Former three-term United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Senator and Democratic Gubernatorial candidate in the USVI, Allison Petrus (right) aka ‘Allie’ at the time being interviewed by radio commentator, Claude O. Skelton-Cline (left) answering to questions, as to why he wants to be the Governor of the USVI. Photo: Facebook

Allison Petrus when quizzed as to the strength of the incumbent Governor Kenneth E. Mapp (I) he said, 'He is a good talker, but for three years have not even planted a tree.' Photo: Repeating Islands

The USVI Democratic Primary is scheduled for August 4, 2018, and if he wins, Mr Petrus and his running mate St Croix senator Samuel Sanes will face Governor Mapp and Lieutenant Governor, Osbert E. Potter on November 6, 2018, general elections. Photo: Expedia

The believed front-runner for the Democratic Primary was at the time being interviewed by radio commentator, Claude O. Skelton-Cline answering to questions, as to why he wants to be the Governor of the USVI.

Mr Petrus noted, “I am committed to growing”, hence his vision and reason for offering himself to serve the residents of the USVI.

Skelton-Cline asked Mr Petrus, on the hour-long show aired live on radio station ZBVI 780 AM; giving your well established and successful businesses, P & G gas stations, Subway Store franchises, Sabarro Franchise, The Plaza Complex, 120 employees and a beautiful family, why would you want to get into politics again?

Not in a good place

Mr Petrus replied, “The USVI is not in a good place, businesses are stagnated, Main Street, the characteristics that once defined who we were are being lost, lots of ‘for sale’ and or lease notices and business closure signs are going up. Therefore, I can no longer sit on the sideline.”

Mr Cline quizzed him as to the strength of the incumbent Governor Kenneth E. Mapp (I) to which Mr Petrus responded: “He is a good talker, but for three years have not even planted a tree.”

The former Senator further stated that he rejects the traditional wisdom that the incumbent with all the federal dollars pouring in makes it impossible for him to be elected. “People are looking for and deserve results,” he emphasised.

He went on to state that the current Mapp-Potter administration “prior to the hurricanes were running a 300 million dollar deficit and had gotten worst”. Mr Petrus warned about false promises being made including “increase in salary on the expenditure side with no means of paying for it on the revenue side of the ledger”.

Mapp has a big ego- Allie

The businessman blasted Governor Mapp saying, “If you believe you are bigger than the seat you are in, something is wrong, your ego is bigger than the space you occupy... I do not have a king size ego, but the current Governor has, and it cannot fit through a 36-inch door, and that’s the size of the door, you must pass through.”

The USVI Democratic Primary is scheduled for August 4, 2018, and if he wins, Mr Petrus and his running mate St Croix senator Samuel Sanes will face Governor Mapp and Lieutenant Governor, Osbert E. Potter on November 6, 2018, general elections.

Mr Petrus also has roots in Tortola and Jost van Dyke.