They see our big houses and think we’re corrupt — Walwyn
Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn suggested that UK officials may have misconceptions about corruption in the BVI due to the prevalence of large houses.
“When people come here and they look up on the hills and they see all these big houses… that’s how they think we’re corrupt because [they’re] frightened,” Walwyn stated, highlighting the stark contrast in living conditions between the UK and the BVI. “They know how they live and when they come here and they look up on the hill, they see all them big buildings there.”
He added that people likely conclude after seeing big houses in the territory that some wrongdoing is taking place. “‘These people could only be doing things that are wrong’, that’s the first thing that comes to their mind,” Walwyn stated.
However, Walwyn dismissed this narrative, emphasising the “symbiotic relationship” between BVIslanders and immigrants, predominantly from the Caribbean. He argued that immigrants bring valuable skills, expertise, and international networks, fostering economic growth and benefiting the local community. “We need the migrant population and they need us,” he declared.
Walwyn acknowledged the concerns regarding the strain on social services and infrastructure due to population growth. He urged the government to find a balance between the competing interests of locals and immigrants, ensuring sustainable development and maintaining the quality of life in the BVI.
The ongoing debate on immigration reform has sparked discussions about work permits, Belonger status, and the overall impact of immigration on the territory. The proposed bill aims to address these issues and create a more streamlined and efficient immigration system.
Meanwhile, Walwyn stressed the importance of finding a harmonious way for both locals and immigrants to thrive together in the BVI. “BVIslanders are having one or two children, three the most, and you hear what the growth is in terms of people coming into the country,” he stated.
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As a key tool in combatting money laundering etc the world has developed unexplained wealth orders. IF you have all the trapping of a multi million life but no declared/legitimate means to pay for it, you are a target.
Still have an issue?
ALL OUTSIDERS JEALOUS WE
all our politicians are co**upt and many of our big houses were built with help from the drug trade, let’s be honest
at least you not lying.
Er no. It is because they had a COI that made the corruption clear and laid what was necessary to put the country on the right path. It is just the corrupt elite and politicians that are determined to slow down, pervert and distort those recommendations so things stay much as they were. In fact some of the current actions are an attempt to completely subvert the COI. It’s not that they saw big houses on the hill. What a childish thing to say.
If you think the UK isn’t as corrupt…trust, they are. It appears from the outside the want better for the BVI, but they too have their own hidden agenda. Don’t be fooled.
Yep, that’s pretty much it.
This is such an ignorant statement for such a person to make.
Or, it could be that they look at the significant revenue generated by the financial services industry over the years, and then look at the roads and wonder where all that money went…
There are people here from the UK right now who are investigating our lives under cover. Their goal is to report to the UK on our ‘unexplained’ wealth. Not knowing some of us slept on couch for years and saved up our money to build our house. Some of us have gotten our grand parents and great grand parents house and went to the bank for a loan to fix it up and make it look modern and are now paying off the loan for over 30 years. We are still in debt. The UK pay people a salary so that they barely survive. We do not want to barely survive but to experience life to the fullest.
Just an idea: It might also be (a) from comparing the billions of government revenue paid in since the 1980s and the third world infrastructure and poor public education and training; and (b) having reviewed the CoI testimony; I suspect the convictions of Fahie and the former Director of Ports may also have encouraged this view.
but I suppose it’s easier to foster a narrative of envy and implied racism.
The average belonger lives in a small house with their family. What you talking about big houses!?
MAYBE when the POLITICIANS them get into government they ALL OF A SUDDEN move into big house? And Yes – this causes people to ask, ‘where is money coming from?’
This is not a UK thing. This is a common sense thing if you have your brain engaged.
Better rule for everyone = keep your hand out of the cookie jar and people stop asking these questions!
