We are in the early stages of experiencing a brain drain. Many educated citizens either do not return to the territory or have to leave soon after their return, since there are no meaningful job opportunities available to them. To make it worse, our social services lack standards and organization and crime is at a record high. To top it off, we have a government with no real structured plan to deal with crime. The bi-water contract, in particular, continues to cast a shadow of despair over the government and is also of grave concern to all citizens.
T
he year 2011 is a critical year in the history of the British Virgin Islands. This territory is on the threshold of change. It is of paramount importance that the territory be equipped with the right leaders as we charter unknown seas. The Future Is Depending On Us Yes, the future is depending on us to elect forwardthinking individuals who can build and increase industries, who promote entrepreneurship and prepare the economy for small business financing, which is all linked to the expansion of our main and most crucial industry – tourism. In other words, we are responsible for building a sustainable industry. For the past 30 years, we have not been able to elect individuals who put country first and who look not just after family and close friends. The past eight years of leadership in the Virgin Islands has been out of touch, and lack the imagination and drive needed to adequately cope and adjust to the current international economic challenges. It has also lacked sensitivity to the plight of the ordinary people at home. Our people have been crying out, but no one seems to be paying attention to these cries. We are on the brink of a cholera outbreak from the explosion of raw sewage in our streets on a regular basis.
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As a member of the next House of Assembly, I will call for greater accountability and transparency as our new government will be faced with the mammoth task of resuscitating and revitalizing the economy. We will have to become very creative with the use of our natural resources, such as white sand, agriculture and fishing, to truly develop our people and infrastructure. This mandate will in fact be shared with my supporters. It will form part of the vision to ensure that the territory gets back on track. This mandate will call for the input of all members of society, regardless of political affiliation, demographic background, or religious belief. This is the best way that everyone can make their contributions and reap the benefits. It is said that it takes a village to raise a child. Likewise, it takes a nation to build a strong and sustainable economy. The present global issues do not make the task easy. Technology has indeed shrunk the world to the extent that is now referred to as a global village. Consequently, we are impacted on a daily basis as we trade with our regional and international partners. As I conclude, I do so giving hope to my people of the British Virgin Islands. I am convinced that together we can build a sustainable economy and a new society. You are therefore encouraged to join with me to bring this vision and plan to fruition, to make this vision and plan a reality. I thank you.
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Some Immediate Concerns Of The BVI
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he people are the power; their concerns are to be the government’s concerns. Full participation is what it takes to put us on the road to recovery. The cost of living is too high. A standard survey shows that the average grocery bill is $135 per week. Considering the minimum wage is $4 per hour, this adversely affects the economy. Business owners and entrepreneurs must operate on a level playing field. All businesses that rely on the BVI’s natural resources for income must be owned by locals. This is to protect our country. Bank rates and fees are higher than in the USVI. Regulations must be put in place to protect our people from the exploitation of financial institutions. Insurance companies must be regulated so that local interests are protected. The Construction Association needs to be active. This association must establish a viable schedule for construction rates that will benefit local market development. One pertinent issue will be the confirmation of construction rates.
Agricultural development must be examined carefully. Farmers cannot be ignored. Farming needs to be a national affair. It should be a part of our school curriculum and land must be made available to BVIslanders who want to plant for commercial trade. Gratuities should not be tampered with by management. All funds should go to staff. As a matter of fact, management should account to staff for the gratuity. The importation and sale of pre-owned vehicles needs to be regulated. At present there are many vehicles in the territory that are off the road and in some cases creating an environmental hazard as junk. The importation of used Japanese and Chinese cars often means that there is limited expertise in the BVI to facilitate their repair and maintenance. Although the purchase price may be attractive to many citizens, the long-term effect is not beneficial and diminishes the sale of new and used cars from our local dealerships. Solutions include facilitating automotive education by establishing an Academy of
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Some Immediate Concerns Of The BVI (continued) Auto Mechanics to salvage existing cars in the territory and to create a new cadre of skilled labor. The BVI must also reevaluate import and licensing duties and taxes on these used vehicles to solve the problem of derelict vehicles in need of advanced repair. We must also think of the future in terms of our infrastructure and how many vehicles we can realistically accommodate as our population grows and make provisions for expansion and regulation of traffic flow. To this end, we propose a $3K tax on all used Japanese and Chinese vehicles being imported into the BVI.
crucial items used every day by ordinary people that are now subject to taxes as high as 25 percent.
We seek to simplify the tax system – replacing the complicated varied taxes on consumption and services – with an across-the-board 10 percent tax on all other imported goods and services.
The Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport must be expanded. We must construct a five-star hotel with more than 1,000 rooms.
