture to fade away so we are invisible as a People in our country. I am 67 years old and everhthing that I grew up with has faded away. Now we celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving and everything else. Do our children today know of Guy Fawkes night aka Pope night? We have American foot ball, basket ball etc paries for the sports play offs. What happen to the sports we grew up with? Cricket and Baseball. We failed in promoting and enhancing our culture. We are void of culture. We don’t know who we are. We are SELFLESS.