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Hipolito D. Penn announces run for 2019 General Elections

-says current District Representative has failed the people
Hipolito D. Penn announces Candidacy for 2020 General Elections. Photo: Team of Reporters
Formally announcing his election bid to Virgin Islands News Online, Mr Hipolito D. Penn said, “I am going to make this unequivocally clear; I am unapologetic for my constituents who will vote for me, my job is to be their servant and carry out their wishes.” Photo: Provided
Formally announcing his election bid to Virgin Islands News Online, Mr Hipolito D. Penn said, “I am going to make this unequivocally clear; I am unapologetic for my constituents who will vote for me, my job is to be their servant and carry out their wishes.” Photo: Provided
Mr Hipolito D. Penn, will be contesting in the upcoming Virgin Islands' General Elections, for a seat in the House of Assembly as the 7th District Representative. Photo: Team of Reporters
Mr Hipolito D. Penn, will be contesting in the upcoming Virgin Islands' General Elections, for a seat in the House of Assembly as the 7th District Representative. Photo: Team of Reporters
VANTERPOOL ESTATE, Tortola, VI – Mr Hipolito D. Penn, will be contesting in the upcoming Virgin Islands (VI) General Elections, for a seat in the House of Assembly (HoA) as the 7th District Representative.

Mr Penn confirmed his bid in an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News Online, saying his decision is primarily rooted in the fact that for 20 years the District has had the same representation in the form of Deputy Premier, Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7), which has led to a disenfranchisement of the people residing in the District.

Neglect

The 50-year-old political activist told this publication that among the many vexing issues in the District Seven is the fact that, “sewerage is running in the streets going on 20 years under the same representative who is a doctor of medicine.”

Dr Pickering, he recalled, had also “made a declaration years ago there is going to be an epidemic where people will be falling ill and dying because of the sewerage, yet under his watch, he let the Minister for Communications and Works, take $8 million from the sewerage project to put in the $40 million overrun pier project.”

Other Economic Pillars

The 7th District encompasses: Sophie Bay, Brandywine Bay, Paraquita Bay, Whelk Point, Hodges Creek, Fat Hogs Bay, Vanterpool Estate, Old Plantation, Long Look and the Spring Ghut areas and according to Mr Penn, these places have, for too long been neglected under the watch of Dr Pickering.

“In the area of farming they are crying for water,” according to Mr Penn, in reference to those in the Paraquita Bay area where, “we are paying for more water than we use, so why can't the farmers have the water they need.”

The current representative—Dr Pickering—has failed the people, he said and pointed out as example that, “while the farmers want more land to expand their fields into more varieties of food stock, persons not in the farming industry have been giving 3 acres of land in the same Paraquita Bay to set up Green-Houses to grow medical marijuana.”

Mr Penn was adamant, “I am for decriminalisation of marijuana first, so our young people can stop being harassed and jailed and all those jailed for marijuana offences, be let out of prison and wipe their record clean. Then and only then will I support medical marijuana.”

People Losing Daily

On the matter of the fishing, which he observed was touted to be the third economic pillar of the VI, Mr Penn lamented the opening of a fishing complex in West End between Frenchman Cay on the sand area which was given the go ahead by Dr Pickering while locals are being neglected.

According to Mr Penn,  this was done by Dr Pickering, while “our fishery is in shambles and non functional, our local fishermen losing daily in their own country, another area the current Representative of the 7th  District have failed his people.”

Mr Penn in pointing out the numerous perceived failures on the part of Dr Pickering in providing adequate representation for the people of the 7th District, observed too, “while the owners  of Guana Island, Mosquito Island, Necker Island, Oil Nut Bay, Peter Island, Cooper Island and Norman Island can make a living from their surrounding beaches we the people of the East End / Long Look area have to leave long Bay Beach as Columbus met it and kill off business opportunities for our people while the rich make millions, this is another failure of the current Representative of the 7th District as he is the Minister responsible for the subject.”

Formally announcing his election bid to Virgin Islands News Online, Mr Penn said “I am going to make this unequivocally clear; I am unapologetic for my constituents who will vote for me, my job is to be their servant and carry out their wishes.”

The people, he said, “is the greatest resource of any country and they must be respected, as such my responsibility is to represent all persons…I look forward to meeting with my constituents to hear their views and the direction in which they want the country to go, as I will be more than willing to share mine, ultimately the people's wishes are priority as I am their humble servant.”

