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VIP’s John M. Samuel slams Gov’t over rush on voting machine

VIP Six District Candidate, Mr John M. Samuel is accusing the NDP Government of “bullying their way with another done deal,” as it relates to the voting machines. Photo: Facebook
Supervisor of Elections for the Elections System of the Virgin Islands (USVI) Mrs Caroline F. Fawkes; Business Development Manager of Election Systems & Software, Willie G. Wesley Jr.; Supervisor of Elections for the Virgin Islands Juliette Penn and Sheri Menges of ES&S are pictured with the DS200 tabulator. Photo: File/GIS/Colene A. Penn
Supervisor of Elections for the Elections System of the Virgin Islands (USVI) Mrs Caroline F. Fawkes; Business Development Manager of Election Systems & Software, Willie G. Wesley Jr.; Supervisor of Elections for the Virgin Islands Juliette Penn and Sheri Menges of ES&S are pictured with the DS200 tabulator. Photo: File/GIS/Colene A. Penn
Many voters throughout the Territory especially, the young and the elderly have claimed that they do not trust the NDP and this could be an attempt by the group to steal the 2019 Elections. Photo: File/Team of Reporters
Many voters throughout the Territory especially, the young and the elderly have claimed that they do not trust the NDP and this could be an attempt by the group to steal the 2019 Elections. Photo: File/Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Days after former Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP), Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) called for the National Democratic Party (NDP) regime to abandon having voting machines installed and used for the 2019 General Election, another person has added their voice to the debate.

This time it is VIP Six District Candidate, Mr John M. Samuel. In a Facebook posting today, Sunday, December 30, 2018, the former Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works accused the Government of “bullying their way with another done deal,” as it relates to the voting machines.

The new DS 200 Precinct Scanners and e-poll books were tested by the Election Office a few months ago. Mr Samuel in his post asked, “Where are the results from the public review on this earlier this year?”

Distrust in NDP Gov’t?

Many voters throughout the Territory especially the young and the elderly have claimed that they do not trust the NDP and this could be an attempt by the group to steal the 2019 Elections.

The Six District political aspirant noted, “If Indeed the voters are not comfortable with this new process in their execution of such an important right – then what is the rush to implement this overnight?”

Mr Samuel also assert that, “This is perhaps the most contested and critical election that this country has experienced and if we do not trust the process and we are not comfortable –then– it should not be forced upon us for many reasons.”

One of the items that the businessman and former Director of the Shipping Registry asserted to is, “Perhaps even more troubling - how did waiving and approving this $300,000+ become priority over making accommodation available for the high school to function?”

“We all know that this charade up at the old CTL location is not really serving our young people and that improving that situation should be a priority -not a promise,” he said.

“Every week our Government can award contracts for every other thing on the face of this earth while our teenagers play school for half the day, and run around unsupervised for the other half. The Premier and his Cabinet's ability to make sense of simple things continues to wane at an alarming rate.”

What about our school children?

He further called on the Government saying, “For heaven’s sake, let us manually count the votes one more time; be confident in the election outcome; and put that $300,000 towards the immediate remediation of this Tertiary education debacle.”

At the next sitting of the House of Assembly (HoA) scheduled for January 15, 2019, a Bill is expected to finalise the machines, which according to Supervisor of Elections, Ms Juliette Penn, are safe and have been proven to work in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI).

27 Responses to “VIP’s John M. Samuel slams Gov’t over rush on voting machine”

  • Zone 6 (30/12/2018, 18:49) Like (27) Dislike (13) Reply
    I agree with John
    • z6ne (31/12/2018, 05:12) Like (16) Dislike (35) Reply
      MACHINE OR MACHINE NOT.....YOU CAN'T WIN BOBO. ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE THE MOST TO SAY. WHERE WERE YOU LAST YEAR JOHN?
    • Cheaters (31/12/2018, 08:16) Like (9) Dislike (12) Reply
      They do t want machine count because you can’t cheat! Afraid that it’s a fair process..
      • @cheaters (31/12/2018, 15:09) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Yes you can cheat, these machines can be programmed on site or from a computer miles away. You can set them to double, triple or quadripple count by intervals, you can have them subtract 1 vote after every 3 votes etc.... its n0t rocket science, its just s0mething crooked politicians know about. The common "gimme gimme" citizen who dont have 2 brain cells to rub together will never be witty enough to suspect a thing.
    • Forward or Backward John? (31/12/2018, 13:24) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
      John come onnnn. We are moving Forward!! One Direction, are you willing to go back to the old system of counting votes for 2 days????
      All you can do is talk a good talk when you do decide to come down off your thrown, writing fancy speeches in your manifesto. Half of it are ideas from other parties but the first initiative the people of the BVI are doing is rolling with the future, voting machines. One Direction FORWARD from the VIP,&VIP2 & NDP & NDP2. Need not to worry about machines, worry about people to vote for you.