That will effectively widen the tax net, allowing the government to collect more money, but while at the same time lowering the cost on
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Technology reigned in the 20th century; now new ideas and critical thinking will shape the 21st century. For this reason, the government must create, in partnership with the National Bank of the Virgin Islands, a sub-committee that will develop strategies for linkage industries to our current industries. Government must provide financing and bring to fruition turnkey projects.
Road and transport infrastructure development, such as roadway paving and widening, must be carefully planned in phases annually.
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I
am guided by the number one priority of ensuring the development of the people of the Eighth Electoral District. My core mission is to focus on the growth and the empowerment of our people. My target is to create a prosperous society. To ensure this mission becomes a reality, my plan of action will be buttressed by five pillars.
know that “Together Everyone Achieves More”. In order for us to have sustainable development in the Eighth District, we must leverage all our resources. These resources must be utilized regardless of family network or demographic. We as a people cannot be driven by greed but rather by the overall mission. The road map that we set out must never be altered.
Not only will these five pillars be important to the Eighth Electoral District, but they will be also to the entire nation. We will embrace our people’s great diversity and nurture a cohesive society. Now is the time we must use our diversity to our advantage, for once there is unity amongst diversity we are sure to have a community operating as a team. As a team we
Our goal is to ensure prosperity for all the people of the Eighth District. Our society must come together and shine. Long gone are the days that we can ignore the fact that we are our brother’s keeper. As a society, if one fails, we all fail. If we don’t start moving now, what will there be for future generations?
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Key Issues For The Eighth Electoral District • Crime reduction and prevention. • Improvement in healthcare. • Introduction of organized social programs.
• Improvement and modernization of education through technology. • Improvement of infrastructure, including development of drainage and sidewalks.
• Need for increased employment.
• Sewerage infrastructure and management in the form of a treatment plant.
• Fostering entrepreneurship.
• Trade with Japan and China.
• Need for empowerment of churches and increased resources for afterschool programs.
• Repurposing of our natural resources to create new inventions and solutions for product usage.
• Need for the development of a technology infrastructure.
• Building of linkage industries to enhance our twin-pillar economy.
• Expansion of recreational facilities.
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Establish A Community Action Plan To Combat Crime The National Security Council, comprised of His Excellency the Governor, the Premier, the Deputy Premier, the Attorney General and the Commissioner of Police, together with all other key stakeholders, will engage in an ongoing dialogue on crime. A comprehensive action plan will include strategic patrols and organized community activities carried out in conjunction with the police. Police presence must be an interactive presence. The police must not merely be passive observers. Present A Plan For A Senior Citizen Stipend For The Premier’s Consideration This will be for persons who do not qualify for social security. Review The East End Clinic and discuss with the Minister of Health and Welfare for improvements to its services.
Create The Eighth District Strategy Committee This committee will comprise key stakeholders. They will be charged with the duty of reviewing the needs of the people of the Eighth District and will present a clear and comprehensive annual action plan for discussion with the Premier and his Cabinet. This plan must be executed in consultation with residents of the Eighth District and the community at large. The Committee will advise businesses on how to maximize on the tourism industry. Thereafter, a Business Board will be established and will be responsible for strategizing for the economic development of the District. Propose That The Government Perform An Extensive Audit on all statutory boards so as to provide the people with a transparent account of financial activities. Establish A Project Plan Board This board will comprise, among other persons,
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engineers, architects, contractors, business owners, and equipment operators. This team will be entrusted to represent the concerns and needs of the people. The urgent issues that this board will address include: • Water and sewerage • Road and transport infrastructure • Walls and sidewalks • Drainage and sanitation • Beautification of the environment • Parking • Parks and recreation grounds This committee will be responsible for prioritizing projects. A project report will be presented to the House of Assembly. Financial Assistance Committee This committee will oversee all requests for medical, education, and welfare grants through the office of the House of Assembly.
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Continuance Participation No man is an island. Each citizen has his important role to play in the development of our nation. I will establish a means by which the people’s daily concerns can be recorded – traditional suggestion boxes and an electronic suggestion box. Swift action will then follow. • How It Will Work - Traditional suggestion boxes will be placed for easy public access in six strategic areas. - E-info. The people’s electronic means of submitting suggestions for improvement of the District. Now you can get in touch by emailing einfo@eighthdistrict.com. - Our interactive website. Daily constituency updates and news made available at the click of a mouse. Find out what you need to know, when you need it.
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Issues Outside Of The District I will recommend an Advisory Economic Board to the Premier. It will be specifically assembled to address the following urgent actions: • Implement revenue initiatives. • Restructure taxes. • Create a new revenue base.
