Dr. Kedrick D. Pickering to launch on Feb 12, 2019; Independent Candidate
Dr Pickering, the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour will run as an Independent Candidate according to sources in his seventh district committee.
There have long been speculations that he would have ran with the NDP 2 breakaway group called the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM-NDP 2), or the Hon Julian Fraser led Progressives United (PU), however, none of this has materialised so far.
Hon Pickering, a Medical Doctor—whose father is Cuban and mother is an indigenous Virgin Islander—first ran for office in 1999. Come the February 25, 2019 General Election, he would have been in office for 20 years [1999-2019].
Always a winner 1999 to 2015
He first ran to represent the people of District 7 with the NDP 1 in 1999, the party he helped organize before the current Chairman, Hon Walwyn help to force him out of the party.
The two men have in recent years had a contentious relationship and Mr Walwyn put up a candidate against Dr Pickering, Mr Hipolito D. Penn.
In 1999, in a three-candidate race when he first ran for office, Dr Pickering earned 68.8% with 356 votes while Collingson George of the United Party (UP) earned 18.6% with 109 votes and the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Birton H. Lettsome received 18.3% with 107 votes.
In the 2015 General Election while still with the NDP, Dr Pickering obtained 607 votes which was 75.3% of votes cast, while the VIP’s Oleanvine Pickering-Maynard got 199, which was 24.7% of the total votes.
The good, the bad, the ugly
Many of Dr Pickering’s critics for the past 8 years have said that he has killed agriculture and fisheries, not been firm on labour issues and work permit applications—where locals and belongers have been denied jobs—and that he travels too much.
Further, critics said he has more of an interest in protecting sharks than fighting for locals or getting jobs for youths in his district.
His supporters have said he continues to help the elderly, give free medical services, is a global and respected advocate for environmental protection and that he recognises the seriousness of global warming and is Premier material. In the 2019 General Elections, he will face NDP 1’s, Mr Penn and VIP's Dr Natalio D. Wheatley.
Many were puzzled by the decision of outgoing Premier, Dr. the Hon D. Orlando Smith (AL) to choose Hon. Walwyn over Dr Pickering for the leadership of the NDP. Both Dr Pickering and Smith have had a long professional, political and business friendly relationship spanning over 30 years.
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29 Responses to “Dr. Kedrick D. Pickering to launch on Feb 12, 2019; Independent Candidate ”
We shall see!
Thumbs down if you want Dr Pickering to win D7
no fishing, no farming, no tangible results from all that traveling! its time
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Let’s lead like eagles, not careen off the cliff like buffaloes.