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22% of VI population 'considered poor'- Mitsy J. Ellis-Simpson

- Independent At Large Candidate launches campaign targeting most vulnerable & marginalised
Independent Territorial At Large Candidate Mitsy J. Ellis-Simpson has launched her electoral campaign, with the aim of bridging the gap between the poor and the wealthy, improving education and healthcare systems and ensuring that the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) has a social security system that works for the most vulnerable and marginalised, including single parents, elderly and youths. Photo: Facebook
Mitsy J. Ellis- Simpson said she will commit to having an assessment on socialisation issues in schools and their impacts and will advocate for a new department or unit of socialisation and reform to provide support to students and implement policies for addressing these ills. Photo: Facebook
Mitsy J. Ellis- Simpson said she will commit to having an assessment on socialisation issues in schools and their impacts and will advocate for a new department or unit of socialisation and reform to provide support to students and implement policies for addressing these ills. Photo: Facebook
LONG BUSH, Tortola, VI- Independent Territorial At Large Candidate Mitsy J. Ellis-Simpson has launched her electoral campaign, with the aim of bridging the gap between the poor and the wealthy, improving education and healthcare systems and ensuring that the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) has a social security system that works for the most vulnerable and marginalised, including single parents, elderly and youths.

“Your next government needs to be one that creates an environment that will allow our people to have opportunities where we can flourish and have a good quality of life. This will not happen if we chose candidates that cannot move beyond ideas or candidates that care about themselves, instead of service to you the people,” Ellis-Simpson said while speaking at her official campaign launch at the Bandstand in Long Bush on April 5, 2023.

Education the 'passport' out of poverty

In pointing out areas of focus she noted are of great concern to the territory, Ellis-Simpson first turned her attention to the education system, noting that through an improved education plan investment must be made in children and support must be given to young adults and single parents. She further urged young people to make education their number one priority.

“Education is your passport out of poverty. My aim is to ensure that you have the best chance in this country to have a sustainable education and a great future,” Ellis- Simpson said.

She added that one of the greatest challenges hindering education is a breakdown in socialisation, which she claimed hinders learning ability.

She said children are exposed to aggression, bullying, violence and promiscuity, while some homes and community areas are unsafe for them.

22% of VI considered poor- Ellis-Simpson

As a priority, Ellis-Simpson said she will commit to having an assessment on socialisation issues in schools and their impacts and will advocate for a new department or unit of socialisation and reform to provide support to students and implement policies for addressing these ills.

She then turned her attention to the social protection system in the VI, noting that a government that cares for its people will ensure that it has a social protection system.

“We must address the increase in poverty in our country. There is about 22 percent of our population that is considered poor and the Virgin Islands is very vulnerable to the increasing poverty, “Ellis- Simpson pointed out.

She noted too that the people of the VI who are vulnerable to natural disasters receive no exemption for crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

These issues, she stressed, have increased vulnerability in the population and absolutely nothing substantial has been done to uplift the people.

“What was an eye opener for me was the amount of job loss that occurred during COVID-19 and the catastrophic hurricanes Irma and Maria…These shocks are indicators that we must strengthen our social protection system and to fight against poverty and build our human capital in this country," Ellis Simpson re-emphasised.

Ellis-Simpson is running as an Independent At Large Candidate after failing to secure a spot on the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) elections slate. 