• Establish an independent review board and transparency committee to oversee government expenditure. • Reinstitutionalize the electronic budget. • Revise the minimum wage.
• Create linkage industries to our main industries.
• Establish a comprehensive rehabilitation program for first-time criminal offenders.
• Strengthen tourism and increase funding towards this end.
Supporting Development In The Community • Foster a “Be Your Brother’s Keeper” policy.
• Establish a medical fund that will enable emergency travel for critical patients.
• Support charitable community.
• Establish a proactive approach to all duties performed by the Security Council for the community. Establish a sub-committee.
• Establish safehouses for battered and abused women and men.
• Present to the Premier a comprehensive plan for the importation of goods into the BVI. Address high shipping charges by international carriers. • Revamp the local insurance industry and its policies. Revise and streamline claims procedures with the new national insurance in the United States. • Install closed-circuit television surveillance. Discuss with the National Security Council the strategic positioning of CCTV cameras in each community. Issues That Must Be Immediately Addressed To Save The BVI. We will: • Promote integrity in public life.
organizations
in
the
• Strengthen youth development programs. • Host a cultural fair on every public holiday. This will nourish community spirit and generate revenue. • Create a theme for community and neighborhood development: “I am my brother’s keeper” and develop policies enabling and encouraging people to live out this principle. • Stimulate economic growth on the community level. • Address crime and ensure the enforcement of laws in the community. • Arrest poverty.
• Advocate freedom of the press without government suppression or intimidation. • Lobby for fair, effective and transparent procurement legislation.
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P
revious regimes have failed to create sustainable revenue initiatives. I propose the following strategies towards this goal:
• Invest in alternative sustainable and renewable sources of energy.
• Develop a “Buy Local, Eat Local” campaign.
• Balance spending and even out consumption with savings. (Consumption satisfies the ‘now’ but savings provide for the needs of future generations.)
• Enable families to increase their wealth and standard of living. • Promote green sustainability. • Establish a small business bureau that will develop new business linkage programs. • Foster entrepreneurship with a view to stimulating economic participation and development under the theme “20/20 Focus: Build a Solid Business Community”. • Diversify the current economic framework to create new jobs and generate new sources of wealth.
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• Distribute revenues equitably.
Good Governance And Proper Planning Go Hand In Hand Under my leadership: • All government ministries will prepare a draft strategic plan as standard policy. • All strategic plans will be approved by the Cabinet, laid on the table of the House of Assembly and published for access by the general public. • Cabinet will determine policy guidelines
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for each government ministry, including the • A procurement system will be developed to Premier’s Office. ensure transparency and accountability by all government departments. • Minister will be held accountable for the implementation and success of approved • The goods and services procurement system will strategic plans. make provisions for the reduction of wastage and pilferage. Quality assurance controls with Purchasing Of Goods And Services considerations for cost-effectiveness will be put in place. • Procurement legislation, rules and regulations will be passed by the House of Assembly and will be enforced.
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RISING CRIME
F
rom being a relatively marginal social issue, crime and its control have come to the forefront of day-to-day existence. Many reasons have been advanced for the seemingly uncontrollable rise in crime. As inequalities have increased, so the actual and perceived risks of crime and other social ills have grown rapidly. We believe that it is no longer a question of our ability to reduce crime, but an imperative that we MUST reduce crime. This will require decisive action and clear direction from our elected leaders, community leaders, parents and consistent and meaningful dialogue with our young people. It has been demonstrated without fail that when local communities pull together, overall quality of life is improved. This is the reality of the British Virgin Islands today. People are afraid to use public spaces and amenities. Beachgoing, night banking, grocery
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shopping and socializing at clubs and bars are carefully planned activities. Furthermore, parents are afraid to let their children walk the streets. Women fear intimidation and violence from their partners and parents now live in constant fear of sexual abuse from adult males. These issues, when coupled together with armed robberies and murders, reveal a British Virgin Islands that is unrecognizable from the past. Crime undermines our quality of living, and as with most failings in society, it is the less fortunate among us who suffer the most. Rising crime has left people across the British Virgin Islands feeling powerless and insecure. Unfortunately, they worry that the police have become powerless too. It would appear that the police are unable to deal with the issues that concern our territory. But let it be said, tackling crime is not a police issue, it is a national issue and therefore it requires a national effort.
