Respect gov’t so gov’t can respect you
At least one government legislator is reminding residents to approach government leaders respectfully whenever they seek to highlight issues facing the territory.
Territorial At-Large representative Neville ‘Sheep’ Smith made that statement while speaking at last week’s public meeting on Jost Van Dyke where government ministers discussed issues with members of the community.
Smith’s call for respect seemed to refer to the tone of some messages in a community WhatsApp chat group consisting of government personnel and Jost Van Dyke residents.
“I believe in talking about unity and we have to be careful about what we put on chats. We have to respect each other. You have to respect the government so they could respect you,” Smith said as members of the audience murmured in agreement.
He continued: “I really feel like we need to stop taking down [to] each other. Because every time you talk bad about an individual, you’re talking bad about yourself because we are the BVI.”
Smith also cautioned residents that tone is often the issue and not the actual words that residents say.
“I expect the people to make comments, but it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. We have to stop fighting down each other and start working together as one BVI. No island is behind with this government,” Smith said.
Later on in the meeting, Premier Andrew Fahie also reiterated Smith’s statement saying not all government leaders will tolerate disrespect.
“Of course, there’s a certain level of respect. You can’t come up to a minister and tell him where to go in the worst of words … You might be answered back in kind. Not for me but I know some of the ministers — their tolerance to be spoken to in that way is not as long as mine,” Fahie said.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
This is the nonsense that we give this man a chance to represent us to be saying? Boss, it’s rough out here! People hungry. The government created more stress for us than coronavirus. This thing could have been managed more better than it was. You got your big money with the festival stage so you good. All the government close friends and cronies getting setup good. We hungry and we must be careful how we speak. Ok then!
I would also like to add that it is our responsibility to hold government to account, so if he can’t take the heat in the kitchen, then GET OUT!!!!
Sheep plz the only thing I ask of you is to fix those roads behind your house come on not even cattle can walk up to get to the apartment .certainly only a tractor can drive through you have to park half way and hope you ain broke you foot trying to get home and you live 2ft away in u backyard.
The govt was hired , they have to respect the people not the other way around cha
Give the man a Prize! People will have a more respectful tone towards Government when Government begins to show respect for the People. One does not operate in a vacuume, independent of the other.
I didn’t know Government will return the favor of disrespect? I thought they should set the example and refrain from committing the same wrong. No?
Respect is a two way street. Government is not consulting the people who elected them before making decisions. Let’s see how much respect they get at the next elections.
It’s funny how they want us to respect them but they fail to give the Governor an ounce of respect. Perhaps we have learnt that behaviour from them….
stop the crap! the governor is very disrespectful to the premier and the people.
You think we forget his racist statements?
What was his racist statement? We need to cut the crap i.e. the black and white bullshit and try to live with each other. I am black to the core and the Governor said nothing wrong.
Slavery is our past let’s stop looking back and try to move forward….
Please tell me the racist statements made by this governor. If he has disrespected the premier perhaps it was on the grounds of the premier’s constant dishonesty. Last time I checked that was a valid reason to show disrespect. I hope election coming soon, can’t take this inept and lying government for much longer.
A set of hypocrites through the place!
“a hungry man is an angry man”
If he had respect all the school children like how he respect all the bars and clubs, ALL THE SCHOOLS WOULD’VE BEEN OPENED ALREADY
So a man known as “Sheep” says we must do something and “members of the audience murmured in agreement”.
Heaven help us.
Don’t mind the noise Hon Smith, somebody had to say it.
We live in a world where people forget or refuse to communicate respectfully – especially when they can hide behind phones and computers.
Don’t mind all the blogs attacking your comment – you are so right. Not because we disagree or have an issue we must be disrespectful. It’s so sad that grown adults have to be told this and we wondering what going wrong with some of our children.
Let’s agree to disagree and voice opinions respectfully. It’s that simple.
Where is the respect from the Government? Sheep needs to take a f***ing seat. This Government is full of petty, feelings man, pure emotion and no action. They are all in their feelings because they have Honorable before their names. Why haven’t they called out their Honestly Speaking Consultant about his constant disrespect for the Governor and even the disrespectful letter written to the UK by the Premier? Respect is earned, now stop the f***ing whining and let’s get the economy going before we all end up as beggars!
A set of f***ing hypocrites!
When people in authority start begging for respect, it is time for them to start looking into their Mirror.. And start by listening to the people who gave them power..
This can be a better if we start giving what we are asking for… Give what we expect in return…One question honourable Smith, Do you think your boss respect The people? Also is ”nobody going to boss me around” a respectful statement. When people who care and love this country just like you all do are just giving opinions and suggestions to help move this place forward… People are concerned.. Jobs and businesses are at risk.
