We cannot continue to lip service our youths - Hon. Fahie
“That is what is happening with the performing arts industry, the drag racing and the cockfighting. So my intention, not only as an elected official but as a citizen of the Territory is to open discussions and open our minds to new possibilities that can work and can create new jobs and bring in new revenues for the Territory, for the Government directly and indirectly. These are just some of the areas that we have to tackle but there are plenty more to which I would continue to voice my opinion and put forward my proposals. I want to make it clear that I don’t intend to name problems alone without bringing viable solutions that would benefit all,” Hon. Fahie told Virgin Islands News Online.
As the law has it now cockfighting and drag racing are illegal, however, Hon. Fahie believes the role Government has to play is one in which they create the environment that allows for meaningful investments to be made in these areas. “And one of the roles that Government has to play is to make sure that there are legislations intact to support these industries and that regulations are also intact to support these industries.”
Hon. Fahie also believes government should not invest in these areas but solicit private investors. “But no one will invest in something if the environment for investment is not created. Simply put, right now those two sports are illegal so if they are not addressed by Government and also the feasibility of how they can work is not addressed then you cannot attract investors. But these are areas that can generate new revenues and are areas that at least you create more industries where there are somethings in it for everyone in the different industries. Through these different areas we would be able to link them to our tourism industry and create new faucets of revenue for our Territory.”
A feasibility study for drag racing in the Virgin Islands was done by the previous Government, however, since the change of government there has been no official announcement on the drag racing issue and its position on it.
Police also recently broke up a cockfighting ring in East End, which reportedly caused the organisers to complain to an elected official, however, it is not clear what has come out of the matter.
There was also an incident in December 2011 when a 16-year-old Carrot Bay youth was arrested for allegedly being involved in cock fighting.
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