If they have brains.
listen Mr I live on a hill side in and as I look across the other hillside I can count about twelve houses and about seven was built by the proceeds of illegal activities. as I look up in the area above road town police station I can see the proceeds of illegal activities. as I look up on the hill side above the horse track I can see the proceeds of illegal activities don’t talk about the west end area .hundreds of the big houses in this country was built from the proceeds of illegal activities. Mr walwyn the people of this country is laughing at your statement because you know and they know what you’re saying is totally false .you are only saying what you’re saying because of politics. my gosh man come on the little man on the scooters know that many many of these big houses on these hillside was built from the proceeds of illegal activities. if it’s not corruption what is it then??we have seen so many people building these houses and hardly work .so where is these 500 600 and 700 hundred thousand dollars coming from?? where Mr Minister?? they hardly work so how are they payback the banks ?? we all know that the banks didn’t give them the 700 thousand dollar loan.seems Mr Minister that you know something that we the don’t know. did it fall from the sky??fool ah talk but nah fool ah listen.
This is a lie. I keep hearing this narrative about drugs build up the BVI. Drug proceeds benefit those involved. Don’t make it sound like drug dealers just dropping money on people just so because that isn’t happening.
Most homes in the BVI were built by HARDWORKING PEOPLE starting out of pocket and in most instances finishing through the bank. Getting help from family and friends who worked for just a meal and drinks. This graduated to some getting financing to build complete homes sometimes with an income generating basement level.
Drug money benefits those involved.
Of course, they’re jealous!
How could a “bird sanctuary”, offer so much incentives, for its natives to gain such vast, wealth assets?
..Stay tuned, dear foreigners..
..Or better yet, put in your “twenny”, and become a part of the “wealth enhancing”, environment..!
They don’t know what our fore parents went through to secure this land for their children. This is why BVI history and culture need to be highlighted during emancipation celebrations instead of the wukking up and foolish dutty wine music. We keep falling for the lowest of the low and those who suppose to set standards all they see is money and couldn’t care less. How many haters would be content with boil apple crossin out the ghut and roast sweet potato and dumb bread. Our politicians need to stop compromising and selling us out they are disgraceful continually deceiving the people. Look how their stupid doings have caused the COI and the UK to now be dictating the running of the country to our disadvantage and demise. Poor people here suffering like in Gaza and it’s going to get worse. All Caribbean people need to understand that we’re under attack.
This is nothing new. Where many of them are from black people do not own these types of homes and businesses. They twist and turn it to make it seem like they are looking out for the BVI but they just cannot fathom how we can live the life we live without UK aid.
Oh we can fathom it out, alright. So Could the CoI.
No – I think it’s only those that have no obvious income that people suspect. You lawyers and legitimate business owners are not under suspicion. But you know that and are just playing a victim card.
The money you t***f from the high school wall is corruption not the big houses
Where BVI politicians belong.
Only politician complain about the UK. Anyone notice that or is it just me.
Nearly right. Only politicians and drug traffickers complain about the UK
One thing I can agree with is that people like to judge without knowing. Several times I had people suggesting my income was illegal yet never was it the case. Seeing as that already happens I’m really thinking to charge extra.
No Myron. We see:
– you were arrested for your wall
– CSC was arrested for his government contracts
– foy in prison
– farmers and fishers getting money while not having farms or fishing gear
– barge contracts
– Covid grants handed out to friends and family.
Without looking at your houses we know you are co***pt.
We spend over ten years building. Scrimping, saving. You buy a pallet of blocks every other month. Your cousins, uncles etc came and pitch in when you were pouring concrete. When you don’t how people get what they have, you cast aspersions on them. Especially, you long eye, Johnny Come Latelys. Mind your damn business.
@No lies That was centuries ago. Where you find any families helping nowadays? If you can’t source a bank loan, is what?
@No lies
Kudos to you. More people need to do that, instead of frittering their money away. I also bet you weren’t building a five bedroom house with infinity pool. You probably have a nice family home, and no one suspects you.
Politicians that still speaking like corruption and abuse of the system not rampant here after all we find out during COI are suspicious to me.
When we still have a leader that think it’s not in the public interest to know who getting public funds.