 

25 Responses to “Hipolito D. Penn announces run for 2019 General Elections”

  • Hmm (28/08/2018, 10:07) Like (44) Dislike (10) Reply
    Great news. I love this. I would def vote for him.
    • Spice (28/08/2018, 13:11) Like (16) Dislike (12) Reply
      @Hmm, that means you really don’t care about your country and the direction it will go.
  • east man (28/08/2018, 10:13) Like (12) Dislike (12) Reply
    run baby run
  • cuban (28/08/2018, 10:32) Like (22) Dislike (5) Reply
    boy you punching over your heard
  • jokers (28/08/2018, 10:56) Like (11) Dislike (10) Reply
    WIN WINNER WINNER WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Tinman (28/08/2018, 10:58) Like (27) Dislike (19) Reply
    Well well. What has politics in the BVI come to? Guess the times of our H.Lavity Stoutt and R.T O'Neal are finished with cause people are just making a mockery of our election
  • sir (28/08/2018, 10:59) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
    You sure he let them do it. I suppose the 8th let him do it too. Do good research my dear, be thorough very thorough
  • sir (28/08/2018, 11:00) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    You sure he let them do it. I suppose the 8th let him do it too. Do good research my dear, be thorough very thorough
  • The TRUTH (28/08/2018, 11:04) Like (12) Dislike (10) Reply
    but I saw this man at the NDP congress meeting as Dr Pickering delegate what happen he drink the anti Cuban cool aid given out my mvw?
  • Lucky (28/08/2018, 11:49) Like (7) Dislike (5) Reply
    Definitely pedigree.
  • Interesting (28/08/2018, 11:50) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Ha ha ha
  • Detail (28/08/2018, 11:58) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    What changes do you suggest for long bay, sure some development but how much?
    • @Detail (28/08/2018, 15:02) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
      I would hope none as Long Bay Beach should remain a protected area. Kedrick understands these things and why beaches like Long Bay should not be developed. In fact, the Government should move quickly to make Long Bay Beach a national park before too many foolish ideas begin to form reality. He can keep the 7th district if he wants that and if the constituents want him there, once Kedrick remains Minister of NR & L and continues to look out for our natural resources as it seems only him alone in there understand the crucial times we are in with climate change and our ability to withstand anything once we preserve nature.
  • Land issued for growing Marijuana (28/08/2018, 12:14) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Please tell me that comment is not true... please tell me the local farmers will be the first to get land grants and the first to get the opportunity to enter the medical marijuana field.... VINO - can you dig deeper and do an article on this? Who was given those 3 acres?
  • True (28/08/2018, 12:17) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
    all he says is the failures of Pickering which everyone already knows. BUT WHAT WILL HE DO??? Also he is only interested in the 7th district that is the problem with this system of election in the BVI.
  • BRAD BOYNES (28/08/2018, 12:27) Like (19) Dislike (6) Reply
    This man is speaking the truth. Take a hard look at the progress or non progress made in the district over the time period he is speaking of. If we are true to ourselves, he is darn right. Jet setting on a plane every month does not account for district responsibilities. Hate me now.
    • Myo (28/08/2018, 13:38) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
      He there for how long now, in a ministerial seat and ain't get jack done and allu want to cut backbenchers throat who only been there 7 years and have hell to get things done. Listen, I am a retired civil servant and I know they will handicap a minister neverless a backbencher. Some civil servant have more power than ministers. never see anything like that yet. Backbenchers have to be at the mercy of a minister to get anything done. Should not be that way.
  • district 7 (28/08/2018, 12:32) Like (13) Dislike (7) Reply
    Go Diego we with you
  • Penn 78 (28/08/2018, 13:34) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    Penn in the 7th and 8th districts
    Good move
  • eyes (28/08/2018, 14:11) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply

    Till Death do ahyo part...

  • east end massive (28/08/2018, 14:16) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hip for the 7th
  • Sound cloud (28/08/2018, 15:18) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just a suggestion: it would be nice to read or know background information on any new upcoming politicians. We are in the election season and lot of unfamiliar faces are popping up here and there. It will be good to know a little more of what they stand for, who they are; why politics? Etc. A get to know the candidates.
  • Longlook (28/08/2018, 22:11) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    Go dago
  • Yep (29/08/2018, 17:04) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Don't mind the talk, do what you have to do and follow your mind and heart.

  • RedStorm (30/08/2018, 12:29) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    It would be nice to hear what strategies you will use to solve the problems, how would you get the resources. It seems that the Minister is waiting a long time on money. You perhaps can use volunteers (non paid and paid volunteers), and there are many ways you can get money, but you will have to convince the supporter, you can get grants and aids and many more. Tell us more since you have identify the problem what are some solutions.


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