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‘People run their mouths because they don’t have a business to run’- Hon Fraser

- says compulsory acquisition of Ellis Thomas Downs land will be treading on a slippery slope
Opposition Leader and Third District Representative Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) has maintained that Government should shun the idea of compulsory acquisition of land at Ellis Thomas Downs, as is being advocated by avid horse racing fan Eileene L. Parsons, OBE. Photo: Facebook/File
There have been no horse races at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay since August 2, 2022, due to an impasse between Government and the landowners over differences in the lease agreement. Photo: VINO/File
There have been no horse races at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay since August 2, 2022, due to an impasse between Government and the landowners over differences in the lease agreement. Photo: VINO/File
Ms Eileene L. Parsons, OBE has been advocating for the Government of the Virgin Islands to legally take the land from the Thomas family after neither of the parties could come to an agreement on the way forward and the government subsequently terminated the agreement- although it has denied this- and the Thomas family placed a ban on the use of the track. Photo: VINO/File
Ms Eileene L. Parsons, OBE has been advocating for the Government of the Virgin Islands to legally take the land from the Thomas family after neither of the parties could come to an agreement on the way forward and the government subsequently terminated the agreement- although it has denied this- and the Thomas family placed a ban on the use of the track. Photo: VINO/File
SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI- Opposition Leader and Third District Representative Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) has maintained that Government should shun the idea of compulsory acquisition of land at Ellis Thomas Downs, as is being advocated by avid horse racing fan Eileene L. Parsons, OBE.

Ms Parsons has been advocating for the Government of the Virgin Islands to legally take the land from the Thomas family after neither of the parties could come to an agreement on the way forward and the government subsequently terminated the agreement- although it has denied this- and the Thomas family placed a ban on the use of the track.

‘Absolutely no reason for compulsory acquisition’- Hon Fraser

“People run their mouths because they don’t have a business to run and I am speaking from reality. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever for government to want to acquire that property through compulsory acquisition.

“And I would go further to say, we must be careful what we say and what we do because it is a slippery slope,” Hon Fraser told Virgin Islands News Online in an exclusive interview.

Bad reputation

Further, Hon Fraser said the Territory already has a very bad reputation and experience with compulsory acquisition or eminent domain.

“If you look at Paraquita Bay, it was property that the government acquired for agricultural purposes. You got here today, you would find now there is a college there, which the territory needs very badly; however, the land was not acquired for that purpose. If you look further, you would see there are physical permanent structures that are on that land, which was supposed to be designated solely for agricultural purposes.

“So you tell me. Government will take persons' property for a particular purpose and down the road it turns into something different. Now if the government was to take land from these folks, as you can see how horse racing is treated in this territory, who is to say fifty years from now you wouldn’t see apartment buildings on that land. Who holds the government accountable?” Hon Fraser questioned.

‘Be careful what you say’- Hon Fraser

The Opposition Leader also noted that people are complaining that the government is paying the Thomas family for a lease and that the government should buy the land instead of paying for the lease.

“Well tell them to go up in Road Town and other parts of Tortola where the government is leasing office space from people and paying people and there is no indication that government will ever give those spaces back.

“So, in other words, they are being leased in perpetuity. Why don’t they go now and take the property from these people? Why? So, I am saying to you we have to be careful what we say and do because it has consequences.”

Thomas family synonymous with horse racing

Hon Fraser noted too that the Thomas family has been in horse racing since the 50s and if they had intentions of sabotaging or depriving the people of the enjoyment of horse racing, they would have done that a long time ago.

“People would know that they [Thomas family] had a development inside the track which became abandoned since the government developed the track to the extent that it is, and they had to forego any revenue they were getting from that in favour of allowing the government to use their land for the track,” Hon Fraser stated.

