‘We have to stop this runaway train’- Stephanie I. Faulkner-Williams
This is the view of Stephanie I. Faulkner-Williams who is contesting for the Ninth District and has teamed up with Territorial At Large candidate Dr Rawle R. Hannnibal.
“We firmly believe that empowering residents to become business owners will see a marked growth of the middle class…. greater prosperity for all on a whole,” Stephanie I. Faulkner-Williams shared.
Dr Hannibal and Faulkner-Williams said their decision to come together is in recognising that the Ninth District is in need of effective representation and they feel as a collective body they can address this issue if elected on June 8, 2015.
According to Mrs Faulkner-Williams, after sitting down in a meeting to discuss the issues of the district they, herself and Dr Hannibal, realised their goals for the community were similar and felt that having more than one person representing the district could work.
As a way forward it has been agreed that Stephanie I. Faulkner-Williams will run as District Representative and Dr Rawle R. Hannibal as an At-Large Representative. Mrs Faulkner-Williams presented a six-point plan for the Ninth District.
Plans
The two are of the view that, apart from defining and proudly celebrating the culture of the Virgin Islands, opening the gateway to tourism development, such as the ports of entry at St Thomas Bay jetty, Virgin Gorda airport, Gun Greek harbour and Anegada port and airport, are critical to developing and sustaining the Ninth District.
The two also propose training and development for locals working in the tourism sector by creating a hospitality training institute.
The issue of health is also big on the agenda and the coalition would ensure that the clinics on Anegada and Virgin Gorda are staffed with doctors, technical staff and pharmaceuticals and that medivac services to Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke are readily available.
Agriculture & fishery
It is never wise “to put all your eggs in one basket,” said Mrs Faulkner-Williams as she explained that while tourism will continue to be the main revenue driver, agriculture and fisheries can also provide the ultimate symbiotic relationship. “A greater focus on agriculture and fisheries will assist in weaning us off of our total dependence on expensive imports thereby keeping more money within our own economy.”
Alternatives/Green Energy
Sourcing alternative energy is also high on the agenda for the team. “In fact, where as it was a sign of prestige in the formative years, it is now seen as a basic necessity. The typical fossil fuels used for energy production is dirty and expensive. We need to stand up now and make that hard decision to move our reliance from being totally on fossil fuels to alternative green sources,” Faulkner-Williams said.
Creating a desalination plant that would ensure an adequate and constant supply of potable water throughout the Ninth District and solar energy panels are two other items on their agenda.
Social Development
This issue is one that is very dear to the heart of Mrs Faulkner-Williams as she said a perfect Ninth District is one that pays homage to the elderly and provides resources for the development of the youth.
“We will ensure that our elderly citizens have adequate facilities for both day care and living situations. Since the future success of the district is locked in the potential of the youth, we will ensure that they are exposed to positive mentoring and have access to talent and skills-building resources,” she said.
Other plans include building and maintenance of senior citizens’ homes, creating programmes of interaction within the society, creating a center of excellence, mentoring programmes; after school programmes; talent training; skills building programmes, courtesy and ethics programmes, sports and culture development.
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20 Responses to “‘We have to stop this runaway train’- Stephanie I. Faulkner-Williams”
Albert all the way.
and the other think where he work is where he lives, a perfect pair of fools.