UPDATE: 'We must defeat poverty!' - Hon Julian Fraser RA
The launch took place in Road Town at the Sir Olva Georges Plaza amidst a sea of supporters.
With days before the June 8, 2015 elections, the party articulated its road map for taking the territory to a path of equality, justice and economic sustainability with each element of the society being given focus for development.
Coinciding with its women's rally, the VIP showcased its balanced team featuring six female candidates altogether for district and at large representation.
Each of them made brief presentations on issues dear to them.
In addition to this, the men also made a contribution to the women's rally by giving snippets of the manifesto that fell within their area of competence.
Speaking on the manifesto, President of the VIP Carvin Malone said the candidates of the VIP being put forward emerged from the various organs of the party and they reflect the society as it is and as it should be. He said women always played a very prominent role in the administration of Government and business and now this is reflected appropriately in the political arena. He said that the slate comprises youth, civil society and business people among others.
“Tonight we speak of a vision for better days. Tonight we speak of a vision for a better Virgin Islands,” he said.
Speaking at the launch, Chairman of the VIP Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) said that never in the history of our democracy has their choice been clearer and never have the stakes been higher.
He said that the gap between the haves and the have nots have widened over the past few years and while some have gotten richer, most are worse off than before.
“Whatever upward movement there has been in this economy it has benefitted far too few. There are social issues that has to be addressed if we are going to make any progress on the war on poverty,” he said.
Hon Fraser added that Government policy must take into consideration the yearnings of the ordinary man and woman to make a better life for themselves and their families.
“We believe that people matter and their situation must inform and shape our approach in Government,” said Hon Fraser.
“This country must not be led down the part of poverty and this continuous attack on the underprivileged must stop. We therefore want to consider another approach to economic development, one that seeks to widen the economic pie through smart investment and training, youth empowerment, encouraging small business investment and seeking more sustainable growth in the financial services and tourism sectors,” said Hon Fraser.
He said that a VIP Government will encourage foreign direct investment in key areas of the economy but this must be done in a way sensitive to the history of the territory and for the good of all its people.
Manifesto items
Some of the issues dealt with in the manifesto are Governance, Stimulating the Economy, Housing, Youth Empowerment, Education, Arts, Culture and Sports, Health, Social Inclusion, Water and Sewerage, Electricity, Infrastructure Development, Financial Services Sector, Tourism, Agriculture and Food Production, Fisheries, Labour, the Environment among others.
See previous story published on May 31, 2015:
VIP to release 'vision for better days' manifesto tonight
- will coincide with VIP women’s rally @ Sir Olva Georges Plaza on May 31, 2015
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) will this evening, May 31, 2015 launch its manifesto outlining its plans if elected to office come June 8, 2015.
The release of the Manifesto will coincide with a Women’s rally to be held at the Sir Olva Georges Plaza this evening.
Speaking with this news site today May 31, 2015, President of the VIP Carvin Malone said, “The Virgin Islands Party is excited about its rally tonight at the Olva Georges Plaza. We go live from 8:00 pm and we would be on ZBVI, streaming live on CBN channel 51, on ZVCR and on ZROD Radio.”
He said the event is a special one because the party has eight new candidates and six women on its team. “And to make it special we will be having a women’s rally which will be in conjunction with the manifesto release,” he said.
The VIP President noted that the manifesto 2015 embodies a vision for better days. “Throughout the manifesto we will ensure that the Virgin Islands will be better served through a Virgin Islands Party Government,” he said.
Malone added that the manifesto has issues related to youth empowerment and housing and stimulating the economy, dealing with the financial services sector, food production, taking the sister islands into account, among others.
“It is a programme intended to show the vision for a better Virgin Islands and the main focus of the stimulus [I spoke about] is the complete maritime agenda which has been embodied in presentations by the chairman of the party Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3),” he said.
We will bring you details of the manifesto upon its release later this evening.
57 Responses to “UPDATE: 'We must defeat poverty!' - Hon Julian Fraser RA”
1. Will you vote to raise the minimum wage (no more commissions or studies)?
2. What specifically will you do to combat the rising costs of food so that people can provide for their families?
3. What specifically will you do to ensure a reliable, clean water source for everyone?
4. What specifically will you do about government transparency and elections reforms?
5. What specifically will you do about switching the BVI over to clean energy sources and away from fossil fuels (no more commissions or studies needed).
You can say that you are in favor of all these but if you can't commit to details, you are just trying to fool the voters. This goes for every candidate up for election.
Vip for everyone
All five x for vip straight
HMMMMMMMMMM