'NDP is building a class system in Education' - Rajah A. Smith
Mr Smith was at the time a panelist on the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) radio show ‘Let’s talk’ on ZBVI 780 AM on February 4, 2015
5 CXCs for scholarship is wrong!
The youth master told the public in an opening statement on the show last evening that he “rejects the notion of a class system whereby some are left behind like the NDP has continued to do.”
Mr Smith, who earlier this year announced his intention to seek the VIP nomination through its Congress to run as a Territorial candidate, said his VIP believes while there must be criteria for government scholarships being paid for by the tax payers the new policy of the Minister for Education Myron V. Walwyn, where one has to have at least five CXC subjects in order to qualify for a government scholarship, is wrong and a misguided policy.
“I know many persons my age group who did not have 5 CXCs, however, were able to obtain a scholarship under the VIP Government and today they are success stories all over the Virgin Islands,” said Mr Smith.
Closing opportunities for youth
The young businessman, who has family ties to the sister island of Jost van Dyke, lambasted the NDP for what he described as “closing opportunities for Virgin Islanders and not opening it, as the VIP believes in doing.”
The youth leader stated that “the VIP will strive to make our young people independent by giving them a hand up and not a handout!”
He said the big issue for youth is “jobs, jobs, jobs.”
NDP competing against small businesses
Mr Smith also took on the leader of government business Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith.
He told radio listeners that a couple of weeks ago “I heard the Premier Dr Smith boasting about the Small Business Bureau. However, the reality on the ground is totally different for our businessmen and women.”
The reality is that the NDP Government is competing against the small businessmen and women..."take for example; there was a young entrepreneur who went out and got a loan and brought a street sweeper, now here comes the NDP government last year purchasing a street sweeper to compete against the same young businessmen. Is that right?" Mr Smith asked.
Hospital competing with food vendors
Mr Smith also gave another example of Government competing against small business. He said on the VIP Let’s Talk show that “with so many food vendors in the Virgin Islands the BVI Health Services Authority is now running the cafeteria directly, competing again with surrounding restaurants and independent food vendors. How can the people compete against the government with their deep pockets? That is not right,” the astute businessman said.
The VIP Let’s Talk show included host Carvin Malone-President of the Virgin Islands Party, party boss Honourable Julian Fraser RA, (R3), and former party Chairman Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE (R9).
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55 Responses to “'NDP is building a class system in Education' - Rajah A. Smith”
Mr Rajah,What NDP has done regarding Education is unherald. It is completely absurd to say otherwise.
So an entrepeneur bought and started his business with 1(one) street sweeper. A big thing now because the Gov went and also bought one. Mr Rajah, it is the sole responsibility of the Gov to keep the public streets clean. Plenty of dirty streets all over these Islands Rajah. Leaving the street cleaning to a private business with his one private sweeper and no repair and part service for it,man,are you serious. The Gov should have bought two at least, in my opinion.
revisit your political platform Sir because it needs strength and sensibility.
Oh, but I saw your cheque from VIP for bloging. You are not even worth 2 cents for the p..s you does blog...
But after hearing him last night I have began to take a look and him...He could win after all, as the last elections thought us anyone can win!!!!
Five CXC is standard to get into any college/university accross the region. If you can't meet the basic requirements for admission to college then you have no business applying for scholarship in the first place.
There are students in Jamaica and Guyana, the basket case of the Caribbean who are studying and passing 10+ subjects with ease and still can't get scholarships to enter college.
Thank you!!
But thank god we are determined never again to be fool...NDP must and will go they have destroyed every institution in the BVI ...ALL and no one can disagree with that FACT
And somebody need to talk about the disgraceful permanent vender tents in the market area. ..they ain't paying no rent but they still claiming space.