Exclusive: Elton L. Sprauve- “I will fight for my people”
He made the comments during an exclusive interview with this news site yesterday April 19, 2015 while on Anegada during a meeting organised by the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) youth group known as ‘The Ready Committee’.
The VIP 9th District Committee just the day before voted to submit Mr Sprauve’s name to the Party’s governing body, the Congress, as its candidate to contest the Ninth District seat at the upcoming general elections expected this year.
Big Shoes to fill!
Mr Sprauve, a Virgin Gordian and local businessman, noted that it will be big shoes to fill with Honourable Ralph T. O'Neal OBE having served in the capacity for about 40 years.
"It is a new time and we should have new people with new energies to bring the country forward. I am not here to criticise what the government didn't do in the past. I am here to bring something new to the table. This is what we're going to do going forward," he said.
"I'm going to tell you now what I am doing and what I want to see done...the infrastructure on Virgin Gorda and Anegada...it is about who has the political will to see it through," he said.
He said the party's manifesto will be done in short order but the real issue is who will fight for the interest of the people.
Asked whether he has received the blessing of Honourable O'Neal, Sprauve said that the two are friends and he believes the blessing will come soon.
After process he will get O’Neal’s blessing
"He's my friend. I've known him forever. He's excited. But he is not going to make a public statement until the process comes to a conclusion on whether he will endorse me or not. But I'm sure he will," said Sprauve. "But the process has to take its course and then I'll get his blessing," he said.
According to Sprauve, he and Honourable O'Neal talked on certain issues that they are both passionate about. "My thing is people first...we have to help the people. If we are one of the richest nations per capita we have to live better than this. We can't have people hurting and we came into all this wealth. They just need somebody to fight for them," he said.
Asked what is the major issue on Anegada, Sprauve said that based on his visit to the district it seems to be the issue of land.
"If people could have access to their land then they could go to the bank and build their homes. Everybody is entitled to have their land and their homes. That is my biggest thing," he said. He also cited the seaport and airport on Anegada as issues to be addressed.
Mr Sprauve, while giving Hon O’Neal credit for much of the development on Anegada, said there is still more to do.
He said that given his military training in the United States and his stint with the US Air Force, he knows what it is to have boots on the ground and to serve.
Mr Sprauve also said that while some may think he fears the post of Representative, it is something he embraces.
NDP head in the sand!
"I have the heart and I am about the people," he said while adding that the National Democratic Party (NDP) has no idea what is happening on the ground. "That is my biggest problem...and I told Dr Smith that. The people put me here...they submitted my name," he said, insisting that he has no issue being straight up in his words.
"I'm not a wannabe. The people put me here," he said.
Hard time for Anegadians & Nothing in it for us!
Mr Sprauve said it is a hard time for Anegadians who do not work for the government. "I'm telling you it is hard. Government needs to assist and that is where I stand."
The Ninth District Committee’s pick for nomination is also concerned that on Virgin Gorda investors are owning land and not paying their fair share under the NDP Government. "They are the ones getting the tax breaks and we coming from St Thomas they want to open every bag and every box. That shouldn't be," he said.
He said the revenue streams coming from the Ninth District should be enough to finance projects in the district such as roads and hospitals. "But we are giving all of the billionaires a free ride. And they can afford it [taxes]," he said.
Sprauve suggested that the “billionaires” be asked to help finance some of the public projects.
Dog fight for the 9th district!
Mr Sprauve, once confirmed by the VIP Congress, will face the NDP’s Dr Hubert O’Neal who ran and lost four times and the People’s Empowerment Party’s Faye J. Reese-Charles. There are also expected to be a few independent candidates, including Dr Rawle R. Hannibal, in the race hoping to succeed the Virgin Islands’ first Premier.
Whoever is elected will be taking over from the giant Hon O’Neal who served the people of the 9th District for some forty years [1975-current].
58 Responses to “Exclusive: Elton L. Sprauve- “I will fight for my people””
All Out will be a puppet!
1st - Fahie
2nd - Mitch
3rd - Fraser
4th - Mark
5th - Delores
6th - Alvera
7th - Kedrick
8th - Marlon
9th - Sprauve
At-Large
Myron Walwyn
Dr. Smith
Ronnie Skelton
Irene Penn-Oneal
At minimum NDP will get 9 seats and VIP 4. I gave the 1st and 3rd to VIP despite them being dog fights with NDP having a good chance to get one or both. I gave them the 9th as I know All-out is real people and down to earth so that may take him over the top. However, don't count out Hubert at all as he has run Ralph really tight in all his showings. The numbers aren't lining up well for VIP, sadly.
Dist 1 VIP
Dist 2 PEP
Dist 3 VIP
Dist 4 VIP
Dist 5 VIP
Dist 6 VIP
Dist 7 VIp
Dist 8 - too close to call
Dist 9 VIP
At Large VIP certain to win 3 out of 4
Result VIP will win in the Districts by themselves-
VIP 3 At Large
NDP 1 Al large
VIP win by overwhelming landslide
You have to think of the overall health of the country. We don't have to like each other or be invited to each other dinner but we have to have a common goal to see BVI, the country do well. BVI supports all of us and so it makes sense to ensure that BVI can be able to continue to do that. VIP has the well being of the country at heart. Fraser is not in this for the money and fame. He knows BVI has no call being in the position it is. Everyone take an inventory of the BVI that you know whether you were enticed to come here to its shimmering shores or you known it all your life. Dictatorship and victimization is no way to build a country.
VIP and PEP be prepared to work together.
That won't happen because Mitch will landslide Alvin and C Dawson easily in the second.
NDP all no way.
He lives in the 9th and has his business (the popular Mine Shaft & Sunset Cafe) in the 9th; his father, Mr Milford Sprauve, lovingly known as Sputnick was from North Sound and his charismatic mother Mrs Berniece Sprauve is from the Valley; roots all over the place. His deep family/community roots and military training in the US and Tourism related business are all pluses.
Besides all this, the Unpopular NDP sat idly by for the past 3 pressure-burst-pipe years, while Social Security was
sitting on that $16-million, while Mr. Frazer was on rubbing the skin off his knees begging the Doc to release some
money into the economy during the Recession so that the people could save their properties from the foreign Banks and feed their families.
These guys know very well, that the folks won't be fooled by the last minute crazy spending. There's more money now being spent as if we were going to host the Olympics. lol
If NDP was so sure of themselves, spending a mere $1-million would have secure seat and Legacy.
While you can't tell people what to do, it would make sence for these guys to save their money to pay for their
folks studying overseas. They can make their contribution when they return home.
By the way, in the US, the Republican spent more than $300,000,000 IN 2008 to dislodge Mr. Obama, and
right next door in SkN Dougie spent $4.5-million to charter 24 planes to transport voters to support his
20-year old ruling Labour Party. In both cases, we know what happened.
Nuff said