Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has stated that those with the strongest ancestral ties “must be respected at all times” in the BVI.
Those deemed to have the strongest ancestral ties are called “indigenous Virgin Islanders”—persons who can trace their Virgin Islands ancestry back three or more generations.
Walwyn said society must be sensitive to the concerns and fears of this group, especially since they are a minority in a country to which they are deeply connected.
“Any country where the ancestral people are so few in number compared to everybody else, you have to be sensitive to it. You must be sensitive to the concerns and fears, you have to be,” the Sixth District Representative said while debating the UK’s review of law enforcement agencies in the BVI.
Don’t divide based on ancestry
Although ancestral ties are important, Walwyn said they must not be used to divide society, especially since cohesion is necessary to stand against threats like the UK’s latest review, which labels local law enforcement agencies as corrupt.
“All of us call this country home. Whether you’re like me, whose parents weren’t born here but I was born here, you have those who have one parent who was born here, you also have belongers who have rights that were given to them,” Walwyn expressed.
“But this chopping up of our people for political purposes to make some believe that they belong and others don’t, those things aren’t helpful to us because right now all of us within these borders are under attack here,” Walwyn stated emphatically.
Walwyn’s statements come amid a recently revived debate that has questioned his legitimacy as Opposition Leader since he is considered to be a first-generation Virgin Islander and not an indigenous Virgin Islander.
While the debate continues, the D6 representative said these social constructs must be put to rest in favour of a greater fight for the future of the territory.
“While you fight against your own people, who are your ancestral people from Africa, other people from across Europe are coming and taking up what you have. We need everybody to hold hands together to improve our home, that is what we should be doing, not creating division for politics,” Walwyn said.
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