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Hon. Pickering: The days of Petty Contracts for this & that are over!

- Deputy Premier dissatisfied with Standing Finance Committee deliberations
Dr. Kedrick Pickering, Minister for Natural Resources and Labour said the days of petty contracts are over.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour and the 7th district representative Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering told the House of Assembly (HOA) today in the 2012 budget debate today March 22, that the days when people could have gotten petty contracts in "this and that" were over as the government does not have money to spend like that.

The seasoned and popular politician, now in his fourth consecutive team in office, said that "we just don’t have the money that we used to have to spend and we have to adapt to that harsh reality".

Minister Pickering further reiterated that Government does not have money to "spend spend spend" and while they can blame anyone "it will not help any of us at this point".

He said some people think the Government have a lot of money to spend but those paying attention would realise there is no money to be spending and Government has to be frugal with how it uses the resources to ensure it builds the country for the betterment of all.

Hon. Pickering also told the HOA that he was very disappointed in the way the Standing Finance Committee deliberations were conducted and said his lack of attendance spoke to his displeasure. However, he did not go into further details as to what he was not pleased about.

Meanwhile, freshman member Hon. Archibald Christian told the HOA in his budget contributions, that he was one of the reasons why the deliberations went so long as he wanted to ensure that he understood the process. He said he “asked for forgiveness”.

Dr. Pickering also told members of the House that any development in the Virgin Islands must be for Virgin Islanders first and he spoke of plans as the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour to further develop the Brandywine Bay Beach. The Minister said he also gets concerned when he hears people say that they are “developing the country for the tourist”, but said the country must be developed for those who live here first.

Protection Of Indigenous People

The 7th district representative was also passionate and firm in his views that indigenous Virgin Islanders must be protected. He said he was not “worried about getting licks for saying this” but there must be protection of indigenous people of the Territory. He said he learn a lot from recent Labour meetings and other public meetings he attended. He said the country is filled with ideas.

Hon. Pickering said we have reached a fork in the road in the VI. He said that part of the issue is that there are many people in the country who believe that they can do what they want, when they want, however, he said it is important that we as a people “stand up for the greater good…we need to work for the greater good.”

In recent years, there have been some tensions rising between local Virgin Islanders and expatriates from the other Caribbean Islands, North America and Europe who are here on work permits. There is the perception that locals are being discriminated against in both the public and private sectors, as it relates to employment, top jobs, promotions and other opportunities. There is also the perception that local Virgin Islanders are not getting fair treatment from the judicial system.

However, no one has brought forward statistics to prove or disprove this wide spread perception amongst indigenous Virgin Islanders. Currently, indigenous Virgin Islanders are a minority, both in the population and in the workforce.

In many constitutions around the world, there are certain provisions inserted to protect the minority indigenous population. The Virgin Islands does not have such a provision in its latest 2007 Constitution.

19 Responses to “Hon. Pickering: The days of Petty Contracts for this & that are over!”

  • break away (22/03/2012, 14:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    well said Pic always tell dem like it is!
    • out cast (22/03/2012, 18:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I hope the cuban does not become the ndp out cast for speaking the truth like vernon malone was for the vip
  • good to great (22/03/2012, 14:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am happy to hear him speak to about the protection of the indigenous people
  • wait a min (22/03/2012, 14:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    doc saying all the right things but he need to take good care of Maynard..both of them from long look
  • insider (22/03/2012, 15:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    but the NDP never like petty contracts any way so they should stop hiding behind the lack of funds...
  • ReX FeRal (22/03/2012, 16:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Doc Quote."In many constitutions around the world, there are certain provisions inserted to protect the minority indigenous population. The Virgin Islands does not have such a provision in its latest 2007 Constitution." OK. Our constitution needs fixing on that issue Doc, but the tenents of GOOD GOVERNANCE also protects the same rights of minorities in a society. So we still have a glimmer of hope to develop our own, own our own and use our own.
    • Albion (22/03/2012, 17:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      He is a bit late. The indigenous people of the BVI were wiped out centuries ago.
      • who they are (23/03/2012, 05:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        An indigenous Virgin islanders is some one whose BOTH PARENTS were born in the BVI and can trace their roots in the BVI to two and three generations. Persons like Myron whose parents were not born in the BVI will not be an indigenous BVIslander. Also people like Mark and Archie also with no roots in the BVI are not indigenous BVIslanders. So in other words persons who can trace their roots here are catching hell and those who do not want to admit this, I swear are really off their rockers. Thanks for looking out for the real citizens of this place Dr. Pickering...You have the balls to stand up!
        • totola baby (23/03/2012, 12:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          wow never knew that! well only my dad born here so I miss the boat
        • SO? (24/03/2012, 20:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          If tis is the case.. Who are Myron, Archie and Mark looking out for? lood you ppls don't recognize lip service when you hear it? Everybody working for everybody.. as long as it serves their purpose.
  • native boy (22/03/2012, 17:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Pickering the people dem hungry so you saying no more petty contracts…struppppssss
    • Lil Girl (22/03/2012, 21:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      If you read carefully he is saying that we should spend money were things area urgent or necessary not to spend money on a project just to give a man a job for an area that is in fairly good condition.
  • she the cat mother (22/03/2012, 18:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    i am pleading with the Government not to cut out petty contracts as that is how the lil lil man eat.
  • ausar (22/03/2012, 19:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    WHO is the MOO-MOO called a "ALBION"? "Albion", as long as you're not a Virgin Islander(British) by BIRTH OR DESCENT, you're in no positon to tell us who we are! It's not our fault that the CONQUISTADORES destroyed the original peoples. ALL my forefathers did was to occupy what was left! And while you're in the position of definitions, let's hope dear dear now "ALBION", that you are not one of those modern day CONQUISTADORES now here to repeat what took place in the past!
    • boy now (23/03/2012, 06:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      one thing I have always admired about Dr. Pickering is, he always tell the truth and does not back down. He has my full support on all he said in the legislature.
  • Fed Up (22/03/2012, 20:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Shut your A$$ aobout this lil man , I hate to hear you all with this crap, like we are some kind of crab at the bottom of a bucket. Thik of your self as a big man . It dont have no Darn money it dont have any, Thats why this country was sinking fast to feed slugs like you all who walk aroung about lil man and small man that time you all have more money that the average man.
    • who are they? (23/03/2012, 05:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The same lil man tis who turn from the vip and voted for the ndp so they can turn back
  • taxpayer (23/03/2012, 09:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Doc. be careful before those Crabs bight you. Long Look is full of them. hmmmm.
  • mask man (25/03/2012, 23:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    gosh no more petty contracts..the NDP wants us put on mask????


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