She may be just 24 years of age but Sharie B. de Castro, the youngest candidate in the 2015 general elections of the Virgin Islands, continues to demonstrate a maturity beyond her age and that she has what it takes to be a competent representative in the Third House of Assembly. The former school teacher and Miss British Virgin Islands, skilfully and fluently articulated her vision for the territory during a recent interview on Open Mic with Julio S. Henry. Photo: VINO

de Castro, a former school teacher and Miss British Virgin Islands, skilfully and fluently articulated her vision for the territory during a recent interview on Open Mic with Julio S. Henry.

The Virgin Islands Party Territorial At Large candidate revealed her ideas on improving tourism, education, youth development programmes, representation, as well as fighting crime, among other issues.

Her delivery was impressive enough to make Mr Henry scoff at a recent criticism of the female candidates on the Virgin Islands Party slate by former legislator Mrs Eileene L. Parsons.

Why the VIP?

Asked why she decided to contest the elections on the Virgin Islands Party ticket, Ms de Castro said the party's vision and principles are aligned with her’s as an individual.

“I believe the Virgin Islands Party was founded on visionary leadership. I look at Honourable Hamilton Lavity Stoutt, he always said where there is no vision the people perish.”

Further, Ms de Castro said the Virgin Islands Party, especially with the new slate of candidates, have been revitalised and consists of members, who are genuine, and who can relate to each other on issues in a frank and respectful way despite their different professional backgrounds and views.

“We have people who can see eye to eye with you, who have experienced the same issues that you do, and in so doing we understand each other. We often say who feels it knows it. And I believe that we have a group of people, 13 candidates, 13 people strong who come from varying backgrounds, careers, family structures, who have decided that we want to put our lives up to serve the people.”

The educator said some of her fellow VIP members have even been her mentors, such as Dr Karl Dawson and senior VIP member Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1).

On the issue of politicians bashing each other, de Castro said all politicians should want the same thing for the territory and she couldn’t understand why they would have to be fighting each other. “Let us fight the issues. If we focus on that let the best man win.”

Fighting crime

On the topic of crime, especially gun crime being one of grave concern for the territory, Ms de Castro said it was better to be proactive rather than reactive and suggested that there should be more programmes and activities in place for young people, especially to be more involved in the things they love to do so they don’t have time for anything else.

“We should not focus on the back end of crime. We have seen a lot of remodelling to the prison and we have seen courts being built but what about our schools? Can we say that infrastructurally we have done as much to our schools as we should have? So I believe we have been reactive.

“But the idea is to implement programmes that would ensure that our young people, whether it is through sports, education, the arts, whatever it is, get them involved in the community and in so doing they would be able to positively contribute. They wouldn’t have time to do anything else,” Ms de Castro opined.

The youthful de Castro said she would champion youth issues and would constantly engage them so as to ensure proper representation.

The captivating interview with Ms de Castro can be seen in its entirety by clicking on the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk2TS2YHqU0&app=desktop