Fed -up! Virgin Gordians urged to look for new leaders
"Things have gone to the dogs here at my beautiful Virgin Gorda. Yes we don't have the incidents of crimes as much or severe as Tola (Tortola) but we are being neglected, abused, used and raped in every fashion," said a popular school teacher on the sister island, who declined to have her name published.
"There are just a few of us who speak up but I hope they don't blame the wrong person and victimise them when y'all put out this comment VINO."
A deaf ear
The concerned teacher said that for decades leaders have been turning a deaf ear to a number of issues that continue to plague the island, and in fact have gotten worse.
"So many issues we have and have been trying to get our leaders to deal with them. One of the issues I want to mention to you is the overcrowding of especially Lee Road when the ships are in. This government will wait until something serious happens before they address it."
Another concern raised was the ongoing work at the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour which residents continue to allege may have serious negative impact on the reefs and beaches along the stretch.
New leadership needed
While those concerns were shared with this news site last week, residents had another sounding voice on social network, calling for a change and new leadership.
A comment posted by Mrs Sharon Flax-Brutus, who is a frequent contributor on Facebook, and who does it in her personal capacity and as a concerned resident of Virgin Gorda, called for new leadership of the sister island.
Today on Facebòok she wrote, "Virgin Gordian and Anegadians - we have 2 years to find a Fabulous 5 to represent our district and our interests. We either need to field a slate of 5 or we need to secede from the union!! It can't be no worse than what we are going through now? It like we going to hell in a pinder shell! I love my VG and right now my heart aches. We should all be ashamed for allowing our island to get to this state."
District 9 Rep has no reach?
With many residents of Virgin Gorda and Anegada complaining of having an invisible, unreachable and allegedly ineffective Ninth District Representative, then Opposition Leader Hon Julian Fraser RA (R1) had suggested during a public meeting in November 2016 in Virgin Gorda that it is a case of the representative not been given the respect and assistance of his own National Democratic Party (NPD) members.
The Ninth District Representative is Dr The Hon Hubert O’Neal who won the seat left vacant by former Premier and long serving legislator Hon Ralph T. O’Neal OBE at the 2015 General Elections of the Virgin Islands.
Hon Fraser had said the shortcomings of any Representative of the 9th District could be blamed on them having the “lack of reach.”
Following these statements, an irate Dr O’Neal had called his own meeting in Virgin Gorda in November 2016 and in a manner most unbecoming of an elected representative, said he is normally a quiet person but he was upset to the point that he would have punched Hon Fraser even if they were in the House of Assembly.
He would later apologise in the House of Assembly for his unstatesmanlike behaviour.
34 Responses to “Fed -up! Virgin Gordians urged to look for new leaders”
Unite again when countless persons have offered to assist, join a committee and get nowhere?? It is sad. He does NOT have a functioning district committee and those asked to be on other committees have been begging for a meeting for the longest while. His interest is , in his words "to tap the billionaires in the North Sound area"
Same old sh*t until contracts and free food start sharing at rallies.
He has been told of all the issues surrounding Virgin Gorda and Anegada hundreds of times. He is an unwanted child of the NDP and NOBODY wants to adopt him. He has to go. A total waste.
He seems loathe or frightened to investigate the the BVI Investment Club which has close links to Government, and owns the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour. Ask Hubert O'Neal if the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour had permission to reclaim land, at least 50' into the ocean. The VG community had no idea that they were going to do that. They say they are renovating. No, this is RECLAMATION! Yes, we are upset about this!!!! Hubert O’Neal should be watching this development very closely, and stepping in if they are forging ahead without the necessary permission, and then should report back to his constituents.
The jetty at St. Thomas Bay has just been mended. Was any engineering study done before this repair was under taken? Did anyone stop to think that putting a foot of concrete on top of the existing jetty might not be the best answer, especially as underneath the jetty shows signs of deterioration? Did anyone take into consideration that the people were going to have to step down an extra foot to get onto the ferry? This could be very dangerous, especially in a heavy ground sea.
On the subect of the jetty, did our Government really have to pay $75,000 for the ferries to be able to go into the Yacht Harbour? That is $2500 per day! Outrageous! Money into the BVI Investment Club’s pocket.
The road works on the Lee Road are taking forever to complete. Business are suffering.
People are still out of work, and there is still another 6 months before Little Dix is supposed to open. Even then they are not assured of getting their jobs back. Bitter End, YCCS, Saba Rock will be closing for a couple of months. Virgin Gorda is dependent upon tourism, this is our bread and butter.
It is not a pretty picture, and times are tough in Virgin Gorda, particularly the Valley. Hubert O’Neal wanted the job of 9th District Representative. So, with all due respect, please do it Mr. O’Neal.
When Johnson wants something, the private jets just pour right in. Go for it, fella!
We need a new group of voices who speak to all bvislanders.