Tell it sir but why be ashamed? How “THEY” get where they are now in the world? RAPE and GENOCIDE. Are we to hang our heads because we turned a BIRD SANCTUARY into a real tropical vibe and that us the INDIGENOUS people used KEYS to OPEN DOORS? I say SHOUT IT LOUD I’M NOT A SQUNT AND I’M PROUD!
Here is my take on the subject based on reality. The majority of the large new hillside homes have grown to that size (some by stages) for practical reasons: 1) the design being dictated by topography, and 2) precisely to take advantage of the topography by having a basement apartment for rent that could help to pay off the mortgage loan. Those are the majority. There are others who have inherited modest hillside homes from their parents or grandparents and
have decided to expand and modernize the property while taking advantage of the opportunity to rent-out the lower floor or basement apartment for extra income to pay off the mortgage loan. The owners of the preceeding two categories are honest, hard-working people who may even be hard-pressed to meet their financial commitments. To find out how successful they are in doing so, we would need to know how many are facing foreclosure on their 15 or 20-year loans if those statistics are available. This is not to say that there are not some who have built new hillside homes or have enlarged inherited homes by means of illegal funds – mostly because of greed and different (get rich) values from those they have been taught in thier homes. In my opinion, those are in the minority. So we really cannot genaralize and say that all large hillside homes have been built with corrupt money.
Why you explaining yourself to “THEY”? “THEY” could crawl back to their caves in the Caucasus mountains.
good fairy tale with the median income being $35k-$40k and the median price per sq. ft. being $325 tell me how its possible at the speed these expansions are occurring.
The COI determined that is a lie……
where Maury at! lol lol lol lol
This is total ignorance! Jealousy, greed, competition, lies, deciet, fraurd, money laundering, ill gotten gain.
Only a few FAMILIES can say this is how I built my home.HONESTLY THROUGH THE BANK AND HARDWORKING indivisual that made sacrifices,like eating bread alone with lemonade.Then some help each other in the different vilages.which is hard to find these days.
God hates pride, and he going to show up and what ever he do! It would be maverlous in his sight.
Stop the *BOASTING*
I think we have lost it when we put Jesus in a box, forgetting everything come from HIM.
They are not suppose to have small house, big house no kind ahhouse at all. They are not to have any kind of wealth either.
That is the general, personal andhistoric view and philosophyof the white man and the white racist in particular.
It is that notion coupled wit envy jealousy that bothers them so deeply when they come and see and realize that Black people owns wealth also.
They will never admit it , but here are of juvenile in thoughts about us, and admittance of truths.
The lack man must have nothing but a slave masterrelationship with those people. They still live in the 12th century mentally.
Just follow their history on this site relative to the comments andconclude forone self.
destroyed lots of those ‘big’ houses by transforming them into big debris fields. Some have been repaired and rebuilt but most have not. Fortunately the relentless bush growth on these islands hides the wreckage when viewed from below.
doesn’t take a financial forensic auditor to deduce a lot of lifestyles paraded in front of us are from ill-gotten gains
Houses?? How about go fast boats that are all over the place costing several hundreds of thousands of dollars. belonging to youngsters that dont have a regular job or one that pays 30k a year.
how about the few that have properties in and outside BVI on a 100K a year(politicians) not possible!
UK needs to go after the unexplained wealth like elsewhere in the world. the confiscated goods can pay for the roads, the schools, the hospitals and police.
Look around the world (politicians almost always get rich after entering politics, very strange on the saleries they get!
The fake pastor from CGB, are on medication or hanging out with the white lady ,
Walwyn is co***pt!
We all know this and in many ways to be announced! Coming soon!
Pop corn!
Who was judging when the ships were pulling into London Bristol Liverpool and many other European ports for centuries with the proceeds of the blood sweat and tears of black people to enrich and build castles for sickly scumbags who were pillaging the world. All of a sudden they are now the judges and the Holy Pass for all nations. Didn’t think black people were capable of turning the table well get use to it because your days of bullshit done. No matter how hard you try you can’t stop us now. No matter how many sellouts uncle toms butt kiss brown nose…Game Over. Its the fittest of the fittest gonna survive regardless of race religion or any other discrimination.
