Walwyn rejects ‘lineage’ argument in leadership debate
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has pushed back against the view that only individuals with deep ancestral roots in the Virgin Islands should hold high office, arguing that lineage alone cannot solve the territory’s challenges or restore it to former glory.
This position, he suggested, has been championed by talk show host Claude Skelton Cline, who repeatedly asserted that first-generation Virgin Islanders, such as Walwyn, should not occupy roles like Premier or Opposition Leader.
During debate on the motion of no-confidence against the government on July 29, Walwyn highlighted the widening economic gap and the erosion of the middle class as critical issues facing the territory. He criticised those focused on ancestry rather than solutions.
“You hear some people now on the radio — there’s a gentleman with a show called ‘Dishonestly Speaking’ — talking about leadership and who should and shouldn’t lead because of lineage. Lineage could go to the bank? As a people, could you go to the bank and cash lineage?” Walwyn questioned passionately.
He denounced the emphasis on ancestry as “stupid and emotional nonsense” and instead called for robust economic policies to advance the Virgin Islands.
“The way to protect the Virgin Islands is not any lineage story, not through saying Premier should have ties to six generations back. No! It’s deeper than that! You have a Premier who ain’t born here — I born here. But that’s not what it’s about. The way to protect Virgin Islanders is to make sure your economic policies enrich them. He who controls the economy controls the direction of the country.”
Since becoming Opposition Leader earlier this year, Walwyn has faced criticism from some quarters, with detractors describing him as overly ambitious and not a viable alternative for the Premiership due to his first-generation status.
While Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has never directly criticised Walwyn’s lineage, he has previously stated that Walwyn lacks the patriotism of other political figures, such as At-Large Representative Ronnie Skelton and Deputy Premier Julian Fraser. According to Wheatley, those leaders “inherited the legacy” of their BVI “foreparents.”
Though many interpreted this as a veiled critique of Walwyn, the Premier also emphasised that the territory must move beyond such divides.
He said he would never wage war against those who don’t have deep ancestral ties to the territory because people in the BVI must forge a common identity.
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Hon. Walwyn is completely right. We have to stop this foolishness. Where you are born is where you are from. Our Premier is an American with deep BVI roots and he is doing a poor job as the leader of our country. Our former Premier Fahie is born here with deep bvi roots and he was prepared to sell out the BVI to the drug cartel. He made a mess of the entire government. Yes, i believe the Premier should be born here. Hon. Walwyn is born right here. Hon. Wheatley was born in Puerto Rico and that seems to be ok? Get a grip. We should be looking for competent leadership and there is no question about the competence of Hon. Walwyn. In my opinion he is most capable one in the Assembly to lead the BVI now. Even the late Eileene Parsons was championing this before he death.
There are many pushing that lineage talk and hate speech that didn’t even know the “Premier” wasn’t born here. They themselves were not born here either with them shight!
Also the ones who think certain men are their fathers buts another topic..
The lineage talk came up after they realised that Hon Walwyn is a born BVIslander and the accidental premier and the corner lady are not.
Just more deflection to cover their governments failure.
This is 100% spot on! Our legislators need to enact policies favoring the progression and sustainability of our people.
It frighteningly depressive to see every day how overly biased, some even totally ignorant, how divided a people we are.
From the comments yestreday to this very poignant and truth filled article today, the VI’sare being presented with a clear chance of authentic, efective and productive leadership for the future.
Past former leaders such as Mr. Faulkner, Mr. Fonseca, Mr.Romney, Mr. Stoutt, represented the cutting edge leadership needed in that their era, and the people then, demonstrating political maturity saw their words and believed them.
The results, we have a very prosperous VI’s today.
Menawhile, too many of our people are living inside the mentality brought forward as residue from a very dark and unenlightened time.
Most woul prefer Mr. Walwyn not to be associated with born here VI citizenship, an agile intellect, although conversely he is a supreme potential, just like his former building predessors from about 1950 to about 1980, to ascend to calling for competent leadership of these our and his home islands.
Last and fff, will any VIslander or My Walwyn get accepted and allowed to run for political office in Antigua?
We must stop disliking and hating each other and begin to untie. With unitywe wil become unstoppable.
Walwyn lacks the patriotism of Ronnie Skelton and Julian Fraser? Does he mean he lacks patriotism or the xenophobia? I wonder about Premier Wheatley sometimes.
The Hon. Walwyn is responsible for us having a territorial song. He is responsible for us a territorial dress. He is responsible for us to have a territorial pledge. He is responsible for us having territorial signs and symbols of our identity. He is responsible for helping to build national pride in the BVI.
