Hipolito D. Penn announces run for 2019 General Elections
Mr Penn confirmed his bid in an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News Online, saying his decision is primarily rooted in the fact that for 20 years the District has had the same representation in the form of Deputy Premier, Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7), which has led to a disenfranchisement of the people residing in the District.
Neglect
The 50-year-old political activist told this publication that among the many vexing issues in the District Seven is the fact that, “sewerage is running in the streets going on 20 years under the same representative who is a doctor of medicine.”
Dr Pickering, he recalled, had also “made a declaration years ago there is going to be an epidemic where people will be falling ill and dying because of the sewerage, yet under his watch, he let the Minister for Communications and Works, take $8 million from the sewerage project to put in the $40 million overrun pier project.”
Other Economic Pillars
The 7th District encompasses: Sophie Bay, Brandywine Bay, Paraquita Bay, Whelk Point, Hodges Creek, Fat Hogs Bay, Vanterpool Estate, Old Plantation, Long Look and the Spring Ghut areas and according to Mr Penn, these places have, for too long been neglected under the watch of Dr Pickering.
“In the area of farming they are crying for water,” according to Mr Penn, in reference to those in the Paraquita Bay area where, “we are paying for more water than we use, so why can't the farmers have the water they need.”
The current representative—Dr Pickering—has failed the people, he said and pointed out as example that, “while the farmers want more land to expand their fields into more varieties of food stock, persons not in the farming industry have been giving 3 acres of land in the same Paraquita Bay to set up Green-Houses to grow medical marijuana.”
Mr Penn was adamant, “I am for decriminalisation of marijuana first, so our young people can stop being harassed and jailed and all those jailed for marijuana offences, be let out of prison and wipe their record clean. Then and only then will I support medical marijuana.”
People Losing Daily
On the matter of the fishing, which he observed was touted to be the third economic pillar of the VI, Mr Penn lamented the opening of a fishing complex in West End between Frenchman Cay on the sand area which was given the go ahead by Dr Pickering while locals are being neglected.
According to Mr Penn, this was done by Dr Pickering, while “our fishery is in shambles and non functional, our local fishermen losing daily in their own country, another area the current Representative of the 7th District have failed his people.”
Mr Penn in pointing out the numerous perceived failures on the part of Dr Pickering in providing adequate representation for the people of the 7th District, observed too, “while the owners of Guana Island, Mosquito Island, Necker Island, Oil Nut Bay, Peter Island, Cooper Island and Norman Island can make a living from their surrounding beaches we the people of the East End / Long Look area have to leave long Bay Beach as Columbus met it and kill off business opportunities for our people while the rich make millions, this is another failure of the current Representative of the 7th District as he is the Minister responsible for the subject.”
Formally announcing his election bid to Virgin Islands News Online, Mr Penn said “I am going to make this unequivocally clear; I am unapologetic for my constituents who will vote for me, my job is to be their servant and carry out their wishes.”
The people, he said, “is the greatest resource of any country and they must be respected, as such my responsibility is to represent all persons…I look forward to meeting with my constituents to hear their views and the direction in which they want the country to go, as I will be more than willing to share mine, ultimately the people's wishes are priority as I am their humble servant.”
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25 Responses to “Hipolito D. Penn announces run for 2019 General Elections”
Good move
Till Death do ahyo part...