No 8 to 4 Job can build a 2 – 3 million $$ house. Myron knows better, he too knows that half or more of those big houses weren’t built with a 9-5. People are not stupid. Stop insulting people’s intelligence.
I laughed at this. You must be a member of this “young generation” who prefer to wear Gucci and every other Chi there is. My generation wanted some place nice to lay my head. So instead of wearing my money, we invested in a house because we already had the land by inheritance.
Little by little a bird builds its nest. So sorry to let you know, but the bank is willing to lend you money to build anything once you have history of being a bill payer, through small loans, credit cards, etc, and you have a decent income with your spouse combined. A second job helps as well. But if I have to dress the best and hit every club and bar and drink my earnings away and deposit the rest with the young girls or men never to be returned, no, no house for you. And it does not take $1 to $2 million to build most of the houses you see on the hillsides. When you are done that is their worth. Talk to your banker. You can do it too.
I am not sure who the bloggers are on this and other sites in this country, but that is what we get when we have persons from all over the world who dislike you living among right next door.
I am the proud owner of a multi-level house, thousands of square feet in size and I have never in all my years on this earth, as a local born and raised, done anything illegal to get what I have. I worked hard and my husband did the same and we walked into the bank once we had a decent savings account and acquired a mortgage. I am a member of a huge family and most of my family members and local friends, did the same. We are paying our mortgages monthly and minding our damn business. So sorry to burst your bubble, but the majority of homes on this island are not owned by drug dealers. They are owned by hard working people who inherited land and petitioned the banks for help, along with other family members, and built their houses. Most have an area for rent, to assist.
Also, the majority of our politicians are not dirty either. We have bad apples in every situation, even inside the church, but don’t try to taint everyone with that drug dealing, corrupt brush. It is stupid. Any white police officer, Commissioner or whomever are sent to investigate us just walk into the banks and ask how many mortgages are there in each bank by locals. We pay our bills and do not cry and beg. So, sorry, this notion that everybody on this island are terrible, stealing, corrupt, drug dealing folks is a BIG FAT LIE. The place is small enough and lots of us know who seems to be the bad apples, but don’t judge everyone the same. A 9:00 to 5:00 and with assistance from family, who knows a little plumbing, or to be an electrician, spouses and sometimes children, we own our houses after paying the banks. So be jealous all you want and continue talking foolishness.
Why does what we own is up for discussion by any body? what we have or own is our freaking business.
We do not go to UK and judge whatthwy have. Why do they come here and judge negatively what we have?
I live and born here but i can’t even afford a house or even think about buying land on the main islands like vg or tola.
I too busy throwing money at fixing my car every time i hit a pot hole or drown the car engine in road town.
too busy trying make ends meet with rent and increasing grocery prices.
but nahh i don’t think the well off politicians who gave them self a raise on their already decent salary is corrupt.. no i will never think that!
not my politicians that gave out grants to fake fishers and farmers.. not them!
oh boyy
Sorry to hear you can’t afford to build a house. We are all suffering with car damage daily. What we have to do though is be proactive with what we are faced with. Go to the college if you don’t have a degree and try to improve your skills so that you can get a higher paying job or in a new skillset. We have to aspire to upgrade our situation. Persons are coming to our country daily and making a life for themselves. You deserve to have a good life in your country. Apply for higher paying jobs, go to the College. Work hard at work so that promotion is inevitable. Life is tough and we have to try harder and God will help us once we live right.
Tell them WP keep their eyes off we.
do you continue to thumb down comments that refer directly to you and that describe your history and relationship with the Black accurately?
Does the truth hurt you? Do facts about your psychologsicalmake up and historic facts you rather deny and not be reminded of?
I don’t give a f what they say about my big house, I work hard to build it!! Weather it’s drug money or not!! Is my money and sweat!!!!!!