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VI 'ready for people with integrity to represent them'- Hon Turnbull

-Pleads with D2 to give him a 3rd chance to represent them in HoA
Minister for Natural Resources and Labour and Second District Representative Hon Melvin M. Turnbull has pleaded for the Second Electoral District to re-elect him for a third term, while telling the community he has been their voice and stood up for the district over the last few years. Photo: Facebook/File
Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) was at the time speaking on the 'Solution Time' panel discussion, along with other candidates of the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) broadcasted on ZBVI 780 AM on March 22, 2023. Photo: VINO/File
Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) was at the time speaking on the 'Solution Time' panel discussion, along with other candidates of the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) broadcasted on ZBVI 780 AM on March 22, 2023. Photo: VINO/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI– Minister for Natural Resources and Labour and Second District Representative Hon Melvin M. Turnbull has pleaded for the Second Electoral District to re-elect him for a third term, while telling the community he has been their voice and stood up for the district over the last few years.

Hon Turnbull was at the time speaking on 'Solution Time', a panel discussion, which included other candidates of the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM), broadcasted on ZBVI 780 AM on March 22, 2023.

‘Mitch’, who has been in the HoA since 2015, further added that the people of the VI are in need of legislators and leaders with integrity moving forward. “If you have a leader that understands we are building this country, we are repairing the reputation and restoring the soul of our Virgin Islands, then we are stronger together. So no matter who is in the seat, we will work to build our BVI.”

Hon Turnbull also said it would be almost impossible to remove a government that is working not just for a few but for everyone in the community.

Roads & Water System needs fixing- Hon Turnbull 

Pointing to the roads, Hon Turnbull said moving forward, it is essential that roads in the entire territory are constructed because bad roads continue to damage vehicles, in addition to overall work needed in the local water and sewage system. 

“It is about the overall aesthetic look for our community, so those are some of the things that are teething pains to me, but I believe our community is ready for a new direction. They're ready for us and they're ready for people with integrity to represent them,” he added.

Man of integrity?

Hon Turnbull, who asserts himself as someone of integrity, said he is hoping for the people of the Second District to allow him to continue the journey by re-electing him for a third term.

“I've been the voice. I've stood up for you. And I'm asking us for the opportunity to let me continue to represent so that we could finish the work that we've started,” he added.

Hon Turnbull is a former member of the National Democratic Party (NDP), which he walked out on to form an alliance with Ronnie W. Skelton, another former NDP member.

PVIM has since been referred to by many as NDP 2.

The two parties held talks to merge for the 2023 General Elections; however, an alleged power struggle prevented any chance of a merger to happen.

Hon Turnbull has also come in for criticism recently after it was revealed he did not oppose a legislators retirement allowance legislation, which has become a topic of controversy, and which NDP and PVIM candidates are now condemning and promising to repeal or revisit if elected.

Additionally, Hon Turnbull has been caught up in controversy surrounding a $238,000.00 washroom facility being constructed in Brewers Bay. The D2 Representative and Minister spearheading the project has been trying to justify the enormous price tag.