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Respect And Responsibility There are many factors that have contributed to the breakdown of law and order in the British Virgin Islands today. In many ways the police, the courts and the prison service are simply reactive to the failings our leaders, whose elected duty it is to provide a safe community. As a society we are in danger of being overrun by modern undermining values that diminish people’s respect for themselves, for one another, for their homes and their neighborhood. But most damaging of all has been the dramatic decline in personal responsibility. Many people now believe that they are no longer wholly responsible for their actions. It’s someone else’s, or something else’s fault – the environment, expatriates, society, the government. We must not only encourage our young people to develop and exhibit personal responsibility, but we as adults must lead by example and stop finding excuses. These excuses shift the balance away from the young people and what more harmful message could we send than to say, “It’s not your fault; it is society’s fault?” Now while responsibility has declined, personal rights have been proliferated. Everyone has rights under our constitution but there is now a palpable sense of outrage that some constitutional and other legal rights have tipped the balance of justice in favor of the criminal and the wrongdoer, rather than the victim and the law abider.
There must be a balance. Our decent and hardworking people understand that while individual rights must be respected and protected, the rights of victims must also be respected and protected at all cost. The decline of responsibility and the proliferation of rights have left us in an ethical quagmire, which is undermining our fight against crime. The majority of our community understands that while our elected representatives and the police must take the lead in tackling crime, families and the wider community have a part to play too. Our citizens have varying opinions on the root of many of society’s problems. Many of us have failed to come out and condemn those things that ought to be condemned. Others are only prepared to act when they are personally affected. If we are to tackle crime, we must begin to challenge these attitudes head on. Here are some questions to consider. • Why do some parents allow their children out until the early hours? • Why are our children on the streets instead of in school? • Why do some business owners sell alcohol to underage children? • Why is there no penalty for parents whose children do not attend school?
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The first duty of government – any government – is to protect the public and maintain law and order. But government in the British Virgin Islands is manifestly failing in that duty today. Solutions Restoring law and order to the British Virgin Islands will be one of my highest priorities. But how? (1) First, by rebuilding respect. Children, especially boys, benefit hugely from a male influence in their lives. This ideal doesn’t always exist, as many men simply abandon their responsibilities as fathers. But there are many fathers in the British Virgin Islands today who play their part. We must institute educational programs to encourage neglectful fathers to be responsible. (2) Discipline in school is essential if children are to learn respect for authority at an early age. I suspect that many parents and grandparents are bewildered and horrified by the breakdown of discipline in our schools. Teachers must be given greater powers to discipline children (within legal limits). (3) Violence in our schools is rising, yet teachers cannot discipline students. It is often teachers and not students who find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Disruptive and violent pupils don’t just ruin their own education – they ruin that of every other child in the class. Violence in schools must be met with swift and severe response. (4) We need a more efficient police service. As Robert Peel, the founder of Britain’s police force, said, “The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder – not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.” (5) We need to police our streets and we need a police force that intervenes, confronts and challenges every kind of crime and disorder – from traffic violations to murder. In short, Page 14
we need zero tolerance policing. When the police challenge criminals, they reclaim our community. Our police officers must be professional and courteous, but they must demonstrate that there is a line people cannot cross. As police confidence rises in their ability to challenge criminal behavior, so public confidence rises in the police. (6) When it comes to punishing offenders, we need to send a clear message to criminals – if you break the law, you will be punished. Punishment can be varied. For example, cautions and reprimands can be used more for first-time offenders who commit minor offences; community service can be prescribed for less serious crimes. But persistent, violent and dangerous criminals should be sent to prison. The public needs protection from them. We can continue to talk about crime being too high and confidence in the police too low. Or we can get up and do something. But while the police have a vital role to play, they are just one agent in the criminal justice system. To tackle this problem, all stakeholders need to step up to the plate: prisons, social development, the courts, elected representatives, the churches and the wider community. The Criminal Justice System • We want to rectify injustices and weaknesses in the criminal justice system by passing legislation that will protect the rights of victims, witnesses and jurors. • We will implement community service sentencing for certain categories of crimes. • We will pass legislation that will enable prisoners to turn around their lives, thus reducing recidivism. • We will establish halfway homes in the BVI to help the rehabilitation and reintegration of past offenders into society.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION Education In The 20/20 Vision conomic development would be at a standstill without a strong educational base. This is very important from early childhood up to secondary education level.