29 Responses to “22% of VI population 'considered poor'- Mitsy J. Ellis-Simpson”

  • Hmm (06/04/2023, 12:18) Like (25) Dislike (3) Reply
    This lady has role to play in our society but it is not in politics.
    • Hopeless (06/04/2023, 15:34) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      Student union politics - no specifics but promising the world to everybody. I would not vote for her if she was the only candidate. It is difficult to judge whether Mitty or Lorna is most uncomfortable having to interact with ordinary people.
  • Actions count most (06/04/2023, 12:22) Like (34) Dislike (4) Reply
    This coming from the same woman that treated her staff like animals. Anyone can spout words, but actions speak volumes. You are not genuine Misty and you were not born in the BVI. Which BVIslander can be elected in Jamaica? The answer is NONE and rightly so.
    • @Actions count most (06/04/2023, 17:15) Like (5) Dislike (6) Reply
      Stop creating divisions. If she is eligible, well let the lady do what she must. It seems to me she has a burning desire to be somebody. What is for her is for her, what is not for her is not for her.
    • To Action count most (06/04/2023, 17:55) Like (11) Dislike (11) Reply
      Why is nationality always an issue for you folks? If she’s eligible to run under the laws of the Virgin Islands, why are you taking that out on her? Jamaica has a few million people. How many Virgin Islanders live in Jamaica? The BVI is not Jamaica. Our society is clearly very different to theirs where foreigners make up a large percentage of our small population which makes it possible for them to have many opportunities here. And Is she the only person who treated her staff bad…?
      • @ti action count most (07/04/2023, 16:06) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
        Trust me not this one. BVI already has too much mess in Politics
      • Stash (08/04/2023, 10:06) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
        Tell her run for her country Jamaica need more help than tortilla
        • mmm (08/04/2023, 19:33) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
          Population wise, BVI has much more issues than Jamaica. So get some facts to support your ‘bias and without basis’ comment
  • Truth (06/04/2023, 12:43) Like (3) Dislike (12) Reply
    Go girl, making the right attempt
  • voter (06/04/2023, 13:05) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    She will not make it
  • Run the numbers again (06/04/2023, 14:41) Like (34) Dislike (3) Reply
    It has to be way higher than 22%. Most people here are dirt poor and live paycheck to paycheck, paying rent and bills. Nothing saved, and nothing left to spare. The only thing separating them and vagrants is having a job.
  • one love (06/04/2023, 14:45) Like (4) Dislike (26) Reply
    CALLING ON ALL JAMDOWNS TO COME OUT IN YOUR NUMBERS AND VOTE FOR THIS LADY
    • @one love (07/04/2023, 16:12) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Steval the Jamaican barber , her former employee at Star works certainly would not vote for her if he was eligible to do so!!!
    • Village (08/04/2023, 11:02) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
      To one love vote for who I don't have time waste with that ok I hope she get zero
  • RedStorm (06/04/2023, 15:11) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    Nothing on immigration, labour, unemployment, housing, and Agriculture. Well I hope socialization can become the network for some.
  • more than that (06/04/2023, 15:40) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    In my estimation I would say it seems more like 60 to 70 percent, not because people working and may have a car in doesn’t mean that they are not poor . There are many people here that are under employed and living from hand to mouth. Lot of elderly and young adults merely making ends meet. Many people have to be sharing apartments with complete strangers just so they can be able to buy food. Many adults still can’t move out of their parents house because the rent is so atrocious it seems as if we are heading for a serious homeless crisis if something isn’t done like NOW!!
  • She's right (06/04/2023, 15:43) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    We didn't have real poverty until we started abusing the carefully crafted entitlement laws the forebearers left for us. Those entitlements- specifically the labour laws, were designed to protect Virgin islanders from the tides of external economics. We have ignored the laws when it suited us and forgot that with entitlement comes responsibility. Now we have too many people, not enough jobs and a failing education system.
    • @She's Right (06/04/2023, 17:34) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
      Add to that they come poor and cannot rise above the poverty level. Government needs to put stringent measures in place to curb immigration influx. Examples, - cannot be employed when one comes on vacation; after three - four years bon voyage. If the country is to progress and eliminate proverty, address the population issue. The Virgin Islands is NOT a welfare state!
      • restorm (08/04/2023, 18:46) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
        You have no idea what you are talking about. Do you know how the kingdom got its riches? Do you know how US got their riches? Do some research on history and stop repeating what you hear some foolish adults talk about. Then, return to this platform and post your findings.
  • WTF (06/04/2023, 16:44) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is much higher than that. The majority of people in the territory are Income Poor. When you are working from pay check to paycheck, and can't save a penny, " you are Income Poor". Then we have people without meaningful employment, barely existing on a measely stipend from Social Development, those people are living through very dire circumstances. So my dear fellow brother and sisters the majority of the people in this place will be homeless if they miss a pay check. These politicians only line their own pockets and their croonies pockets. Only a handful of people here live comfortable without having to worry about paying their bills or putting food on their tables. I will like to conduct a survey to determine what percentage of working people were able to take a vacation in the past 5 years, without it being a struggle. Election is upon us and there is a lot of hype. All of them care about the well being and economic advancement of the people. Set liars and deceitful bastards. They don't give a f**k anout us. We still have to go to the polls and do our best to weed out known do nothings.
  • Walwyn (06/04/2023, 17:06) Like (14) Dislike (9) Reply
    Myrun once said he cannot protect BVIslanders, so tell me why the hell he want to get back to the HOA. He should take his payout from the Greedy Bill and try go sit down
  • WeLnow (06/04/2023, 18:00) Like (11) Dislike (6) Reply
    Stark evidence that immigration has destroyed life and
    living in these Vi. Poverty, subpar education, overcrowded prison, murders and murderers roaming free, loss of structured family units and values,imposition of morals and culture and customs notably in the Vi August Celebration....
    Perfect population ( poor uneducated) deliberately engineered for maintaining a corrupted and ineffective government .
    Thanks to VIP.
  • ??? (06/04/2023, 18:07) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    First time seeing her. Who is She?
  • No! (07/04/2023, 01:44) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Never!!!!
  • Hmm (07/04/2023, 12:02) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    It have people with school kids born here that needed some help but you see only the rich and mighty getting help and the already rich
  • gap (07/04/2023, 14:13) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    I ran across an announcement on BVI media boards announcing an offer to attend school in Japan at no cost.. Wonder how many,if any, any took advantage of this opportunity. I recall Lorna Smith (during the tenure of her husband as Premier) being publicy maligned and ridiculed because of her suggestion that coding and Mandarin be available subjects in our school. Same for Myron Walwyn during his tenure as Minister of Education, dragged through the mud because of his concern about the curriculum and his taking steps for improvement....a factor contributing to his loss in the election .
    What does this have to do with poverty you ask..well, you ,pathetically wouldn't understand.
  • News Flash (07/04/2023, 21:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It’s waaaaaaay more than that. Approximately 50% or more of civil servants live paycheck to paycheck sakary but enough to pay bills, food much less if you have 2 children. And let’s not talk about minimum wage employees. They alone us more than the 22% you’re referring to.
  • fake (11/04/2023, 11:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Girl go rest your self , the people don't want you, What the hell you think here is Jam Down .


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