34 Responses to “VI 'ready for people with integrity to represent them'- Hon Turnbull”

  • Humpty Dumpty (24/03/2023, 07:16) Like (43) Dislike (6) Reply
    this big hypocrite NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR HE
    • @Humpty Dumpty (24/03/2023, 12:40) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
      Agreed. He is just like his uncle CSC. All they do is lie, use people then dump them, cause confusion and always looking power.
  • insider (24/03/2023, 07:26) Like (22) Dislike (1) Reply
    How he knows so much about head coach communications?
  • You say (24/03/2023, 07:36) Like (30) Dislike (3) Reply
    Mitch doesn’t look out for anyone in the community he just tell lies and look out for the same handful of people every time
    • @You say (24/03/2023, 12:43) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
      AMEN!!! He is too busy with his father & uncle going to the colonial masters by night bad talking with lies against all who they hate so they can work with him to destroy them so they can get the power. Trust me when I say that he has sold out his people. It will soon come to light.
  • Agreeable One (24/03/2023, 07:39) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
    This is a real jeckel and Hyde! In public is one thing but in private life is a whole different story. Who know know and who don’t know will feel! Ting tun up!!!
  • Local (24/03/2023, 07:58) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    We are definitely ready for people with integrity. Those who build simple washrooms for $238K out of tax payers money ???? what else will they build when re- elected ???? ????
  • Nah Breddah (24/03/2023, 08:26) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    A witch in a ditch is a better choice than Mitch, Collect your greedy bill check and move to the left, I say left, okay be gone, bye, none of my family voting for you, all 32 of us so far.
  • Integrity (24/03/2023, 08:58) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Of which you have none
  • We need cost (24/03/2023, 09:13) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    What about Mitch trip to cop 22
  • Nlck (24/03/2023, 09:20) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    The good book says" there is a time and season for everything under the sun, a time to speak and a time to be silent". This is definitely not your time to speak, but we the people. Politians failed to realize that four years goes by very fast.
  • Real (24/03/2023, 09:23) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    I agree, we are ready to be lead by people with integrity, but where are they. The current system does not allow for the brightest and the best to come forward. It is the greediest that we see in the race today. None are speaking of the issues, just politicking, throwing barbs at each other. This is worse than having our constitution temporarily suspended and improved to create more accountability. Whatever the voting outcome, we will be in the same boat with no damn paddle. LET'S REALLY FIX THINGS BROTHERS AND SISTERS! Our existence depends on it.
  • GSR (24/03/2023, 09:29) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    All of a sudden your house of assembly colleagues have no integrity?
  • Law Abiding citizen (24/03/2023, 09:44) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
    Boy Mitch. You disappoint me. Superficial, a paper politician, sooth sayer, talk a good talk but you're just a venomous as the others.
  • HMMM (24/03/2023, 10:33) Like (24) Dislike (0) Reply
    So Mitch is essentially saying that the Government of which he is a part of and Minister of Natural Resources and Labour for almost a year, have no integrity? So why did he agree to serve with them? Mitch has praised the current Premier many times for his leadership and now comes election and it's changed? The good thing about this technological age is that no lie will be left without rebuttal. The next few weeks will be very interesting to say the least.
  • Fraud (24/03/2023, 10:44) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mitch is a fraud a typical tolian just trying get what he can get image sell people buy yuh did good Mitch being a politician and a hater is a bomb you don’t like us you only like the invisible power and the greed u can get your hands on and the people them woman
  • winners (24/03/2023, 10:57) Like (6) Dislike (28) Reply
    SYLVIA, MITCH, IAN, SHEREEN..................... RONNIE, INGRID, BUDHA, SHAINA
  • Political analyst (24/03/2023, 11:20) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Honesty, integrity, trust, etc , are not virtues which should be pitch just at election time as a bait and switch or overpromised and undelivered strategy and hope that the electorate forget and move on to the next shiny object. They should be qualities, virtues, etc which should be modeled and be as natural as breathing, seeing, living, etc. and they should be inherent in every candidate who runs for elected or appointed office. Many elected members do not adhere to these virtues and qualities. And the lack of adherence persists, for it persists. The electorate let it happened over and over and then heap the blame on the politicians. We are all guilty of looking the other way for our own self-interest. Here is a news flash. The electorate has the true power, not the politicians. But we slaughter that power on the altar of self -interest, ie the opportunity to feed on ‘slop’ at the trough. We sub-optimized national growth and developed for slop at the trough.

    Moreover, the issue of roads was mentioned. The road network is in a deteriorated, Third World condition, becoming a punching bad for both electorate and politicians. But how did our roads get in the severely deteriorated condition? Other commentators, E. Leonard and others, have attributed the poor condition to poor design, poor construction and inspection, maintenance and repair, etc. I concur with those opinions. But though we should heap some of the blame on Current and former ministers of communication and work, current and former Public work directors, Premiers, etc, again the blame should be shouldered by the electorate. Bad roads persist because they persist. The same can be said of Water and Sewage. What gets recognized and rewarded gets repeated and that is good or bad. There is no reason in the world why a road life is as long as the first heavy rain. Roads should have lifecycles of more than a few weeks, ie, 7-10 years. We need to stop throwing good money after bad and design, construct and maintain the roads properly. Election is a month away and the electorate must demand roads that are of First World quality.
    • E. Leonard (24/03/2023, 13:33) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Since my name was invoked in regards to roads, I decided to weigh in regards to the road network. Managing improved roads whether concrete or asphalt (flexible pavement) is expensive and challenging. From my perch at the 30000’ level, the road network seemed to be poorly designed, constructed, maintained, etc. and is in a deteriorated state. Some notations or givings about roads include a) a define lifecycle, ie, 5, 10, 20 years, b) to attain the define lifecycles periodic maintenance, ie, crack sealing, seal coating, overlay, etc is needed, c) proper drainage (ponding water on roads is a prime cause of premature road failure.), d) reconstruction once a road has failed is the proper fix, etc.

