Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

It's An Injustice- Bishop Roasts Gov't

It's An Injustice- Bishop Roasts Gov't

The controversial decision by the Hon. Andrew Fahie-led administration to ban all work permit and work permit exemption holders from reentering the Territory, continue to receive stark criticisms from sections of the public.
Bishop John Cline has described the move as injustice, immoral and unethical.

"Do we not see injustice here? If we allow this injustice in this area, I can almost guarantee you that we will see justice violated in certain areas. We cannot be silent on these matters as if they are okay, they are not," he said yesterday, Thursday, August 13.

Making reference to the Bible, Bishop Cline said when dealing with yourself, you use your head, but when dealing with others you use your heart.

"Do onto others as we would have them do on to us. These people are our neighbors, worked among us, help build our country, pay their social security, NHI, income tax, work in our businesses, attend our churches, and they have been apart of the fibre of BVI life," he expressed.

He further asked, "How can we treat people like this? If we continue to believe that this is okay, how can we expect it to be well with us, is this not unethical, immoral..."

Like others, Bishop Cline believes that the matter should be dealt with on a case by case basis, pointing out that the one size fit all cannot work.

"Not when we have persons who have been with us on work permit for 15 years plus. These persons have called BVI their home for a long time and at this time of difficulties, to say to them that you have to leave the life you have built in the BVI, or you cannot come back to that life in the BVI, I believe this is the wrong way, wrong approach to go about it in a blanket way," he said.

Bishop Cline said that some of these persons who find themselves outside of the BVI while the lockdown amidst COVID-19, only knows the BVI as their home.

"They have no place to call their home, this is their home for some of them. So, how do we ask them to start over their lives in an unfamiliar place, in an unfamiliar time and this time of difficulties, " he said.

The Church Leader added, "some of them have jobs and their employer want them to come back, but because of this work permit ban that has been communicated to the public they cannot come back and employers cannot get their employees back."

He said that the government needs to examine the situation and the categories of persons, noting that they are persons who can afford the $6,000 security for quarantine and are ready to return home, including business owners. He also mentioned that some of these property owners are worried about their properties being exposed as the hurricane season heightens.

"Where is the empirical data on which these decisions are being made to keep these categories (of persons) out of the BVI. Where is the exclusion and exemption for certain persons in these categories…," he asked.

He said the government needs to do a better job at communicating clearly and effectively to persons on the issue.

Bishop Cline also expressed that those who do not have jobs to return to, should be dealt with separately and not place an undue burden on taxpayers. But he said many understand the latter but are concerned over the general ban.

The government has provided multiple reasons for the decision.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
×