  • Well said (30/12/2018, 19:27) Like (27) Dislike (13) Reply
    This man is making sense. In these trying times why the rush for the machines and why the need to allocate so much money to those machines. Things like these we the people should stand up against. 6th district listen carefully and consider this man - we need people who are no afraid to speak out and up!
  • Music (30/12/2018, 19:50) Like (17) Dislike (26) Reply
    It wasnt a rush. They had a mock election to test it out and everything seemed ok. They use them in USVI. Waiting another four years would put us even further behind the times.
  • voter (30/12/2018, 20:36) Like (36) Dislike (17) Reply
    We want ndp gone, don't allow them to steal this one!
  • Luvz (30/12/2018, 20:51) Like (37) Dislike (7) Reply
    I agree the money could be used to upgrade our schooling system. We had 4 years since the last election why we do wait till the 7th hour to rush to do things? What about the voter’s card I have been hearing all these years?
  • Zone 6ish (30/12/2018, 21:48) Like (17) Dislike (43) Reply
    John Samuel John Samuel John Samuel

    You will not beat Alvera this election. Your fight is within your district. The people will not replace Alvera for you. Save your energy if you even want 100 votes. You are fresh and I’m already tired of hearing you.
    • To Zone 6ish (31/12/2018, 14:38) Like (6) Dislike (11) Reply
      Speak for yourself. I am voting for John to get proper representation and not to get loads of excuses and complaining coupled with melee.
  • Yes saa! (30/12/2018, 21:57) Like (18) Dislike (11) Reply
    I quite agree with John on this one.... trust no dark cloud this election. That's a dark cloud! Let's do it the old fashion way. We don't know what those guys will try this election... especially with those machines! IJS
  • Ndpvet (30/12/2018, 22:27) Like (32) Dislike (9) Reply
    I’m a supporter of the NDP but I must agree with John. Too much of our money to spend for one general election. Then next election you here they hire a consultant to hear the machines are outdated. We don’t mind the counting .... it never fail yet
  • Myo (31/12/2018, 01:05) Like (12) Dislike (22) Reply
    It's time we get out of this long night into the next day counting of votes. That went through the window in Caribbean countries long ago. We still here with this backwards counting on hand. The machines were here and tested and no one complain soo I don't know what's wrong with the VIP.. the members of the house also tested them (Fahie was one) and had no complaints then. Why complain now...
  • one eye (31/12/2018, 04:54) Like (17) Dislike (27) Reply
    When alvera landslide him, at least he has a script
    • @ one eye (31/12/2018, 14:44) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
      If you had two eyes then you would see that you are speaking foolishness. All Alvera does is complain to we in the 6th that her government members do not work with her. Yet she always asking us to vote for them at elections time. Not this time for her and her sidekicks.
  • tretretrete (31/12/2018, 08:07) Like (33) Dislike (3) Reply
    All who running in this elections better keep an eye on that elections office especially the top. You have been warned.
  • People (31/12/2018, 08:09) Like (34) Dislike (2) Reply
    Stay awoke. A plan is at foot to pull out the elections. Meetings are being held.
  • watch out (31/12/2018, 08:10) Like (24) Dislike (2) Reply
    Watch out for these illegal transfers in the office from one district to the next.
  • What a woman (31/12/2018, 08:11) Like (28) Dislike (2) Reply
    All I will say is what a woman heading up the elections office. Keep all eyes on her.
  • My Take (31/12/2018, 08:14) Like (29) Dislike (2) Reply
    It needs an independent body to monitor the elections office and the supervisor of elections for this upcoming elections. Also for many good reasons I agree that we should not use those voting machines this elections.
  • wize up (31/12/2018, 08:24) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
    just question: what can be done & when will it be done.....no disrespect to anyone but I know of the days when our people came out locked arm-in-arm walked the streets and demanded change and the changes came: it is fascinating how simply we lost what we already had: here we are a territory having to basically start over{the governor in most cases acts on the advice of the sitting cabinet, it’s our cabinet}....it is our own people who have this place where it is today.....get up; stand up; for your rights(can’t you see the social media not reflecting any positive results...it maybe creating an awearness; but after the dance someone have to pay the band.....the implementation of these voting boxes is a very serious thing and I personally think the people should have voted for or against them, more over some of we need a better understanding about this new system: it is unethical to switch our voting system a few hours before an election: most of us have voted with pencil & paper for many many years(just my opinion!!!!!)...I am not against change or progress and I have nothing against the new voting system because I will simply stay-home!!!!
  • Eagle Eye (31/12/2018, 17:41) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    John you sure will beat her in Purcell unless Purcell estate people is blind.look at the roads in purcell ,moving of the garbage to satisfy a company which should not be in a residential area etc
    • @Eagle Eye (03/01/2019, 00:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      So did the present rep move the garbage bins? Does she control Solid Waste? I am sure when she got word of the removal of bins the next day they were put back. That's all you have in her and the roads?. I am sure you like others have heard her cries about getting those roads fixed. If her Premier does not approve money, you want her to take her millions that she does not have to fix them? You all darn well knows how the government works.
  • Hmmmm (31/12/2018, 22:51) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I want a receipt of my choice when I vote. When I pick one it Ain picking another.
  • Serpico. (01/01/2019, 09:22) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need to rail against this machine
  • good to go (03/01/2019, 14:09) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Nothing is wrong with the machines. Who want to be up all night to find out who are our elected officials.

    We need to educate ourselves. How many of the naysayers went out on the test run of the machines. They are working well. Who win is who the persons voted for.


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