TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, CMC – A recent controversy over the placement of national flags at a popular bar has reignited debate in the Virgin Islands about immigration, cultural respect, and the preservation of local identity.
The Watering Hole restaurant and bar came under fire after the South African flag was hoisted above the Virgin Islands flag, an act many residents considered deeply disrespectful.
While the owners explained it as a gesture of cultural pride, the incident sparked sharp criticism and reopened old wounds about the relationship between expatriates and Virgin Islanders.
Speaking on a local radio programme, the host, Claude Skelton Cline, argued that the incident highlighted a deeper issue beyond protocol.
He stressed that the Virgin Islands — now home to 124 nationalities within a population of just 35,000 — is a cultural melting pot where respect for local traditions must come first.
“When you are in another person’s country, the first thing you do is respect the culture and the protocols of that country,” Skelton Cline said. “We have become such an integrated society that we must be vigilant in preserving and protecting Virgin Islands culture.”
“For many locals, the flag incident symbolizes broader anxieties about immigration. Expatriates comprise a significant portion of the workforce and community, significantly shaping the territory’s economy and society. Yet some Virgin Islanders fear that their culture and identity are being diluted in their own homeland,” he said
“This must not be a one-day outrage,” Skelton Cline warned. “Policies must be put in place and enforced if we are going to sustain Virgin Islands culture.”
Skelton Cline noted that the debate has raised pressing questions about how to balance the benefits of immigration with the need to safeguard national identity.
While expatriates bring economic growth, diversity, and skills, Virgin Islanders are calling for more explicit rules and stronger measures to ensure that their culture remains visible and respected.
He said the controversy over a flag is not just about symbols but about the very soul of the Virgin Islands in an era of rapid demographic change.
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