Some leaders out of touch with residents’ economic struggles — Mather
Territorial At-Large Representative Stacy ‘Buddha’ Mather highlighted the acute cost of living challenges impacting residents across the BVI, suggesting some elected officials might be out of touch with the economic pressures facing ordinary residents in the territory.
During his address in the House of Assembly recently, Mather shared insights into his interactions with residents at local supermarkets, a practice he adopts to gauge the economic pulse of the territory.
“I shop… I go in there (the supermarket) to meet with people and talk. [Do] you know how I gauge the country right now? When I go to the checkout, I’m still looking at the screen,” Mather stated. He noted the anxiety often visible among shoppers, “There are some people in our territory, they’re looking at the screen, they’re looking in their purse, they’re looking in their wallet.”
Mather’s real-life snapshot of economic hardship was supported by comments from another Opposition lawmaker, Myron Walwyn, who drew attention to the severity of the homelessness issue in the BVI.
“That is the reality of what is happening in the BVI, people are homeless,” Walwyn told lawmakers late last year.
The conversation about governmental awareness of these issues was sparked by a question Walwyn previously posed to Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, inquiring whether he or any members of his government handle their own shopping, hinting at a possible disconnect from the everyday experiences of their constituents.
“They have others… when you ask them a question, whether they shop or not, maybe they don’t answer because they make enough money to send somebody to shop for them,” stated Mather, seemingly referring to some members of the Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley administration.
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Why they dont know the price till they get to the checkout?
Because OM doesn’t have prices on 3/4s of their items.
[one supermarket] doesn’t have many shelf prices at all and no machines to check them. [another supermarket] consistently doesn’t apply reduced prices – they are on the shelf but not in the computer. And when the minimum wage goes up by nearly 30% so will the prices. Inflation.
Mather is the realest right now.
Im watching the screen no lie & the prices arent the same as on the shelf & sometimes the cashiers dont apply the sale price buzzbvi.
Prices are lower and lowest in their home countries.
Common sense and necessity dictates a return.
Imported and installed poverty is ash backwards.
Invest YES
Infest No
I wonder if some people look at the bigger picture…. the bvi cannot sustain itself with its population of 12000 indigenous people. The money made off taxes, social, work permit fees and all other associated cost is what makes it possible for the continued growth and sustainability of the social security scheme…. the ability for government to keep the taxes within a reasonable range…. this rhetoric of send them hack… one of these days another country is going to capitalize on what you guys continuously mock, ridicule and want to throw out to the trash.
Monaco; O Poverty
O Crime
Population Approx 49,000
Locals 9,179..23%
St Barts;0 Crime
O Poverty
Population 11,022
Diverse cultures including descendants of African slaves.
A one way ticket to their homelands of every natural wealth
imaginable will take care of them and clean up these VI on every level.
Where are these poor, homeless people coming from? Are they imported? If so, why? Growing up, even the para people had homes and were fed.
This has been going for years , did you just wake up ?❓️ these days it’s good to shop around first , because the same item would have different prices at different supermarkets / shops or stores ( and at some if you put a few cents you can get two for the cost of the same
item in some of those supermarkets / shops or stores ( check it out for yourself
@ what’s the Mattet: the Hon. Mather has just been in elected office for just over a year now. So your point/question is moot as he’s stated what you’ve regurgitated. Who owns the supermarkets and what their ties to policy makers? Ask yourselves that question first and not just for groceries, check out the other businesses that benefit from grossly overpriced items and substandard items.
Let’s not forget the elephant in the room that is the failing NHI. Who benefits from the constant and consistent pillaging off the backs of the working class? This vicious cycle is going to end soon and then these pirates will to change their business models to suit their adjusted lifestyles more in alignment with what working class people endure.