Promise of land captured the youth votes- Dr Hubert O’Neal
After coming up short in four elections, sometimes by the lightest of margins, Dr O’Neal grabbed the elusive victory with 669 votes compared to 389 by the closest challenger and Virgin Islands Party candidate Elton L. Sprauve aka All Out.
In an impromptu victory interview with members of the media at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall this morning, Dr O’Neal stated that his victory was timely and a relief for him after losing so many times to retired legislator and former Premier, Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, who’s exit he said paved the way also for his win in the Ninth Electoral District.
Dr O’Neal believes strongly, however, that he was able to garner a lot of youth votes who gravitated to the promise of land to build their own homes.
He explained that when the National Democratic Party went out and issued land titles in North Sound, Virgin Gorda, it caused the young people to gravitate to the NDP.
"If you listen to any young person in Virgin Gorda or Anegada their first thought really is to get their own homes to raise their families and I hope I can be that catalyst to get them owning their own homes".
The newly elected representative said the land title distribution project will continue, along with financial aid for the building of first homes.
The new face in the House of Assembly also said his continual support will be towards the young people who he labelled as his biggest supporters.
Apart from that, Hon O’Neal said he was able to subtly expose the “flaws” of his opponent (Elton L. Sprauve), which he said caused the people of the district to compare characters, hence determining who was the most suitable to represent them.
It was during his brief remarks at the NDP's final tent rally on Saturday June 6, 2015, that Dr O’Neal made an emotional appeal to voters. "My people of the Ninth District, please don't break my heart again," Dr O’Neal had stated.
Splitting of votes in D9 favoured Dr Hubert O’Neal?
Meanwhile, Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, who retained his Territorial At Large seat and is expected to remain as Premier of the Virgin Islands, was elated about Dr O’Neal’s win but said he was always confident the NDP candidate would win the Ninth District, especially since many others had joined the race and would have caused a splitting of votes in favour of Dr O’Neal.
He pointed out that Dr O’Neal had received about the same amount of votes he usually get, which was indicative that there was vote splitting.
It should be noted, however, that even if the votes for the other Ninth District candidates had gone to Mr Sprauve he would have still come up short by 117 votes.
Dr O’Neal will join Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull of the Second District as the two new faces in the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands.
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34 Responses to “Promise of land captured the youth votes- Dr Hubert O’Neal ”
did not win the election....There is no way under normal circumstances he won. Our people sold out for $$$$$$$.
1,600+ registered voters and 1,300+ came out and cast their votes. Of that 1,300+ there were only 99 from Anegada.
So again I dont know where you got your figures from. That 56% voter turnout you talking about was in District 4. Pay more attention next time around.
It is not as hard as it may seem: There are 21 people in the room and 5 people talking very loudly and complaining and making the most noise while the other 16 are quiet, but the 5 think they have influenced are spoken for all of the 21. This is not so each person has an opinion. ALL 21 ... and even thought they remain quiet t.... Their opinion gave way at the ballot box!
The people spoke... So take that in ya pipe and smoke it!