Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LIVING IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
One of the best places to get an insight into the local lifestyle is at the mom-and-pop restaur-
ants that West Indian entrepreneurs are fond of erecting in the settlements and along coun-
try roads. These gathering places, such as Vie's Snack Shack on St John and LSL Bakery
& Restaurant on Virgin Gorda, attract a clutch of neighbors to drink bush tea (from leaves,
roots and herbs), soft drinks or Carib beer and linger at tables and benches outside to discuss
the news of the day - especially the latest twist in a political or commercial corruption scan-
dal.
People who are island-born or children of island-born parents, often called 'belongers,' claim a special social
status. In the USVI, belongers hold the bulk of government jobs. In the BVI, belongers get first priority
when it comes to purchasing land or getting a job.
Join the group and watch a basketball or cricket match on TV, hear the proprietor's newest
calypso or reggae tunes, and sense the love of life that infuses Virgin Islanders. You'll pick
up on a value system that places a high priority on family, friends and a love of the islands
as well as relishing the time to enjoy them. Here you get a sense that work is often not an
end in itself, it's a means of expanding one's social network - and laughter is worth more
than gold.
USVI Life
The US islands show their American affiliation with conveniences such as shopping malls
and fast-food restaurants. On St Thomas and St John, most people work in the tourism in-
dustry. On St Croix, many work in manufacturing jobs at the petroleum refinery and rum
distilleries.
The USVI ranks 79th in the world for per capita GDP, at $14,500. Twenty-nine percent
of the population lives below the poverty line, and housing projects pop up throughout the
islands.
Black people outnumber white by more than four to one and dominate the political and
professional arenas. There is a large population of immigrants. About one-third of USVI res-
idents were born elsewhere in the Caribbean. Large communities from the BVI and French-
speaking St-Barthélemy live around St Thomas, and many Puerto Ricans have settled on St
Croix.