20 Responses to “‘People run their mouths because they don’t have a business to run’- Hon Fraser”

  • Say 1 Say 2 (19/12/2022, 13:35) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    Why dont they take the port from the Oneal family? Why they dont take the land from Hung on Beef Island to build a drag strip? Why dont they take the land from the white guy west End to build a proper port?
  • Good point frazcar (19/12/2022, 13:38) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    WHY DONT THEY TAKE ALL THOSE EXPENSIVE BUILDINGS BEING RENTED BY GOVERNMENT FOR OVER 20 YEARS ???????
  • WOW (19/12/2022, 13:40) Like (6) Dislike (8) Reply
    He always talking some sh?! So we should do away with horse racing?
    • @wow (20/12/2022, 02:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      While I am lover of the races. I travel St Thomas and St Croix as well when races was sweet. We need to respect that the land is privately owned. Its just the sad reality
    • Ehm (21/12/2022, 12:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Why 1D so bushy. Is there no money in the kettle? Lots of noise in house and outdoors and it’s not his business! Is 1D part of your job?
  • street reporter. (19/12/2022, 14:02) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some people wish they had the power to shut people up.. Negative speaking about a person to me is the best motivation,. Keep you focus.
  • Barber boy (19/12/2022, 14:04) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    When the fox couldn't get to the grapes, he said they were SOUR ......LOL LOL
  • 3rd district massive (19/12/2022, 14:37) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    The more ayo hate on Frazer is the more we love him.
  • KLMM (19/12/2022, 15:17) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    @Say 1 Say 2, Hung don't own the on Beef Island anymore
  • asura (19/12/2022, 15:32) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
    FRASER IS CORRECT STAND UP FOR THE PEOPLE
  • Czar (19/12/2022, 15:44) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    Fracker focus should be on Fraud Kline and wiglock- not no darn horse track! You all ovah the place man
  • Athletic grounds (19/12/2022, 15:51) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Use the government land for an all purpose sports track, playing fields so it can be used 24/7/365 instead of paying hundreds of thousands of tax payers dollars for a few races a year. The horse racing association has ideas for new locations for horse racing.
  • Shane (19/12/2022, 16:03) Like (4) Dislike (7) Reply
    I commend Hon Fraser for that Statement. Gossip is the number 1 business in TalkTola
  • Three empire strikes back (19/12/2022, 16:30) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
    Well look how he come alive to fight for a piece of land ???? ( youths getting gunned down youths disappearing ,/ guns , drugs is slowly taking over the country but he and others like hik refuses to open their mouths on those serious problems , ???? , how come he never spoken on AGRICULTURE before ? ? ? AM surprised he didn't blame the UK , OH the next 50 years is the future , you band I won't be here , so those who are will have to develop the country hopefully in the best interest of the people and the country ,,SO the next generation have to groomed now for the future , but instead you going into the school and teaching the kids RACISM which didn't even know what the hell you were talking about , because the were too young to understand your ignorance , get your act together bro ,
  • Andddddd (19/12/2022, 16:38) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    People run their mouths and have no idea what they are talking about.
  • NezRez (19/12/2022, 20:06) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well, you just can't take people's land because you want a horse race. That is ridiculous! You just cannot take people's land without compensating them for it either. If the two parties agree on a sale price to purchase, then that is acceptable, but TAKE? No way, No how! A race track is not a "NEEDED" necessity for the BVI.
  • @ nez rez (19/12/2022, 21:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I thought it was the island people them want to thief the land , by the way its the same land we all going in ( 6 ) / so keep fighting and killing for the holy land , we come and meet it and we will go and leave it , ???? but we know some of you geniuses believe you can take it downstairs when you going , or when your time come ???? , perhaps my holy friend CSC can enlighten us on that ????
    • @@ nex rez (20/12/2022, 17:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Some believe in generational wealth. Some are not leaving their children with nothing but a penchant for handouts and begging. Some do not plan to leave their children as burdens on taxpayers and a menace to society in other countries.
      Some folks are like that. You wouldn't understand. Take my word that generational wealth is sanctioned by every diety except that of Satan.
  • Why take? (20/12/2022, 07:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why take the land when you can use tax payers money to enrich the land owner in exchange for kickbacks? Isn’t this why save the seed is still in use and actual govt owned property sits abandoned?
  • take note (20/12/2022, 17:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    A race track for gambling. Gambling is illegal in the VI. A race track to accommodate s o me of the money laundering by the drug dealers. Drug dealers are the owners of the tools of the trade in the VI.....expensive race horses.!!


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