To be honest! I don’t care up upset or passionate anyone really is; To show respect is to be mature. The way the host of C** D**P and employee of the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board be publicly be dissing the Government especially Hon. N Wheatley you’ll swear this lady really grew up on a pig farm. Do one will agreed but the hose of C** D**P Sin D has been using the said Constitution for personal agendas while programming the people to be disrespectful on their job, at home, on the street, towards our law enforcement & Government officials. A person like Sin D is not a descent person for woman especially young woman to look up to for inspiration. Furthermore she and her sidekick need to be paid off and let go from the Board or they will end up costing the boards Millions
When she was bashing the NDP from the same place it wasn’t a problem then? The VIP was rejoicing
BUT THE ONES IN GOVERNMENT ALSO HAVE TO RESPECT THE PEOPLE. ONE SIGN OF DISRESPECT FROM THE GOVERNMENT, ELECTION TIME, YOU GUYS BE TRIPPING OVER YOUR FEET TO BE PLEASANT WITH THE PEOPLE, ONCE YOU GET YOUR VOTES, MOST OF YOU ACT LIKE YOU DON’T KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR YOU. DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE WHERE THE PEOPLE HAVE NO INPUT OR SAY SO IN ANYTHING. THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT KNOW EVERYTHING AND THEY SHOULD RESPECT THE PEOPLES INPUT THEN THE PEOPLE WOULD GIVE RESPECT. DUDE, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT YOU WILL NOT!!!!! BE ELECTED NEXT ELECTION.
not one wote from me he getting
The government must realize that their own behaviour sets the tine for how people approach them.
SMITH SHEEP YOU ARE TALKING SENSE BUT IT IS NOT TJE GOVERNMENT PER SAY IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND NOT PRODUCING PROPERLY. THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE AND GIVE BETTER SERVICE, SOME DO NOT HAVE NO INFORMATIOM AND HOW TO DISH IT OUT PROPERLY SOME WORKERS DO NOT COME TO WORK ON TIME SOME DO NOT DRESS LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO WORL SOME DO NOT HAVE NO WORK EXPERIENCE AND WHICH IS A BIG PROBLEM SERIOUS TRANING IS NEEDED, RESPECT IS NOT ONLY GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON IT IS MORE THAN THAT THE GOVERNMRNT HAS A LOT TO DO BUT SOME WORKERS ARE A MAJOR PRONLEM TI THE FRESPECT AGENDA
Cant believe ayo voted for this dude over myron
Always got to find a way to put Myron name in something. Somebody obsessed with that man
We must have respect for Government, how about you in Government show respect for the people that give you your job and is paying your SALARY. QUICK REMINDER, WE THE PEOPLE IS YOU AND THE REST OF THE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYER. YOU ANSWER AND LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE. IF YOU CAN’T, THE PEOPLE WILL SEND YOU HOME NEXT ELECTION DAY. THE TRUE POWER IS IN THE PEOPLES HANDS NOT A DESIGNER SUIT, NICE TIE AND A PIN.
Honourable Smith, I hear you loud and clear. I agree with you. We have become a disrespectful lil nation and have no regards for neither God nor man. Notwithstanding however, respect is earned.
Holy omfg. Here is the perfect example of government claiming they are more important than you. Respect is earned , not given.
Sorry a$$ clown, but respect is earned. AND government works and answers to WE THE PEOPLE!!! This d**b I***t doesn’t realize this. Respect comes from officials FIRST! We put you into a job because we elected you to do that. THAT YOU F**L is the respect we have already given you. I am so upset at the effin arrogance of people like this. No wonder we don’t trust anything they say with statements like this.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (WTF)! Here is a news flash for the wining politicians. Respect is earned, not expected because of position. The VI is a representative democracy; it puts representatives in the HOA to act on their behalf. However, they didn’t give away their rights to representatives. They still have the right to speak up and speak out. Residents should be encouraged to speak up and speak out. Representatives are representatives of the people, not prima donnas. Stop the nonsense and go do the people dem wuk. Work on protecting the and opening up the country. Silence is golden. If you don’t have nothing to say, politicians should shut their traps. Surprise and disappointed that the Premier jump on this assishness bandwagon.
Other way around. Govt. employees respect the public FIRST.
He need go sit down. Let him join Calvin band wagon. You work for us Never forget that! People a frustrated for a reason. Get off your soap box. Never will I vote for you again!!!! Go on and show us who you are lol.