E
Without harnessing human capital and technology, we cannot match strides with other developing nations in the region. With this in mind, we will work to attain 100 percent literacy in our country. We will add information technology to our schools’ curriculum. This will help bridge the gaps in our current labor market. We intend to nurture self-confidence and creativity in children from as early as pre-school by formulating a curriculum that meets their needs and helps them achieve developmental targets appropriate to their age. At the primary school level, students will benefit
from information technology studies. This will equip them with foundational skills for the working world in the new millennium, especially in business and commerce. At the secondary level, we will continue to build on students’ pre-school and primary level skills. Regular teacher skill evaluations are highly recommended. The revised curriculum will put into sharp focus problem solving and creativity, for both students and teachers alike. We will make provisions for special needs students – both troubled students and those with physical and mental disabilities. Key Variables To Literacy Government must allocate funding to show its commitment to tackling the cancer of illiteracy. Reading must come alive and become a priority of our education system. We must break the stigma of illiteracy. Reading and writing must be made a priority in pre-schools.
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Funding must be made available for the accreditation of pre-schools. Funding must also be available to establish a balanced pupil-toteacher ratio, ensuring an effective and efficient learning environment. As literacy expands, a second language should be included in the curriculum from pre-school level. Adult remedial reading and language skill programs also fall within the scope of dealing with illiteracy comprehensively. We wish to create learning programs for those who have fallen between the cracks. A special TV program on the Educational Network will be developed so that people can advance their literacy skills. The Educational Network will be a channel dedicated solely to learning. The goal is to create awareness in the population concerning illiteracy and its attendant problems. Our aim is to encourage the population to address illiteracy right in the comfort of their own living room. This channel will operate 24 hours a day. We will institute an internship program where students can be exposed to the work environment and gain practical knowledge and experience. This is where businesses in each community and the entire territory will help in the process of creating entrepreneurs and building enterprises that will consequently lead to a vibrant economic system. Workforce competencies will be strengthened, and young, experienced and energized individuals will be able to embrace the workplace. Students With Disabilities And Special Needs We will implement: • An effective special needs program. • Adequate school infrastructure, furniture and equipment to accommodate these students. • Adequate allocation of funds towards this program.
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Teacher training is a priority. Teachers must undergo continuous assessment and training and must be certified at all levels of the system, that is, from pre-school through tertiary level. We seek to attract the most qualified and competent teachers by offering a range of incentives. This will increase the level of professionalism in the education system. Technical And Vocational Learning We intend to establish accredited technical and vocational schools. It is our aim to break the stigma against careers that are not traditionally academic and to show students that there is demand for and value in their technical/vocational skills. Areas of vocational and technical learning will include: • Plumbing • Carpentry • Auto mechanics • Electrical maintenance, repair, installation, wiring • Landscaping • Tiling • Masonry • Painting • Cooking • Hairdressing All of the above are entrepreneurial programs that require a high level of skill development. Engaging individuals in training for these jobs can build a diverse workforce that is highly labor intensive. Premature secondary school leavers will be required to attend a technical/vocational school. It is our goal to reduce unemployment and create jobs for highly trained skilled workers. This venture will eliminate the need for foreign labour.
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HEALTHCARE
H
ealthcare is vital to a nation’s development. Our health is our wealth and every citizen deserves the best healthcare available. The best approach to healthcare is a proactive one where we educate people about the prevention of diseases and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Preventive healthcare is also more affordable than treating health issues after the fact. The current BVI Health Services Authority leaves much to be desired. We will require increased development and competence of the entire healthcare system from medical practitioners to patient care policies to facilities and equipment. We want to provide better trained nursing and ancillary staff and have an availability of medical specialists in our nation’s hospitals and health centers. We will introduce an air ambulance system that is effective and reliable. We will propose a balloon payment arrangement with Medical Air Services Association (MASA).
Respecting Patients’ Rights And Expanding Healthcare Services • We will establish a board through legislation to investigate all allegations of malpractice and patient complaints. • Emergency patients must be attended to by a physician within half an hour of arrival at hospital. • Patients should have access to all recommended medical examinations and should be free to get a second opinion. • All complaints must receive a response within 30 days of lodgement. • Public health facilities are due for an upgrade. • All clinics will be upgraded to handle all minor and most major emergencies. • We will fast track the completion of the Peebles Hospital. • We will establish a burn unit in the BVI. • We will provide quality training for local nurses and incentives to encourage healthcare professionals to the field. • We will mandate an upgraded record-keeping system in hospitals and clinics. We will convert the traditional, paper-based record-keeping system to an electronic system. This will facilitate ease of access to patient information, more efficient administration and time saving. Community Clinics • Opening hours will be extended. • We will merge health services with social services. • Clinics will provide free blood sugar testing instruments and insulin injections for diabetics. Page 17
• We will institute a practice of preventive healthcare. Ensuring Long-Term Commitment To Healthcare • We will develop a strong policy to promote healthy lifestyles, concentrating on nutrition and physical fitness. By these measures, we hope to reduce the incidence of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, renal failure and HIV/ AIDS.
demotivated, then we have a fragile healthcare system. • We will establish ongoing training programs that will keep healthcare professionals abreast with current medical information and technology available.
