‘May the best candidate win' - Preston P. Stoutt
Stoutt released a statement to the media yesterday April 7, 2015 in which he outlined his position on a number of issues affecting the territory.
He noted that every four years the Government changes and this he interprets as an indication that the electorate does not trust its elected representatives.
“We in the BVI had four consecutive election cycles whereby administrations are switched every four years. This is a clear indication by the electorate that we do not trust our representatives. We keep recycling the same representatives and end up with the same lacklustre results,” he said, writing in the statement.
Virgin Islands News Online reminded Mr Stoutt that Shaina M. Smith is a new face in politics and not "recycled" and how he felt about her coming into the mix as a National Democratic Party (NDP) candidate for the First District.
Mr Stoutt responded that the voters will decide. “By the will of the people may the best candidate win,” he said by way of text message.
A broken system
He said that any representatives that are not willing to make the tough decisions to change the broken system, the territory will end up with the same results. “Due to this dysfunctional cycle, we have now become a blame and complain society simply because our government has failed to recognise or accomplish much,” said Stoutt.
Stoutt noted that in the 2011 elections he started the campaign as an Independent At-Large candidate and later in the campaign (September 2011) switched to being an Independent candidate contesting the first electoral district. “Preston Stoutt for the 2015/2016 elections will be an Independent candidate contesting the first electoral district to serve the people of this territory in the House of Assembly. Many have asked and stated that he needs to be with a team; whether it is VIP, NDP or PEP but Stoutt has stated that he already belongs to a team; Team BVI,” he declared.
Promises already made to a few
He noted that before there were any political parties there was the VI and its people is its most raw form. “With Team BVI, there are no hidden agendas or lack of transparency with campaign financing. Our political scale seems to have tipped from grassroots to special interests whereas promises are already made to a few before the majority votes,” Stoutt said.
Using his father’s legacy
Stoutt noted that since the passing of his late father some 20 years ago, many in the political arena throughout that time period have continuously used his name especially during an election cycle.
“The politicians attempts have been to merely gain credibility for themselves by seemingly riding or trying to matrix his accomplishments that were during his time of political service just to justify their current actions or projects. Sure, everyone can celebrate in the memory of the late HL Stoutt; however, his legacy belongs to his widow, sons, daughters, grandchildren, family and most importantly, the very people he helped,” he said.
Stoutt said that whether an individual served with HL Stoutt in politics, worked with him in an administration or sat at the round table with him, HL’s legacy “is in no way represented by any of these individuals simply because the fundamental principles and ideology are not being followed.”
He said, “People are not to be fooled; judge candidates on their own record and whether or not they are credible and have their own integrity.”
First District plans
Stoutt said that the First District is a highly tourism driven district which is home to many hotels and short-term rental villas. “We have a natural beauty that needs to be highlighted and needs to be properly maintained and improve our existing infrastructure.”
He said that over the years the district has been in decline. “Broken sea walls; roads riddled with potholes; historical sites out of sight and not maintained; emergency services such a police station and fire station have been out of commission for years; a medical clinic that has outgrown its use due to lack of maintenance and improvements; lack of proper distribution of water. Community centres that are in dire need of repair; [lack of] a general clean-up of the district to rid the road ways of garbage build up,” are but some of the issues he listed.
The VI on the whole
Stoutt said that the territory as a whole has a number of issues that need to be addressed: More improvement in education although some advances have been made in the past few; better distribution of potable water for people of the territory to enjoy; consumer protection and quality control to combat the cost of living; a serious push for the use of renewable energy (solar, wind); affordable health care with a proper Territorial insurance plan, as the National Health Insurance (NHI) is a tax; crime and the legal system that needs immediate attention; the myriad of social issues that plague our Territory and only addressed on the surface; a more balanced economy that benefits everyone; vast improvement of infrastructure with a properly timed maintenance programme; and food security that focuses on our pastime of fishing and farming;
Stoutt’s campaign will also focus on reforming the territory’s Immigration and Labour policies; reforming of general orders to bring it to the 21st century; and a full audit and reform of Government to ensure proper check and balances.
Morally bankrupt
Stoutt said that the VI society seems to be morally bankrupt and is in dire need of attention to combat the emotions of envy, jealously and greed. “Can we as a people agree that the system in which we operate in is not to our benefit? Can we ascertain that only select groups are flourishing in this broken system?” he asked.
“As the saying goes, ‘If it isn’t broke don’t fix it’. Well ladies and gentlemen the system is broken and needs immediate fixing! It will not be fixed by existing recycled representatives but by representatives that have love for their country and people along with progressive thinking that is outside the box. We as a people cannot expect to sell our vote for so cheap and expect great results that will move us forward in a positive direction,” he concluded.
Incumbent Representative and Senior Virgin Islands Party member Hon Andrew A. Fahie, Shaina M. Smith and now Preston P. Stoutt are the candidates listed so far to contest the First District at the upcoming general elections, which the Virgin Islands Party anticipates may happen as early as July, 2015.
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30 Responses to “‘May the best candidate win' - Preston P. Stoutt”
He is a man of sound Integrity who i've been delighted to know all my life