Is Not for the Faint-hearted That Is
LET TRUTH PREVAIL‼️ (A Political Commentary) Politics is not for the faint-hearted💥 That is the first news blast! When I talk with some people I can detect how frustrated and disappointed they are with the system. They have good ideas for change, but they admit they can never enter the field of politics because they cannot take the vicious attacks, the back-biting, the jealousy and the hypocri...
LET TRUTH PREVAIL‼️ (A Political Commentary) Politics is not for the faint-hearted💥 That is the first news blast! When I talk with some people I can detect how frustrated and disappointed they are with the system. They have good ideas for change, but they admit they can never enter the field of politics because they cannot take the vicious attacks, the back-biting, the jealousy and the hypocrisy that is encountered on the political frontline.
Some express a deep sense of hopelessness; that no matter who they vote for, things will not change. And to a great extent, as long as they vote along party lines, the same old "business as usual" continues. Political parties in the BVI have no trusted ideological stance.💥 That's the second news blast!
Of late, party politics has descended into an all time low. There's a lot of flipping and flopping and floor- crossing when members of the House find it convenient to themselves. It's convenient for them to say they did it for the country, but the country didn't vote for them to do that.
A case in point is the Honourable Lorna Smith , Junior Minster of Trade and Financial Services, who started out her campaign in the 2023 general elections as an Independent At-Large candidate. Midway in the campaign she aligned herself with the NDP (the party generally seen as the family party).
After the polls closed on that auspicious elections, the NDP, PVIM and PU had a combined number of the majority to form the government, but it did not happen. Why, because one member of the "coalition", Candidate Lorna Smith had defected to make up numbers for the VIP to form the government.
That is the reality of party politics in the BVI. In no time, the good lady who had crossed the floor to become deputy premier in the VIP administration was fired, and Honourable Julian Fraser of the Progressive United Party, replaced her, leaving the "un-united" Opposition of NDP and PVIM.
Not long after that, PVIM and NDP were spliced into the Aliance, with three members of the Opposition, forcing the leader of the PVIM and the leader of the NDP to basically stand on their own. Mixed up government and mixed up opposition. They agree on one thing, how to enrich themselves, enjoy the privileges of their office, and oppress the people with increased taxes and fees, while cutting short the minimum wage increase, and dragging their feet on vital legislation such as the Freedom of Information Act.
This is what the people, the masses, of the BVI are facing today. MY POSITION As a candidate for the 2027 general elections, contesting an At-Large seat as a non-partisan contender, I acknowledge the challenges that Independent candidates are up against. One of the chief disadvantages is the financial burden of campaigning.
Parties have more access to funds so they can out-do individuals who do not have that support base. However, the advantages of an Independent candidate are nothing to scoff at. ✅ Independents are free to speak the truth. ✅ They are not obligated to cover up for anyone's indiscretion. ✅ They are not going to make excuses for failures that could have been avoided. ✅ In short, they will not sell the public any propaganda.
I speak for myself, if not for anyone else. I will represent ALL the people of the BVI who are Belongers. I will seek to have the Immigration and Labour laws function as they were intended for the benefit of the Virgin Islands people. And if I have to stand alone on behalf of the people, I am committed to just that.
In conclusion, parties are not necessarily evil. In civil society a unified group of individuals with an accepted ideological agenda for the protection and development of the state is welcome. What is undesirable is opportunistic individuals who use the party system for their own self-aggrandizement, which often translates into oppression of those they rule over.
Let us pray that a refreshing cohort of competent, serious-minded, conscientious and effective leaders who share common values for the betterment of the VI and its people will emerge from the next general elections. It can only happen if voters vote wisely, not based on popularity, but on fair judgment.
Primary source: Tortola Community Board (Facebook)