Students urged to promote BVI while studying abroad
BVI students who travel abroad to pursue their studies are being urged to see themselves as “ambassadors” and promote the BVI to people from other countries who are not often aware of the territory.
This advice was given by BVIslanders at a recent panel discussion on diplomacy that the BVI London Office held to mark 20 years of operation in the UK.
Attorney General Dawn Smith advised youngsters to carry themselves well to leave a positive and lasting impression on citizens from other countries
“When you’re travelling, remember who you are and what you represent, particularly being from a place like the Virgin Islands, you will be the only person people have met from the Virgin Islands so everything they see about you is going to be a representation of us,” Smith explained. “In addition to that, make it your business to understand what is happening at home. It’s important for you to be informed about the Virgin Islands – about its history, about its people, what we aspire to,” Smith stated.
Former Executive Director of BVI Finance, Lorna Smith who was one of the panellists, said students can help the territory by telling people about the territory’s beauty and the success of the financial services industry.
“Tell them how we really contribute to the rest of the world. Talk about the financial services, the beauty of the British Virgin Islands, and encourage people to come and see the British Virgin Islands,” Smith urged.
The BVI loses many of its students to countries like the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. As early as high school, many BVIslanders aspire to send their children to be educated in these countries because of the numerous opportunities available after they complete undergraduate studies.
Some of these students return to the territory after completing their studies, but the majority stay in these countries, mainly for economic reasons.
The BVI is losing valuable contributions to its growth and development because many of its youths are not returning to these shores after completing their studies abroad.
Recently, former Deputy Premier said the BVI could stop the brain drain by creating a receptive environment so youth can return and thrive.
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Also tell them that our minimum wage is 6 dollars an hour. Oh, and also that after finishing your degree you will come back and make next to nothing for it.
You are a successful lawyer so just chip in a few bucks, scholarship maybe
Dawn is even worse than Dancia as the attorney general she better off at the FSC
How about urging them to finish their studies and then come home
Also tell them that when you return with the will to help move the country forward, they will sideline you because your mother not from here.
Agree with your statement with the omission of the word “successful”
Coming home is easy, working for the low pay for your degree is not, which is why most stay away to begin with.
The same bvi they don’t even want to come back and live in?
Students need to take a useful degree. A hopeless degree from a fourth rate college is not going to help much in the job market.
Did you get your degree from Harvard? You sound so foolish…
The evil,vicious victimization and unGodly cruelty that so many VIslanders have lived at the hands of the demons, perhaps those youths should stay and build a life where they are.
Many of us would have stayed away had we known our own people were so brutal, vicious, totally satanic and morally bankrupt…
Until the impossible happens, all young people should not return after studies…
I know it sounds foolish but that is exactly how they operate in this country. So ultimately, I guess you are calling THEM foolish.
You are soooo correct. I would like this a thousand times if I could. BVIslanders are our own worst enemies..Facts!
If you NOT in their circles, crappo smoke your pipe, even if you are a BVIslander to the core. They will find every excuse in the book to keep you out of bread, even if you have the qualification, knowledge and experience and in most cases, they simply just don’t care.
Unfortunately, the description is accurate. Don’t want to see this place if it turns independent.SMDH
Every question has an answer. I have spoken to many and when they are done, each time I have to side with them. It’s not that they don’t want to come back. There is a lot in the mortar besides the pestle.
I wish I could like your comment over and over. New grandaunts. Please keep away. Who are here will make you life miserable. Either getting the job or while on the job.
Obviously your head is stuck in the desert sand. Countless BVIslanders attend top notch colleges and are doing EXCELLENT overseas, career wise. Even in schools they rank top.
Like the previous blogger said you sound TOO foolish…perhaps to the point of envious. I suppose that is what you would like to believe in your little crowded mind, so carry on if it makes you feel elevated!
I understand wanting more pay but if we paid for your school then you owe us some years of service, then go off and do something else
Key phrase is that they are doing excellent OVERSEAS! The argument is, why are they not coming back. Obviously they do not ask you what your mother name overseas. They look at your qualifications. You clearly missed the point. Seems everytime someone calls someone foolish in his blog, they have a set of fingers pointing back at them.
I have an honest question, how many BVI kids gets into the top 20 school’s / top tier schools in the USA?
Every year an Anguillian child or two gets into one of the top 20 Universities in the USA, on full Ride Scholarships.
Of course only one parent is a local Anguillian, however that child is representing Rainbow City, time to get on board Chocolate City.
Promote you say. The territory needs to promote their students and pay them their worth. The system and its people are robbing the students of their fair contributions which they are so passionate about. Promote this, then all the students will promote the BVI.
Why would you ask people who left the bvi to promote it? If the place is so good people would be willingly coming back.
Really?
Why isn’t this publicized? Wgat are some of these Colleges ?
We brag about the athletes.
Why not brag about the high achieving students?
This would be an incentive and relief for parents for their children to be schooled locally in preparation for college.
It bothers me that children graduates High School and go to Community College in order to have a chance at a college acceptance.
That is definitely a sign of inadequate schooling.