Wow! Politicians forget that they are servants…servants of the people. Not the other way around. These people get too high and mighty and think they better than us who put them there. We’ll in 2 years when yall back on the bread lines like the rest of us, hopefully you find your humility that you lost. Vote them out!
TAKE THIS ANYWAY YOU LIKE, YOU’LL GET OVER IT. SORRY BUT, I WILL NEVER RESPECT ANYONE IN GOVERNMENT UNTILL YOU THE LEADERS OF THIS COUNTRY SHOW RESPECT FOR ALL PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY BE IT WHAT COLOR OR NATIONALITY THEY ARE. RESPECT IS EARNED, NOT GIVEN. FRIENDSHIPS IS EARNED, NOT BOUGHT. SHEEP,YOU GOT A LOT OF NERVES. YOUR GQ, EYE CANDY DAYS PLAYED OUT.
Oh My God, why this member is singing so out of tune. Can someone please help him find some riddim? Don’t you worry, very soon you will know who to respect who in the ballot boxes. Keep blowing while our fingers are itching waiting to XXXX you and the rest of this special Government out of our business. The time is clicking out and we will be talking business soon at the polling stations. We the voters are your employer so you need to show respects in every way to the voters of this Territory.
Every time he open his da.n mouth is to say nonsense not a clue I from East but I could of never give him an X as the school say ” his elevator don’t stop on all floors”
myron is the man
I glad for all of you all. Bout VIP all the way.
Political leaders should be humble and civil. Political leaders are servant leaders. But power, influence and status often breeds arrogance, pomposity………etc. The late Norbert “Fix It” Wheatley popularized the saying, “Fix Yourself.” Politicians Fix Yourself; fix thyself. You are elected to serve the people, not the people serve you. As Diaspora 3-D/360 said, respect is earned. I endorsed that notion. Quit the self importance and work to provide safety, security and reopening the territory. Be humble, for arrogance and pomposity will be your demise. Stop the showoffnish. Some of you are at the Peter Principle level so work on yourself and your craft.
[ Let’s lead like eagle, not careen off the cliff like buffaloes].
Well obviously Sin D and her bashing is only there to serve Sin D. It’s not about either party is it?
Seems like in this place, if you have a mouth it is just used to stir up confusion, hatred and anything negative. And a lot of people in these BVI love and support that mentality.
Meanwhile, we have a shite high school that isn’t really preparing our children for anything but menial labour, enslavement of our caribbean people once again by said menial jobs that hold no room for growth opportunity, hatred of our island brothers and sisters, a broken immigration system that sincerely needs fixing, a so called black high-society group that includes polictrickians that sell us out to Tom, Dick and Harry for financial gain not realizing that in the end they are going to suffer just as much as the regular people. Rich and poor are gonna cry.
So when are we going to stop the madness and embrace each other and fight for this OneBVI I keep hearing about? This place has the potential to be a beacon of the Caribbean, but that will never happen if we don’t step outside all the BS and see the reality that actually happens here and come together to change this place we all call home.
Sheep, I am sorry I vote for your a**. When you don’t have anything to say Stfu.
The Hon Neville “Sheep” Smith (At L) was a baller (softball, basketball) but politics is different ballgame. It has its own rules, culture, processes………..etc. Sheep needs to bone up quickly on the fundamentals of politics. One of these fundamentals is that politicians are servants of the people, not the people servants of politicians. Another is that the people are king and queen makers. They put you on a pedestal ( don’t let it go to your head) and will tear also tear you down. Voters don’t elect politicians to lecture them and be condescending to them. And one of the more important of the fundamentals is the art of retail politics. To be effective in politics, one has to be a “retailer..” Sheep needs to immerse himself in the concept.
Moreover, failure to effectively grasp this concept has been the downfall of many politicians, even some otherwise talented local sons and daughters. In carpentry (Alvanley Frett was a carpenter/shipwright), you measure twice and cut once. Words are powerful; they are weapons. So one has to be careful how they are used, Suggest the legislator lean hard on his advisors, his sounding board. By the way, he is not the only VI politician that needs to fall back and do some introspection. They all needs to fall back. Both government and opposition.
You want respect? Ok, we the people will let you and your Government out of your contracts come next election. Remember people, we are the ones with the mega power in our hands. They need the people, the people don’t need them. REMEMBER PEOPLE THEY WORK FOR US, WE PAY THEIR SALARY. YOU WANT RESPECT? WE THE PEOPLE WILL GIVE YOU THE RESPECT BY ASKING YOU TO CLEAN OUT YOUR DESK DRAWERS NEXT ELECTION. YOU THINK WE THE PEOPLE IS PLAYING? JUST WATCH WE THE PEOPLE IN ACTION NEXT ELECTION.