• We will establish a 24-hour pharmacy service at all hospitals.
• We will institute an incentive reward program and additional benefits, which will motivate staff to go the extra mile. All staff will be eligible, including cleaners, maintenance staff, cooks, administrative staff, orderlies, nurses and doctors.
• We will promote early diagnosis screening of HIV/AIDS and make it accessible with community outreach efforts.
• We will provide a certificate course in customer service for all persons working in the healthcare system.
• The Ministry of Health must be held accountable for the public health sector to the general public.
Mental Healthcare At present, there is not sufficient provision for mental healthcare in the British Virgin Islands. We intend to develop a strategy that incorporates mental healthcare at all levels of our healthcare system. • We will create efficiently-run inpatient mental health institutions; the General Hospital can no longer continue to be an inpatient location.
• We will provide healthcare benefits to healthcare workers. Our healthcare system is as strong as our human capital; if we have good, motivated workers, we have a strong health system; if our workers are mediocre and Page 18
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We will put an end to people in need of mental healthcare roaming the streets. • Recovery and reintroduction of the mentally ill into society is a prime target on our mental healthcare agenda. We will establish a plan and facilities for counseling and continuous mentorship, patient-family sensitization, and avenues for employment. In Touch With Chronic Diseases • We will provide free care and treatment, including counseling services for persons with chronic diseases. • It’s the responsibility of government to educate the public about chronic diseases and we will institute a program that will help reduce the occurrence of chronic diseases.
• We will establish an oncology center, which will be staffed by the year 2013. Patients will benefit in many ways: - There will be no need for travel overseas to receive quality medical attention and therefore the cost of healthcare will be significantly reduced. - Patients will be close to family and friends. - Foreign patients may seek healthcare at the facility. - We will establish a chapel at the hospital for visitors who wish to seek comfort in prayer. Elderly Care The elderly are often neglected by society. We will facilitate more home visits by community nurses
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and physicians. We will provide recreational facilities and programs for the elderly, such as games, swimming, walking, picnicking and visits to the parks.
- We will have nurses working on shift and doctors on call. - In the long term, we will establish a small hospital for the island.
Basic Sanitation There is a great need for more health inspectors • Jost Van Dyke And Anegada - Both islands are in need of resident doctors. and for covering a wider area of the nation. Health inspection training for the youth is an - Clinics will be upgraded to small hospitals. imperative. There could easily be an outbreak of dengue in the BVI due to the existence of many - We will provide reliable and efficient potential breeding sites for the Aedes aegypti emergency transportation of patients to the mosquito: cisterns without covers, swamps, and main hospital on Tortola. Transportation by open containers with water around homes, to list boat is no longer suitable and so a helicopter a few. Managing and maintaining our coastlines, service needs to be considered. This will then mangroves and coral reefs will be a further step require helipads at all medical facilities. in the elimination of mosquitoes carrying deadly diseases. Improved Healthcare For The Sister Islands • Virgin Gorda - In the short term, we will provide hospital beds so that patients can be housed overnight.
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PEOPLE – OUR NATION’S MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE
T
he time has come when we can no longer ignore the needs and concerns of our labor force – a sector that directly impacts our economic development. We must have a comprehensive and up-to-date list of all the unemployed and work assiduously to equip them with the skills they need to make them employable and marketable. The next step will be job creation. Every working person must contribute to an unemployment fund. In so doing, he or she will be able to benefit from the proceeds in the event they become unemployed. We will recommend making contributions for a period not exceeding six months. • Our aim is for the equitable distribution of wealth. We will ensure this by adhering to the objectives of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
14 weeks’ maternity leave in accordance with current international practice. • Fathers must be granted paternity leave and paid for a minimum of one month. Minimum Wage As a rapidly developing society, the minimum wage is an apt measuring stick of poverty levels. To keep poverty in check, we must carefully consider the impact of an increase in minimum wage to the national flow of income. A board will be appointed to regulate the minimum wage and address attendant issues. Migrant Labor The Labor Department must treat as a priority issues of migrant labor in our country. It must address the potential for migrant labor to disadvantage the local labor market and formulate strategies and solutions to prevent this.
• Every employee will have the right to join a trade union. This includes all classes of workers.
From Birth, You Have Rights That Must Be Protected There is no future without the children. They are our most important investment in the BVI. We will create legislation to enforce and protect children’s and young people’s basic human rights.
