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'Poor people suffering in this country' – NDP radio caller

- Caller demands consumer protection as he begs NDP leaders to protect the poor
The burden felt by frustrated persons residing in the Territory who truly feel the hardship as the 'poor class', were dropped like hot lead on the shoulders of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D Orlando Smith and Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton. Photo: VINO/File
The call for Consumer Affairs Protection Agency was mooted by a caller as the way to look out for the 'poor' people who are suffering under the NDP administration as he pointed out the cost for gas and the prices for food. Photo: Internet sources
The call for Consumer Affairs Protection Agency was mooted by a caller as the way to look out for the 'poor' people who are suffering under the NDP administration as he pointed out the cost for gas and the prices for food. Photo: Internet sources
The issue of locals not getting jobs as promised at the new Peebles Hospital was one of serious concern to callers to the NDP radio programme aired live last night January 19, 2015. Photo: VINO/File
The issue of locals not getting jobs as promised at the new Peebles Hospital was one of serious concern to callers to the NDP radio programme aired live last night January 19, 2015. Photo: VINO/File
BAUGHER'S BAY, Tortola, VI – It is obviously no joke or gimmick that the ‘poor class’ continues to feel the effects of hardship under the present government systems. They have turned to every possible corner seeking and crying out for help but, according to most, under this current government administration they see nothing on the horizon as the rich are getting richer and poor are dying.

Yet more calls for help, and the pain, frustration and fear were heard in the voices of callers to last night’s January 19, 2015, National Democratic Party (NDP) radio call-in programme. They called for jobs and for the setting up of a body that would look into the affairs of the poor – A Consumer Affairs Protection Agency.

“Prices for fuel, the price is under $50 a barrel and when the price go up to like a $100 a barrel we would be paying like $8 a gallon. Why don’t we have like a consumer affairs protection agency for the poor people?” asked a caller to the NDP radio programme.

The caller said that this should not be for taxi drivers only. “This is for the ordinary people who driving their private vehicle around.”

“Why don’t somebody in the NDP come out and lookout for us poor people, they charging too much money for the fuel. When the fuel goes up 10 cents in the States (USA) it goes up 50 cents here. Somebody needs to look into it,” insisted the caller.

“Poor people are suffering in this country, NDP needs to get a consumer affair protection office to protect the poor people… when is somebody going to look into this cost for fuel… under $50 per barrel and paying this exorbitant amount of money for fuel?” he wailed.

“We need a consumer affairs for the people. When you go to the supermarket the people charging you what they want, we ain’t got nobody to cry out to, we are suffering, the rich people doing good, the poor people suffering, people are charging you what they want,” the caller stressed.

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D Orlando Smith in sombre tones said such matters lie with the Trade and Investment Department. “We’ve been also speaking as a government and the past government of course, of a consumer protection agency and this is something again we’ll be looking at seriously….”

The NDP was also cornered on their radio programme last night on another issue first brought to the public forefront just yesterday January 19, 2014 where persons, especially young BVIslanders have been complaining bitterly about the sorry state of promised job opportunities at the new Peebles Hospital. 

“You know you have to give your own people a chance, you have to give them two chances or three… a lot of BVIslanders complained that they applied for jobs and they haven’t gotten a response and there are other people getting jobs,” said the caller.

He further said that it is not his expectation that others would be ignored totally but, according to him, “You got to take care of your own first. So Honourable Skelton please look into it.”

The Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Ronnie W. Skelton to whom the caller had been referring said on the show that the issue has been brought to his attention and, according to him, has begun to take measures to have the concerns addressed.

“I have asked for an analyst for all the people employed, both nurses, we are trying to encourage nurses who go overseas to come home. I know that some when they come there are difficulties but we encourage doctors, nurses, we have people out there studying to take up some key positions…but I am willing to address these concerns,” said Hon Skelton.

 

