‘Broken trust a major issue in the USVI’ – Hon Donna M. Christensten
The team was in the Virgin Islands (VI) yesterday October 20, 2014 to meet with their voters that reside in this Territory.
According to Ms Christensen there are issues that are to be worked on with the VI should they take the offices of Governor and Lt. Governor.
She said that one of the major issues that they will be confronted with once in the seats that they are currently pursuing is that of trust between the people and government. “We have many challenges; among them is restoring trust between the government and our community. Not that this administration has eroded the trust, that has been eroding over many years and first and foremost there has to be trust,” said Ms Christensen.
She noted that one of the ways she sees as necessary to restoring that trust is by taking politics out of a number of issues.
“…We are in the position to restore that trust. To take some of the politics out that creates barriers for people receiving the services and getting the treatment that they need from their government... We can bring that trust back,” she stated emphatically.
“…there are issues that we want to work with the BVI on as your next Governor and Lt. Governor to broaden collaboration and address any barriers to us being a closer neighbour and working for more collaboratively on many, many issues. We are proud to be carrying the banner of the democratic party of the [US] Virgin Islands.”
She said that the Christensen and Ottley team brings a wealth of experience to the positions of the Governor and Lt Governor. “[In] both the [USVI] and BVI there is a lot of expertise, a lot of know how that we can utilize as we begin to turn our Virgin Islands around but we cannot do it alone, without outside help,” she said.
Mr Ottley Jr on the other hand recognized their quest to take hold of the offices as well needed as they are currently in a time of crisis. “This is a tremendous time of crisis but of opportunity for the USVI and we want to believe also for the British Virgin Islands and the Caribbean.”
Mr. Ottey spoke extensively on the changes in tourism, a sore point that exists in both Territories. “The cruise line has changed its business model, we having a different interaction happening with air lift into the area and being island communities that are so dependent on tourism the one thing that we haven’t changed enough is our relationship with one another.”
He highlighted the loud cries of the tourists to connect the BVI and USVI in the area of yachting. “Because we have such close proximity to one another, the BVI and the USVI, the amazing change and opportunities of destination to give somebody in five days was amazing and the opportunities to connect our two experiences together, to attract a new untapped tourism market were something that we perhaps needed to pursue…” said Mr Ottley.
Once in the seat Mr Ottley says that is one area he will strongly work on strengthening.
Those issues were discussed with members of the media yesterday morning October 20, 2014 at Maria’s By the Sea. That session was followed by a courtesy call on the Office of the Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith.
The team then met with a large contingent of the persons who reside in the VI but have USVI citizenship and are eligible to vote. They had a meet and greet session which afforded them the opportunity to discuss issues on a one-on-one basis.
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21 Responses to “‘Broken trust a major issue in the USVI’ – Hon Donna M. Christensten”
You all better go sit down with your old, dull, tired boring nasty politics...and I might say sexist too! Mark my words Ms. Christensen will win in a land slide!