We should celebrate, not fear diversity – Walwyn
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has called on Virgin Islanders to celebrate diversity rather than fear it, arguing that the Virgin Islands will only grow stronger when all residents feel included.
Speaking at a ceremony in the Sixth District where 12 people received certificates after completing a conversational Spanish and English course, Walwyn said he intends to host similar programmes every year.
The initiative, facilitated by Dr Lloyda Hachette and Grady Suarez, is the second of its kind in the district.
“I recognise as representative for the district, District 6, that I’m a representative for everybody. Not just English-speaking persons, not just for persons who are directly by blood from the BVI. Everybody who lives within this district, whether you can vote or vote not, I will be a representative for you,” Walwyn stated.
He highlighted the important role of the Spanish-speaking community, drawing attention to the historic links between Virgin Islanders and Santo Domingo, where many BVIslanders once sought work.
“Diversity is something to be celebrated and not to be fearful about,” he insisted.
Walwyn pointed to the language barrier as one of the greatest obstacles to inclusion. “Many of our persons who live here, work here, can’t speak the language sufficiently to help themselves. And when you can speak the language, you feel as if you are part,” he explained.
He praised residents who had chosen to learn a second language, saying it showed ambition and lifelong learning.
“You too being able to communicate with them… that is the cohesion and that helps us to weave that tapestry of togetherness that we really want in the country,” Walwyn said.
The Opposition Leader urged other district representatives to launch similar programmes.
“There’s no shame in the game. Do the same thing for your constituents… Let us all join hands together, trying to bring the country a bit closer together. And one way to do that is to be able to break down the barriers of language so that we can all speak and understand each other,” he urged.
Debates over ancestry and identity have grown louder in recent years, with some calling for greater recognition of ancestral Virgin Islanders while others warn against creating divisions. Walwyn has been a consistent voice in these discussions, rejecting the idea that lineage should define leadership or belonging.
He has argued that economic policies and opportunities, rather than ancestry, are the real tools to protect Virgin Islanders.
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He is absolutely correct. This is the type of mature approach that more of our leaders should take. Stop causing this division. It is very unwise and it tears away at the fabric of the community. A divided community cannot prosper. Thank you Myron for being the adult in the room.
You see, Honourable Walwyn, you’ve made some salient points.
After all, all men are humans, descended fcolors, and culturesca, share common familial genomes, and can be seen as one- somewhat!
However, while many may tend to feel that way, reality says otherwise. Boundaries abound, differences in races exist, with regards to various locales, textures, colours,and cultures!
Here in these Virgin Islands, a finite amount of real estate exists, and within such a framework, there has to be be boundaries, with regards to ownership,
representation of cultural boundaries, human istic interests, intimate alliances, and otherwise
One cannot afford to forget these realities, and as such there must be differences, in the levels of acceptances, in all manner of relations, within the human family
And as such, we have, as A Virgin Islands people, adapted various strategies to maintain, the integrity and continuity of the peoples of these UK Virgin Islands!
That’s not a bad thing.
Here in the US Virgin Islands, we have accepted everyone, in all manner of colors, cultures, social, and religious affiliations!
It has not bode well for the ancestral US Virgin Islander! Most are visibly absent in homeownership, business ownership, real estate ownership by the sea,and are, a dying breed, as most, have moved away to the US mainland!
In other words, “everybodyship”, destroyed the ancestral US Virgin Islanders’ place, here!
Such a similar situation would take place in the UK Virgin Islands, if such a “everybodyship” mentality, were to take a foothold!
It would be foolish to allow such here. The results of such a togetherness, is glaringly obvious in the US Virgin Islands!
LET US, AS A PEOPLE, remain how we are, true to ourselves as Virgin Islanders, and retain, preserve, and protect, these Virgin Islands, for the future of us- Ancestral Virgin Islanders- those at home, and abroad!!!
I don’t think locals are against diversity . They fear being out numbered.. they fear more expats then locals… as an expat.. I don’t blame them ….. MW you are pushing the wrong narrative. .
Which BVI do you live in might I ask? There are a healthy number of people who do not like people from other countries regardless of the reason. We look down on them and treat them as second class human beings. The only way to improve is to own up to our faults. People are reminded constantly that they are not from here. Constantly. We use “born here” as a trump card against others even when the situation doesn’t call for that.
Rightfully so… people should be reminded that they are not from here.. behave as a guest and no one would have to remind anyone of such… try again sir! That does not mean they are against expats… look how long we have been diverse… you think it’s something new?? I agree.. their fear is not diversity but being over run. Pea brain !
@ Wrong: aThis is not expats fault. From government to the private sector, to the ordinary citizen looking for a house-maid or gardener, BVI landers love to import people and ignore their own. Everyone they import have families that inevitably join them here. If you have less than 1/3 of your labour force as your nationals then something is fundamentally strange about that picture.
So don’t talk about fear of being outnumbered. That’s done long time. What needs to be done now is accept reality and deal with it positively. Walywn is correct.