28 Responses to “'Poor people suffering in this country' – NDP radio caller”

  • cow (20/01/2015, 08:50) Like (21) Dislike (1) Reply
    Some of the people in this community need to be put out to pasture. BVIHSA should become a dumping ground for every illiterate, bad- tempered, cognitively impaired reject in this community? The reason they are not working in the land of plenty is not a secret. Public works, solid waste and water and sewage continue to suffer from hiring inappropriate persons to work.
    • @ cow (20/01/2015, 21:46) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      Who knew the cow was also a comedian. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.........
  • VIP all the way (20/01/2015, 09:13) Like (17) Dislike (26) Reply
    Just vote VIP all the way and see prosperity return to our shores. NDP is for the wealthy investor and various ponzi schemes to enrich the club members
    • Yea? (20/01/2015, 13:31) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Biwater was a poor investor from Virgin Gorda, not a rich white man from the UK? Oh, my bad sorry.
      • Rectal (21/01/2015, 10:32) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Biwater isn't the problem, NDP is the problem. Too much personal interest. People all over Tortola complaining about water, either out of water for days, or when them do get water it only for 2 hours a day. Meanwhile Biwater got water beging government to take it s them can produce the 2 and a half million gallons them cntract to produce. Your lousy NDP government cant even do that. People on Tortola crying for water
  • ... (20/01/2015, 09:30) Like (10) Dislike (5) Reply
    Even there own supporters crying
  • 99% (20/01/2015, 10:12) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    WELCOME TO THE CLUB SIR
  • ooooo (20/01/2015, 10:19) Like (18) Dislike (7) Reply
    the NDP is no good...bottomline!
  • vip (20/01/2015, 10:22) Like (8) Dislike (15) Reply
    The VIP looks out for the 100% while the NDP looks out for the 1% at the top.
    • HMMM (20/01/2015, 17:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Ayo sickening...none of them good for the country....we need a new party. NDP AND VIP going run this country into the ground. Fair is fair both of them did piss
  • vex (20/01/2015, 10:28) Like (14) Dislike (9) Reply
    Ndp does not care about the poor they are for the rich
  • trrefdrfds (20/01/2015, 10:32) Like (12) Dislike (10) Reply
    Tired of seeing Dr. Dolittle and his gang they aint doing nothing to help us poor people and the lil man, anyway Dr. Dolittle is a puppet so you cant expect anything better from him but I want them to remember that is we poor people make up the majority of voters so keep playing with us and you will see and as crooked u call the opposition the NDP aint no better, we rather them in anyday over you all
  • .... (20/01/2015, 11:15) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    I thought poor people suffer in every country and not just in the Virgin Islands... That's what poor means.
  • bat cave (20/01/2015, 11:23) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
    One thing for sure when vip in the money does be flowing
    • ...... (20/01/2015, 15:57) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
      Correction, when VIP in power money does be wasting. That's why the Reserve was almost empty. If you all want to go back to a country of reckless spending, be my guest..
      • Hush (20/01/2015, 16:28) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        The reserve was almost empty because of the badly managed Hospital project.
      • . (20/01/2015, 17:00) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
        I cant believe you have the nerve to go back to that story bout "the Reserve was almost empty." You must really think we don't even read the news or keep track of what is going on. What reserve what empty?
  • simple (20/01/2015, 11:57) Like (15) Dislike (8) Reply
    Go look work VIP Cowbirds! Hand out days are over!
  • Chance (20/01/2015, 13:53) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    THAT IS WHY A LADY WILL LEAD IN THE NEXT ELECTION. Watch it, its coming a change.
  • rattie (20/01/2015, 15:04) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    thank god for VINO to keep us posted on the plight of the poor...sent of oppressors
  • Blessed (20/01/2015, 15:09) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Unfortunately the majority people who are crying "poor" are most exapts who are working but they still need to maintain their family back home and themselves while here. This has nothing to do with NDP, VIP PPA PEP or any other P.
  • Interesting (20/01/2015, 16:37) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    $95.00 to see a doctor at pebbles? Wow!
  • voter (20/01/2015, 18:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    NDP is for the 1% of the 1%
  • lil man (20/01/2015, 21:12) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    These NDP oligarchies have brought us down, big time.
  • pp (20/01/2015, 21:28) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I support ANYTHING that addresses income inequality. enough is enough
  • tobay (21/01/2015, 06:37) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
    What a disaster the NDP is; thank God the Fraser and the VIP can now stop them

  • Plank (21/01/2015, 08:36) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    When are they going to take the fuel charges off of our electricity bill? What`s their reason for keeping it on now? when asked why fuel charges so high they said "fuel was expensive", now fuel is cheap. Don`t make life all about money maaan, show us some mercy and some Godly love ---Kudos to Liat, we always knocking them, but they stepped up and reduce their fuel charges by 50%.
  • concerned citizen (21/01/2015, 12:22) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    between the constant power outages, the constant water cut offs, the high prices for rent and food, the raised rates for public services like passports and departure taxes i ask what has ndp done to deserve to stay in power. In my opinion nothing the one question we should ask ourselves is are we better off than 4 years ago and in my opinion the answer is no it is much worse. They had an opportunity to fix many of the problems the old regime neglected and they either ignored them to pursue flashy big budget projects that do little to improve the everyday lives of the ordinary people or failed to live up to their promises, the bvi needs a change of leadership to whom I don't know but anything would be better than what we have now.


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