Tell me what patriotism has Premier Wheatley shown? Walking the street and playing Noel Lloyd?
Give me a break! Let’s open our eyes people.
So true, the late Eileen parson put her arms around the alliance and Myron just a month or so before her death, she catches the vision of these three brilliant young men, and saw the stagnant atmosphere over the BVI economy and the do nothing Ronnie because he done rich, a multi millionaire, and bad minded entitlement Marlon who don’t cut it, none a them get up on their back foot and fight for the people like Myron and the alliance is doing now, the others are enjoying entitlement and favors put of tax payers monies, Fraser jump over and gets a new car, Lorna will take a kick in the @$$ from natalio and turn around and kiss him again.
Myron is fighting for himself and his people.
Maybe her alliance was what was troubling her so much that she had a stroke due to high blood pressure
The best in the West!
Dishonestly speaking he say LOL
Where you are born is where you are from. I believe this. CSC was born in the BVI but spent most of his life in Detroit. He move back here some years ago. What contributions has he made to our country since he returned? He returned to see what he could get for himself. He enriched himself on the backs of the taxpayers by getting contract upon contract from the government and delivered on none of them but got paid for the work. He fleeced the NDP. He fleeced the VIP and now he is doing everything to get his uncle Ronnie as the Premier so he could go back on the breasts of the government for more money.
Is this someone that we should even be studying?
NO ISLAND MAN NOR OUTSIDER FOR PREMIER OF THE BVI and you could take that to the bank!
And we have a Premier born on the island of Puerto Rico with a Vincentian wife. Get your head examined whoever you are.
Who was he born to in ST Thomas?
You already have an “Ilsand Man” as Premier Bobo! Natalio Wheatley was born on St.thomas and he has a beautiful St.Vincent first lady.
Let’s grow up and fix the problems of this country.
He have she or she have he. Check which is correct (:-)
Myron from the BVI. Your accidental premier from mars because he not human or have a heart. He acts like he from a different planet. Also I don’t see you talking about Lorna or mark who are clearly not born in the bvi
You sound like a real nincompoop! Narrowmindedness will be some of your ends. Your check has already bounced at the bank! Bring the man from the continent or the insider to do what Myron can do, is doing, and I will be open to listen to you.
Myron is forward thinking and that is what the BVI needs. That old way of thinking is a way of the past. Where will it get us? Take off those xenophobic blinders and let us move ahead.
Thank you Myron, whether you are a 1st generation or tenth, I support you 100%.
Tell tall boy to go and pay his alleged outstanding bills
Not an island man at this point in time
So yo could “wet your hands and wait foh we”
This sound like jealous wiggo. Poor thing
Would do most voters . Black, Brown, Yellow or god knows white, who cares as long as they have ambitions for the islands people and infrastructure first and foremost and are honest and humble as opposed to grandiose titles travel and personal enrichment as their driving force.
We going always need a Premier with bvi bloodline
The last time you all said this the local premier sold out bvislanders and the country to the drug dealers.
Want to know what’s (not)real, the BVI government. Watch the House of Assembly VI YouTube page. It’s the saddest place on the internet.
@Bottom Line, you need to take your head from da Bottom, I keep saying ayo is the same bunch ah ticks who still want help from Myron, The BVI is consisted of small islands, youis a island person too, Myron was born On THIS ISLAND!!!
Where are the peoples who give out icon awards? This man needs to get his pronto. He more than deserve it.
One hundred-million-dollar loan over one year now and we do not have the mental capacity to spend the money in an efficient manner to improve the infrastructure and stimulate the economy We are still with the same patchy patchy business. I Passed out Praquita Bay the other day and saw three guys cutting come steel and when I was returning 5 hours later they were still trying to tie the same pieces of steel. What a waste of time.
I must aggree no island man in we big chair none
Lineage means nothing. I’m forth generation and my sister has a belongers card but because I’m older and a male I can’t get a belongers.
You see, when Hon. Walwyn, was in a position of leadership to place Virgin Islanders, in positions of High ranking leadership, he placed persons from the Eastern Caribbean, instead!
THE PEOPLE WILL NOT FORGET!
AND TODAY, this same man wants the position of Premier, after having such disdain, for his own people???
THE PEOPLE. WILL. NOT. FORGET!
Stop your lying. No minister could hire anyone in a job in the public service. All hiring is done through the Human Resources Department. You wrote a whole post to tell a lie?
You fools Myron already prove his point about Ronnie, so who was victorious, Ronnie?, poor HE!!