Representative of the Ninth District Dr the Honourable Hubert O’Neal has disclosed that he made the decision to contest the Ninth District seat way before he had any inkling that Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, to whom he had lost four consecutive elections, was not going to run. Photo: VINO

“I know my abilities, I am a very confident person and just like how I remain determined to become a legislator I am going to have the same determination in representing my district and representing the Virgin Islands. It is that deep national pride that I have for my country which has kept me going,” Dr the Hon Hubert O'Neal said. Photo: VINO/File

Dr O’Neal noted that while he has opposed Honourable O’Neal so many times, the two – cousins by blood – are actually friends. Photo: VINO/File

“It is really the people in my district that have kept me going…in Virgin Gorda and Anegada. I have always had very strong support throughout the years that I have contested that seat and very close supporters of mine were just as determined that I continue to contest because they saw me as the most fit person to represent the District,” he said in an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News Online yesterday July 28, 2015.

“Actually the announcement by Honourable O’Neal came as a surprise to me. I really didn’t expect him to do that and although it was a surprise to me it didn’t faze me greatly,” he said. 

In a closed door meeting on May 6, 2014 at his Valley, Virgin Gorda office with his district committee many of whom have supported him for well over 30 plus years, Hon O'Neal told the gathering that he will not seek reelection after his term in office expires in 2015/16 as was reported by this news site.

At the June 8, 2015 elections, Dr O’Neal steamrolled the competition to gain a seat in the House of Assembly.

I thought he would have quit since 2011

He noted that while he has opposed Honourable O’Neal so many times, the two – cousins by blood – are actually friends.

“I respect him. He has served for a long time. He has made us proud as Virgin Islanders and I have nothing but respect for him. I saw his failing health from two elections ago and it wasn’t me alone that saw that. I think the constituents in the district saw that his health was failing. And so the handwriting was on the wall,” he said. “From two elections ago I thought he would have quitted,” said Dr O’Neal.

“But in terms of me and my position I would have run if he was running. I was determined to get that seat so I would have run regardless. His announcement had nothing to do with it.”

Thoughts of quitting

Hon O'Neal said that the last two times he opposed Honourable O’Neal, in 2007 and 2011, they were close elections.

“So you can see that the support was divided right down the middle and because of that support I had individuals in the district that just would not allow me to quit. I had thoughts of quitting,” said Dr O’Neal.

“As you said, any ordinary person might have quit after the second attempt but the people really have kept me going,” he said.

Neglected in many respects

According to the newly ordained member of the House of Assembly, the district from which he hails has been neglected in many respects. “And I saw myself as an individual who could get up there and get these things done.”

“It was always perplexing to me why it is certain projects were not accomplished in our district, why certain social amenities were not in place and it was always a problem in my mind why especially when we have a representative for so long, over 40 years. It isn’t that he hasn’t been in the position of authority. I mean he’s been Chief Minister, he’s been Premier, he’s held top positions and we were not seeing the progress that we expected for a long time and that kept me going,” he said.

Dr O’Neal said that he was a very proud Virgin Gordian. “I have lived there all my life…I grew up there; I know everybody and I have always kept that close contact and close relationship with the people in my district and I have been vocal on many occasions on issues affecting the people in the district. I have even championed some labour issues at Little Dix Bay. I have done all these things behind the scenes for a long time,” he said.

A definite leadership need in District 9

Dr O’Neal added that he also kept on contesting elections because there was a need for leadership in the district.

“There was a definite leadership need and I saw myself as someone who can accomplish things and now that I have been given the chance to represent the district I am going to show not just the people in my district not just Virgin Gorda and Anegada but the whole BVI the real potential of my district and what it can do for the economy of our Virgin Islands. The potential is vastly untapped and I have a vision 20, 30 or 40 years down the road of what the Virgin Islands would look like,” he said.

“I know my abilities, I am a very confident person and just like how I remain determined to become a legislator I am going to have the same determination in representing my district and representing the Virgin Islands. It is that deep national pride that I have for my country which has kept me going,” Dr O'Neal passionately shared.