That's the motto shown on the vehicle license plates in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). This archipelago of islands is certainly not well known to many of us. But I have the pleasure of being based on one of them, Tortola, for several days, while I teach.
If you like hills, which I do, then this place is heaven, as there are large mounds everywhere. It means driving on roads with lots of steep inclines, and windy bends. But, with a population of only 24,000, the BVI is not too busy and it's easy to enjoy solitude and the breezes. The islands, however, are on an earthquake fault line, and I had my first experience of a tremor last night as a quake measuring 4.6 hit the islands. Reports so far indicate no damage or injuries.
Life here has its immediate oddities. Very strong British links, and vehicles drive on the left, but most are left hand drive and large US SUV-types (needed for the hills). The US dollar is the currency. The islands have become very wealthy in a short space of time. Tourism and financial services are now the economic backbone of the BVI (see link), but new attractions are being sought. There is no major conference centre here yet, so events struggle for the right space (see for instance the forthcoming Business BVI "2007 Women of Power Summit", which will be held at the Community College Resource Centre).
What I found is that the the islands are in a new wave of democracy, having just had general elections on August 20, where the ruling New Democratic Party was ousted by the Virgin Island Party. Incumbents losing is the trend at the moment in the Caribbean region. The BVI will now have its first Premier (instead of a Chief Minister).
In familiarizing myself with Tortola, I found myself attending the first sitting of the new House of Assembly, which was taking place in the island's multi-complex gym as this has more seating space for the general public. The election was not close in terms of seats but the difference in popular vote was close. The new PM, Ralph T. O'Neal, won his seat by a mere 9 votes (see link)! The new government gave a flavour of some of the issues that gnaw away here. Talking of the need for unity, the PM stressed that he will treat supporters of the NDP with compassion, kindness and respect and that will be the practise of all ministers and backbenchers. The Minister of Natural Resources and Labour noted his election as meaning “deliverance for everybody” regardless of race or colour. From what I hear, that song of inclusiveness for foreigners from a Minister who is married to someone from the Dominican Republic, will not be sweet music to the ears of BVIslanders.
While physically very different from Barbados, what I have heard in a few days tells me that many similar issues affect the two places. BVIslanders have their ways, as does every community. Outsiders from elsewhere in the Caribbean say that they have a hard time breaking the barriers of not being "Belongers" or "Born Here". So, Jamaicans, Trinis, Dominicans, Vincentians etc. are trying to make their way economically and socially but find many barriers or points of resistance. However, many of these so-called "Downislanders" are keeping the BVI running, as they provide goods and services across a wide range of areas. Violent crime is becoming more common place, with armed robberies and other crimes appearing more, with the culprits being young men. The cost of living is apparently very high, and people take opportunities to dodge that by visiting St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico. Online journalism and discussions are thriving (see BVI News and BVI Platinum News, for example).
You can only get the merest impression of a place and its people in a few days, but I will take the weekend to see some more of Tortola and I hope some of the other islands.
No comments:
Post a Comment