Maternity And Paternity Benefits • The existing act will be amended to provide
• We will create a facility to treat with troubled children and children at risk and their
• Our labor market will be represented by unions, which will protect the rights of its members.
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• We will assist churches and community youth attendant social problems. It is our policy that organizations through grants and other forms no child under the age of 16 is to be imprisoned of public assistance. for minor offences. We propose that the Social Security board fund this project. • We plan to reroute some of the prisons’ operation • We will create a National Youth Policy that will funds to fund youth development programs. give a voice to special needs children. The prison budget will need to be decided. • We will provide a grant for families with special needs children.
• We will help build a spirit of youth entrepreneurship and educate the youth about the advantages of owning their own business.
Getting The Youth Inspired And Involved “Give me a fish and I eat for a day; teach me to fish • We will develop and coordinate youth-based and I eat for the rest of my life.” community programs and help centers that will address the needs and issues of the young people. Involving the youth gainfully in society is integral to inspiring them. The youth today feel that they have no voice when it comes to the nation’s affairs. We want to get the young people involved from now. We hope to harness their energy, intelligence and ideas, which will help inform our decisionmaking in challenging society’s problems. Our government will better cater to the specific needs and issues of young people if we have their invaluable input from the get-go. • We will promote and protect the rights of the youth. • We will strategize differently in dealing with the issues of the youth. • We seek to involve the youth in various factfinding committees of the government.
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Support For Special Needs Citizens We will improve the quality of life of every citizen in the BVI, especially those with special needs. We will create a policy that will ensure the full integration of persons with special needs into our society. They will be afforded the highest standard of education and specialized healthcare and social services. • We will establish legislation that promotes equal opportunity for employment and provides for the creation of physical infrastructure enabling ease of access to public facilities. • We will ensure that the school curriculum and physical school infrastructure facilitates all students with special needs.
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Poverty Reduction There is a close relationship between poverty and crime. We want to create gainful employment in the tourism sector, which will impact positively in the reduction of crime.
are all responsible for the welfare of our aging population. It is the responsibility of our government to: • Ensure that senior citizens’ rights are protected.
It is imperative that we create jobs for the • Create a forum where the youth have an opportunity to interact with senior citizens employable. We will also open unemployment in every village. With such a program, we will offices where available jobs will be posted. We facilitate the sharing and passing down of history will offer a greater chance for school dropouts and local customs, skills and traditions. For to advance by developing skills programs for example, we seek to preserve the rich, culinary unskilled youth. There will be specialized, targeted traditions of the people of the BVI; and the art of programs for older unemployed, unskilled making fish pots, and making and mending fish individuals. nets and boat building. SENIOR CITIZENS’ SOCIAL • Establish a senior citizens’ program that will be SECURITY AND PENSION integrated into tourist and cultural programs. For example, traditional art and craft created Aging is inevitable. It is our goal to keep the by senior citizens will be marketed in tourism concerns of our growing senior citizens population promotions. on the forefront of our social care agenda. We will revamp old age pension and social security policies. It is our belief that senior citizens must • Establish a program for recording oral history from our senior citizens. receive pension funds on a regular, monthly basis, even if there was a lapse in contributions. We will fund this by apportioning a percentage of the total of all working people’s pension contributions. We Page 23
• Establish avenues for the promotion of the arts. • Join with other art centers in the neighboring islands and form organizations for competitions attracting island tourism. • Establish an independent body to manage the finances and development of cultural groups, producers and festivals. • Establish a dance club in every district. • Make cultural promotions a major part of overseas missions. THE PERFORMING ARTS, MUSIC AND CULTURE
• Stimulate private sector contributions to the arts.
he performing arts is an important aspect to the culture of the BVI. Our goal is to develop this aspect of our nation’s identity and to encourage the youth in particular to play a significant role. While building the industry, we will build up our people and our nation.
We must preserve our heritage and establish policies that will facilitate this. The Financial Services Sector will be responsible for funding all such initiatives. We are to work closely with UNESCO, which will help advise, fund and coordinate heritage and culture promotion and preservation in the BVI.
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• Our talents and cultural products should be shared with the world through tourism. We must make the most of tourism trade shows and market our product at places such as the BVI London Office and tourism offices throughout the world. • This will provide an opportunity for us to create our niche in the world tourism industry and to showcase our unique identity. • The performing arts will provide a source of income for persons who decide to make a business out of it. In order to accomplish this vision, we will need to achieve these specific goals: • Build a suitable, permanent home for the performing arts. • Include copyright laws in our policy agenda for the performing arts. Page 24
interest
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Fungi Music We will develop the musical aspect of our culture by creating a sub-industry out of the performing arts: making fungi band musical instruments. We will put fungi music at the frontline of all official functions and create a demand for fungi music in the BVI. • Every primary school student will learn to play a fungi instrument. • All primary schools will compete in the National Fungi Fest during Education Week. • Every school establishment will comprise a dedicated facility to teaching and learning fungi music. • The steel pan will be added to the fungi band lineup of musical instruments. This will lead to the creation of a unique sound of steel and fungi mixed – ‘Steel Stirring Fungi’.
