Incompetents! Next leader must have strategy to redirect VI- Hon Fraser
The Virgin Islands Party General Elections is slated for November 30, 2016 and once again the two powerhouses of the party, Hons Fraser and Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) will go head to head for the chairmanship.
Traditionally, the VIP Chairman becomes Premier if the party gets into power.
Posting on his Facebook wall on November 22, 2016, Hon Fraser laid out his “resume” for the top post, reminding that he is a former Deputy Chief Minister/Premier and two term minister of government with service as Minister for Natural Resources and Labour; and Minister for Communications and Works.
“I was trusted by Premier Hon Ralph T. O'Neal to travel overseas on his behalf to Bonaire, Brussels, Washington DC, New Caledonia, Antigua, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, St Thomas USVI and others,” Hon Fraser stated, adding that he accompanied the Hon Premier to London to meet the Minister for Overseas Territories for negotiations on several occasions.
“I signed the Declaration of the Association of Overseas Territories and Countries -OCTA- on behalf of the Chief Minister in Bonaire, I was a member of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007 negotiating team that went to London, I am a 5 term member of the House of Assembly.”
The veteran legislator added that he is experienced, reliable, trustworthy, competent, a team player and loyal.
“The measure of a man can be determined by his patience and humility... Now let us all judge one another by our respect for protocol and tradition and not based on any act of over ambition out of sheer desperation. I am the Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party, despite what others might have you believe,” said Hon Fraser, who was appointed Opposition Leader in 2015 after himself and Hon Andrew A. Fahie could not agree on who should hold that title.
Sense of gloom in territory
Meanwhile, Hon Fraser thought it opportune to point out that the National Democratic Party (NDP) Administration is suspected of corruption, mismanagement of public funds, maladministration, and a disconnect with the electorate.
He noted too that Virgin Islanders are being marginalised in the workplace, and the NDP is either party to it, or at best condones it.
“…and the difficulties being experienced by the Financial Services Sector of our economy will require a leader who understands the industry and have international experience. I'll like to think of myself as that person.
“These circumstances and others spell a sense of gloom that our next leader must have a strategy to redirect the Virgin Islands. And I think of myself as that person.”
Bunch of incompetents
According to Hon Fraser, after giving consideration to the upcoming elections for the Executive of the Virgin Islands Party, he was forced to take into consideration the journey through which the territory has traveled in six years with the NDP at the helm.
“…where our treasury has been raided, moneys spent with total disregard to any fiscal responsibilities, accusations of corruption, money laundering, labeled a tax haven, Black Listed, a declining Financial Services Sector, among others, and imagining the destination, I could not see myself removed from being a part of rescuing the people of this territory from this bunch of incompetents now running our country.
“So it is for this reason I have decided to seek Re-Election to the office of Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party.”
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27 Responses to “Incompetents! Next leader must have strategy to redirect VI- Hon Fraser”
I hope people don't have short memories. We have Dawson, Natalio Wheatly, maybe even Preston Stoutt.. these are all good people to build a new party around. We owe Fraser and Fahie a great debt in speaking out and holding NDP feet to the fire in explaining and uncovering serious issues. They dared ask the hard questions. But now we need a new direction.
I see nothing wrong with fraser. He has made his share of mistakes but we all learn from our mistakes and are better for it. Whats happening today in terms of lack of transparency, victimization for those who dare criticize their government and financial mismanagement must end. It is not going to end with NDP. These guys are only going to dig in their heels and continue on the same path.
There is a lot of talk these days about independence, but no one is talking about raising the money for it. Some of us think independence is a signature on a piece of paper. But we can in no way be independent with just $6mil in our treasury. So we must first embark on an effort to improve our financial position. This of course will take years. Instead of inviting others to come here to invest with little benefit to us, we must be the investors. We should have done that following the Rockerfella model and we would be the owners of our own islands. We are not gaining anything by inviting others to own our territory. What have they given us back thus far? Virgin Islanders should have a period of national service. This will include giving back to society of our knowledge, skills, experience and time, since we have no army. Let us build our own Virgin Islands. We can start with the VIP.
However, Hon Fraser’s strong desire to serve as Premier may be luke warm among the electorate as evidenced by the 11-2 thrashing of VIP under his leadership by NDP in the last election. The whispering among many voters is that the Hon Fraser was a drag on the party.
Thus, to become Premier, he has a high and steep mountain to climb, though it is not an insurmountable feat. The Hon Fraser has an uphill struggle to earn the respect and confidence of a skeptical electorate.
Nonetheless, to achieve the desire, will require 1)being elected Chairperson of the VIP, 2) standing and being elected to the HOA and 3) getting at least 6 other colleagues elected to the HOA. However, to make this happen, the Hon Fraser will have to develop and propose effective plans and programmes to propel the territory forward and sustain it.
The plans and programmes must be realistic, timely, relevant, affordable and achievable, not just fluff and talk. Further, as an architect, the Hon Fraser knows that a strong foundation is vital for the effectiveness of any structure. So too must be the foundation for any nation building effort.
Moreover, to fling a sitting/encumbent government, a substantive, enduring and plausible plan must be put forth by the Opposition. The Opposition must show that it can deliver at least more services with the same or less resources.
The electorate will not make a change if change is not for the better. For the Opposition to make a credible run at unseating the current government it must be more prepared than it was last election.
The snap election, though it was and should have been anticipated, caught the Opposition flat-footed and ill-prepared and the 11-2 shellacking is testimony to this.
To be elevated to the top dog elected office, the Hon Fraser must lead strongly from the front, be on the cutting edge and be the tip of spear. He must also be an effective manager. Need some algorithms from Fraser as to how he is going to fix the territory’s problem.
taken root here, while decent folk get saboteuged. But again the BVI is for the belongers first. Fair is fair.
Put you all in a bag with nothing, nothing will jump out leave you all.