Speak for yourself.. I ain’t accepting no reality of noting because bvi landers still have the majority… go back to your country and accept the reality there.. how about that? Make it easier for us all.
Myron, thanks very much for reminding some people, that Tortolians, also use to work elsewhere, that is why we all share a world, God’s world
Hon. Walwyn is not reminding us of nothing. Yes, Virgin Islanders went to the U.S. Virgin Islands and even Santo Domingo to look for work. Worked and came back. You see the difference? They went. Got on their little boats and brough back what they had for their families. They worked and came back. It is a big, big world and you can go home again or even to a bigger island. It is okay to go home again. Everybody who comes cannot stay on this little rock. Please, not everybody.
Hon. Walwyn went home to his ancestral home in Antigua. I think from in Primary School he left and when he came back he was grown. So it is okay. Some of you can go home again. That’s the problem Virgin Islanders have. You come. Some of the children and family they left behind are hoping they do. But they act like the American Dollar has them chained around the ankles. Trust me, we know it is not Tortola you all love so or Virgin Gorda or Jost Van Dyke. You came for a better life. Some of you made it. Make room for somebody else. But no, that is too much to expect and to tell you the truth, we feel crowded in as locals. I look around and don’t see my people WHERE THEY AT. Too many crowds, loitering, drinking, sitting on the side of the road, pissing in the bush. Tired. Big world, but Small island.
And BTW, I think this, but would not say it out loud because it is not so nice, but Hon. Walwyn and this rhetoric, us against them, and your silly responses, wow. We cannot go to a single Caribbean island en masse and enjoy the jobs and privileges had here. Please stop this nonsense.
You are a pretend unifier. Your real objectives are looking out for the interests of expats, not Virgin Islanders. Therefore you should be disqualified from serving in a body whose primary purpose is to protect the interests of the Virgin Islanders. Go practice your other professions. Have the decency to leave legislating to persons interested in protecting the interests of Virgin Islanders.
You sound so stupid!
Leh we do a course on how to pay bills
He will do anything to limit/phase out bvislanders
I don’t get involved in politics but I listen to the House of Assembly. I listened keenly during the time when bills were being passed due to the commission of inquiry. I did not hear everyone debating but I made sure to listen to Hon. Walwyn. I like to hear him debate so I always try to listen when he is on. I heard no one fight against those bills that affected the BVI more than him. You could see he read the bills and dissected them so that ordinary person could understand. He called out all the things in the bills that would affect locals that many of the others could not see or were afraid to call out. I had to post this because what is posted above cannot be correct. We seem to always fight down the people who mean well and are doing well and elevate the ones who do nothing. Then we complain about the state of the country when we are done. We are the problem.
Hon. Walwyn has a law degree, courtesy of the Gov. of the Virgin Islands may I add so may understand these Bills drafted in legaalese better than others, but hey were all debated by others in the Opposdtion, or should I say the entire Opposition debated those Bills so next time listen to all the debates.
And by the way being a wonderful debater does not make him more qualified than everyybody else on the Opposition. We already have a whole bunch of glorified mouth champions running the Government. How are they doing? Does he manage well? Are his restaurants doing well and his law firm? Is his law firm top notch since he sould be in Court over talking everybody else. Tired of his tiresome rhetoric to tell you the trouble. You live in a small country where we have persons who visit from overseas for two weeks they tell Immigration and ten years later are still here and he wants us to do what more? They are working while our young people are not or working the midnight shift. He jis just … But it will backfire. Trust me.
You sure you aren’t Myron Walwyn impersonator? You sound exactly like him. lolol
OK Martin Luther Walwyn. VI has always had “diversity”. What is at risk with unchecked immigration is the local populace being drowned out in their own country. Lavity was about investing in his people, his people in leadership & ownership positions. You can’t praise Lavity one way and ignore his philosophy the other.
Facts
Can you imagine everyone look and behaving like yo Killa and Andrew fahie
Dayum
Let me tell you all about the real problem with the Expat/Local strumoo……….Aaahh Psyche.
I just read the article and I agree with what Myron has said. I am not sure if some of you are reading the same thing I read. I read him comments about the importance of a diverse community. Why are you all overing and saying more than what is being said? Ayo really wild mehson
Locals can’t stand WALWYN just like expats couldn’t stand guy hill when he was in immigration. all ah ayo, both sides. Dutty.
Locals can’t stand Walwyn, but dem could stand in line to beg he for money and thing!!!!
Walwyn we want you lead but that part you sinking yall with no coordination or cooperation
sigh party man and vip ain got ntn to fear for awhile
we need a wild card like cindy or mika barry to shake things up for a bit
People seem divided on this topic but forget that this country runs off a foreign currency. The real reason people come here is cause the US dollar is king.
I think I mash some body corn, the truth really hurt
This dude is only about self. Expat belongers who can vote don’t fall for this BS. It is a trick! Don’t forget what he said in 2011 when he was trying to get in.