Dream Big Foundation wants VI youths to register and vote
“It’s always essential that all youths in our beloved British Virgin Islands take advantage of their democratic right to vote... We are creating a future that aligns with our fundamental beliefs and setting precedent for future generations,” the youth group notes in a release on December 10, 2018.
In just a few months, The Premier, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) will demit office following a General Election that must be held by April 16, 2019, according to Governor of the VI, Augustus J. U. Jaspert.
Youth challenges
They say the majority of youths in the Virgin Islands are experiencing some form of poverty attributed to issues such as high unemployment levels, which if unchecked, will become an issue for the current and succeeding government.
“Our young people also face a host of other challenges, including limited access to entrepreneurship opportunities, credit for setting up businesses & even to be homeowners.”
“Too many of us young people have been too comfortable in apathy, neglecting the importance of voting. We have to realize that our voice is an important one because democracy doesn’t work without citizen participation,” the youth group uttered.
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“Every one of our vote matter, because history has shown that a collective youth vote could actually sway an election.”
The youth group notes, “voting gives us the power to make important choices as we decide what we like, don’t like, and our voices are heard… We are known to complain too much about issues that affect us, yet we still choose to squander opportunities to influence the election of people who share their aspirations."
They say that youths of the VI need to show support for the candidates that best represent the needs of youth because no one else is going to vote in the interest of the young people except young people.
Heated election season
The upcoming 2019 elections season in the VI is expected to be a heated one with the Ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) government now splitting into two groups.
One wing is headed by Education and Culture Minister Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL) and the other, now called the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM), is headed by fired Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton (AL).
Additionally, other political parties contesting the elections include the Main Opposition, Virgin Islands Party (VIP) and Progressives United (PU), the party founded by Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3).
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