Rumours spread because leaders don’t communicate
Hosts of the Talking Points radio show have posited that poor communication from the government is the reason rumours of planned strike action from civil servants spread in the community last week.
The hosts referred to the sickout staged by fire marshals at the Beef Island airport last week, adding that there was no official communication from the government informing residents of the situation and actions that would be taken to calm restive workers.
“No official communication to the community to say this is happening and we’re handling it so that persons in the [tourism] industry could have some assurance. We need to have some level of responsibility on the part of the government to inform the community,” host Damion Grange lamented.
Last week, BVI News received reports of strike action at the TB Lettsome International Airport but was told by airport personnel that they couldn’t reveal the exact cause of the disruptions. Host Elvin Grant said this was another reason why rumours swirled — because officials and government members refused to answer specific questions about rumours of strike action.
He said the government needs to state the facts in an open and transparent way to quell rumours.
“Apparently when news media outlets called for the information, they got excuses that there was going to be a statement coming out. But it didn’t answer the specific questions as to what happened. In the absence of that, rumours take over and then you get the statement from government saying that the rumours are destabilising,” Grant stated.
Following rumours of planned strike action from various civil service groups, Premier Wheatley held a press conference to rebut the claims, adding that fire marshals at the airport did not strike, but many reported being unable to work because they were ill.
He also shut down rumours that other groups were planning to strike, adding that those spreading the rumours have the potential to destabilize the territory by scaring away investors and visitors.
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Too many public officers playing politics with the public’s life. Also, there is a specific politician along with colonial powers edging on these behaviors from behind the scene to try to get power. Soon all these things will be exposed.
Close airport, firemen ill, no reason/explanation from government, strike rumours commence, firemen miraculous recovery, airport re opens. Repeat elsewhere in the BVI!
Everybody really needs to step it up. Blind leading the blind. All fresh blood is needed.
Why are there so many rental cars on island? Not talkin bout ones rented by tourists. Those driven by locals. There must be more rental cars person in Tortola than any other country in the world. Why is this cash based business so abundant here? Asking for a friend (the DEA).
All these local stories are just distractions that keep ignorant and uninformed persons occupied in senseless chatter and “excitement.” Anytime you bring up a conversation with any relevance to the brainwash it’s like pouring water on fire. We are trapped in a mental prison like hamsters on a wheel.