Gov't sees overwhelming elections victory as a deeper mandate
They were at the time speaking during the First Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly which sat today June 23, 2015 at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Road Town.
There are different opinions as to who should be the Leader of the Opposition; whether Hon Julian Fraser RA or Hon Andrew A. Fahie and as such the House of Assembly was today convened without a Leader of the Opposition.
The event was graced by hundreds of persons from all walks of the VI society and it saw the presence of dignitaries of the United States Virgin Islands, including Lieutenant Governor now acting Governor Osbert C. Potter.
And in like manner the Opposition, the two members of the VIP who outmatched their challengers, vowed to keep Government’s feet to the fire even while saying that they will work with them in the best interest of the territory.
People were fearless for change
New Second District Representative Melville ‘Mitch’ Turnbull said that the people were fearless in making the change they wanted to see in the district. For this he expressed his thanks for them giving him the chance to serve on their behalf.
He also thanked the youth movement of the NDP, he being a youth and a youth leader himself, and also his church family at the Cane Garden Bay Baptist Church and those involved in his youth mentorship programme.
Patience pays off for Dr Hubert O'Neal
Five-time candidate and now Representative for the Ninth District Dr Hubert O’Neal took some time to soak in the moment when he got to say the words “Madam Speaker” for the first time after so many years of contesting and being defeated by his predecessor Ralph T. O’Neal OBE.
“You have no idea how long it took for me to want to say those two words – Madam Speaker,” he said, offering his congratulations to returned Speaker of the House of Assembly Hon Ingrid A. Moses.
“Madam Speaker I am going to assure you that I am going to be an obedient boy. I will not cause any rancour unless provoked of course,” he said. “Madam Speaker it has been 16 years for me to arrive in this House. Words cannot express how I feel right now. I am elated but also relieved that I have made it to this point,” he said.
Humbled
Honourable Marlon A. Penn thanked the people of the Eighth District for returning him to the position. “We have much work to do in the community and I look forward for us working together as we move this community forward,” said Penn. “I am extremely humbled by the privilege bestowed upon me by the people of the Eighth District,” he said, adding that he will redouble efforts to build the community that he serves.
He said that sometimes people in high office tend to develop a God complex, where they believe that everything that happens in the district is a result of their doing. But he is cognisant of the fact that it is the people who make things happen. “People of District Eighth I got your message and I got it loud and clear,” he said.
He said that those who seek to divide will not prevail as people have no time for that in the community.
We have very ambitious programme to deliver
No longer a rookie Minister, Honourable Myron V. Walwyn said that with an 11 to 2 configuration in the House of Assembly in favour of the NDP Government, “It means the people believe that the Government can deliver and it has to deliver again for the people,” he said. He thanked the staff in the Ministry of Education to which he has returned as Minister. “I want to put them on notice that we will work them even harder because we have a very ambitious programme in the manifesto which we will deliver,” he said.
Fourth District Representative Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool said that the Government now had to continue building the country’s infrastructure to augment economic stability in the tourism and financial services sector.
“We want to make sure that we continue to build our reserves leading to further economic self-sustainability and economic independence in the Virgin Islands.”
When will the celebrations end?
Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) asked the question when will the National Democratic Party victory celebration end and the work of the territory begin following their victory at the polls on June 8, 2015 and promised to keep the Government’s feet to the fire.
Hon Fraser said that while over time he has come to accept that victory is never won without a celebration the question is at what point to celebration end and the business of the territory begin.
“As an advocate for the people, which is what we signed up for, we have to make sure that the principles of good governance, transparency and accountability are upheld and that is what we in the Opposition pledge for the people of this territory,” he said.
“I am sure that no Government would like to sit without a vibrant Opposition to ensure that their feet are held to the fire so to speak and that they are kept accountable to the people and that is what we pledge Madam Speaker,” said Honourable Fraser. “We are committed as the Opposition to do the work asked of us by the people,” he said.
He thanked the people of the Third District for electing him for another term.
We have a dual role
Speaking after Honourable Fraser took his seat, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie said that because of there not being any At Large members on the Opposition side, each of the Opposition members – himself and Hon Fraser – has to perform a dual role of representing their constituency and the entire people of the Virgin Islands.
“We vow to support what is best for this territory while ensuring accountability and financial probity,” he said, adding that the best days of the territory lie ahead.
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16 Responses to “Gov't sees overwhelming elections victory as a deeper mandate”
IN MY ESTIMATION, YOU LOOK SMOOTH IN THAT TIE!
We will get more noisy planes descending over west end and road town and east end coming into an airport that doesn't make sense right now. The ferries will continue to nickle and dime people and are not scheduled to accommodate travelers from st thomas. They will be smug.
The way I look at it is, people didn't vote FOR NDP but AGAINST the disorganized and weak VIP. There wasn't much of a choice. Fraser should pay attention and step back. Take the focus off him. Right from the beginning he questions when the celebration will be over to do the people's business. How to alienate people right from the beginning. He is going to do it again. He doesn't know how to handle people.