      Moreover, what is the cost of poorly designed, constructed and maintained? A) Premature Road failures, B) emergence of potholes and road failures, C) increased maintenance and repair cost, D)slowed traffic and increasing the potential for accidents, E,) shortened lifecycles, F) poor quality of life and standard of living, F)increased cost between shortened reconstruction (unplanned burden on budget), G) increased vehicle owners operating cost. Further, BVI roads are multi-use roads, ie, private autos, construction equipment, utility vehicles, large tonnage trucks, etc. Consequently, the roads should be designed for the heaviest wheel load which will use them. If not the roads will fail prematurely. Incidentally, poor drainage off the road and along the sides are also major contributors to premature road failures.


      • RealPol (25/03/2023, 00:17) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Real talk on the cost of poor and deteriorated road infrastructure. An army of potholes and other failures have a high cost. BVI residents deserve better quality roads. The current approach to road construction and maintenance is costly not only in dollars but also services or better lack of services.
  • Reality check (24/03/2023, 11:25) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    I live in D2 and can assure everyone that Mitch has not returned a single phone call or email, nor has he done anything to address the quality of life issues that have plagued the district; broken water mains, road bush, road cracks and broken road surfaces, etc. In short, we've not had a district representative!!
  • time up (24/03/2023, 11:55) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Need people who look out for locals not taking bread out of locals mouth
  • Road Town Rebel (24/03/2023, 12:16) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Mitch you need to talk to the Hill man and Walters man who used to work in immigration about integrity.
    • RedStorm (24/03/2023, 14:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I know what you talking about. But they will tell him go sid dung!
  • Dancing with the Stars (24/03/2023, 13:07) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    I would encourage the voters of District 2 to give Mitch a sound send off to retirement. He is too arrogant and unstable for a District Representative. Even though he came from a religious family, he shows no level of humility. So it is time for him to go home and reflect on his past.
  • Listen out (24/03/2023, 13:26) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    There are some things on the street about Mitch that does not sound good at all. Listen out.
  • musa (24/03/2023, 14:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    That great news &the only reason we making a change.
  • 2023 (24/03/2023, 15:13) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    make the switch
  • my vote (24/03/2023, 18:48) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    My vote for you, Mitch. We got you. Seems you're the one to knock down this time, but keep your head up. Ronnie, Budda, Shaina, Shereen, MB, Ingrid, Ian and you are in the next House of Assembly. Talk dat.

    I don't hear these bloggers talking about the Minister for the Fifth not fixing the roads and all the leaking pipes around the country or the Finance Minister not doing anything in the Seventh except painting a yellow wall. But it is open season on Mitch only? Get up off him. We already know where our X is going. Nothing green for sure. Yellow site at work.
  • @ mr E .LEONARD (24/03/2023, 19:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    YOR ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE GREAT ES HISTORIAN ???? AND WE HAVE BEEN ASKING YOU FOR MONTHS NOW , ABOUT THE ( ISLAND PEOPLE SACARCASM ) AND HOW IT CAME ABOUT AND WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF IT , BUT YOU SEEMS AFRAID TO RESPOND / NOW YOU LESS THAN A DAY TO RESPOND TO WAHT
    ( POLITICA ANALYST ) SAID ABOUT YOU
    AND IN YOUR OWN WORDS ITS WAS * ( SINCE MY NAME WAS INVOKED )* NOW WE INVOKING YOU ONCE AGAIN , SO WE WAITING ON YOU BRO ( YOU HAVE BEEN INVOKED AGAIN
  • street reporter. (24/03/2023, 20:01) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Say what you all want. If Mitch and Ronnie win their seat Ronnie is the next Premier, either one of them lose Sowande is the next Premier. But I too like that Young Lawyer Davies...
  • facts (25/03/2023, 17:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes Mitch is a arrogant individual. He has no humanity just talk. There are things out on the street that he did so he better stop throwing stones. He will do anything to win. It's time for a change in District 2.


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