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SPORTS
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e will aim to bring our people together through sports, locally and regionally. government investment in sports will benefit the people on many levels. It will be good for competition and building team spirit, and is essential for the development of a healthy society. Therefore we must: • Make sports an integral part of the school curriculum. • Expand the Sports Department by developing recreational and competitive dimensions of sports for all levels of ability. • Establish and support sports clubs thereby creating a wide avenue to develop athletic skills. • Ensure that all facilities are functioning and maintained and that the public and sporting organizations and clubs have full access. • Establish an independent national sporting organization. Sports must be able to stand as one of the pillars of our economy and become a full-fledged and viable industry. • Develop a national sports policy, which will include rewards commensurate with international standards.
• Promote other sporting disciplines, such as boxing and golf, and support cricket and football more vigorously, as these are popular regional sports and can boost our tourism sector. • Promote motorsport, and in particular, drag racing, as a sport. • Build a much-needed sports tourism industry. • Create opportunities for the study and practice of sports medicine, including psychology and physiotherapy. • Provide training for coaches and managers of all areas of sports, and develop standards of professionalism in sports. • Construct state-of-the-art facilities for swimming and other sports; market the rental of our facilities during the winter to athletes from North America and Europe. This facility will be provided by the Community College and marketed by the tourist board. • Promote games among districts and communities. They will be marketed by a national sporting organization in accordance with a national sporting policy.
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IMPORTS
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he BVI imports everything and exports nothing. This is greatly disadvantageous to our economy because there is no permanency in the national flow of income. We will create a detailed plan, which will highlight a variety of goods and services to be exported. • Water can be exported from the BVI. • The government will assist fishermen with acquiring equipment for pelagic fishing. The intention is to create an export market for fish on a large scale. This will create jobs and also establish a number of linkage industries. • We will initiate a “Buy Local, Eat Local” campaign. Extra taxes will be imposed for imported goods that are already available on the local market. This will automatically grow the economy. • Money leaving the country through money transfer organizations must attract a tax based on the amount being sent. • Government will provide special support to farmers who employ international standards of meat and poultry processing and practice organic farming methods. • We will encourage trade with the Caribbean region and carry out government-togovernment negotiations. The BVI can benefit
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greatly from trade with nations like Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana and the Dominican Republic because of the power of the US dollar. We will foster trade with Brazil and China. • We will establish a consumer affairs board and legislate the protection of consumers’ rights. • We will repeal the taxes on toilet paper, paper towels and other items that attract a 20 percent tax. • Through direct purchases on the neighboring USVI, people from the BVI contribute significantly to their GDP. By having goods available at lower prices than they are now, we can keep our spending at home. That very activity alone would achieve a 2 percent growth in the national economy. • Vehicles imported from Japan and China will attract a $3K environmental tax upon importation. This must be paid prior to the vehicle arriving in the BVI, or it will not be able to land. Shipping Costs The BVI pays exorbitant shipping costs. Shipping rates are much higher to the BVI than to our neighbors in St. Thomas. The Virgin Islands, British or US, must be recognized as one destination for the purposes of shipping and rates must be standardized. This regularization will inevitably reduce the cost of goods to the consumer.
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TOURISM
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he strength of the BVI economy is underpinned by its tourism sector. We will pursue further development of tourism and create sustainable employment for locals. It is time for the world to experience ‘Nature’s Little Secrets’. Our comprehensive development strategy will include: • Infrastructural improvement of hotels. • Airport expansion. • Preservation and restoration of all ruins and historical sites. • Construction of restroom facilities at various areas along tour routes. • The adding of Hawks Nest Road to the tour route with restrooms and vendors selling local food, drink and souvenirs. • Development of the Long Bay Beach and Beef Island with all visitor amenities. • The training of new staff, and the updating of experienced staff skills in the hospitality industry. Training will be a standard requirement for work in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Business stakeholders, along with the tourist board, will fund training. The BVI is known for its natural beauty. The idyllic landscape, climate, sand and sea are all packaged uniquely in one perfect tourist destination. There are many opportunities to build a stable and vibrant tourism sector and expand local entrepreneurship because of these natural phenomena. One such opportunity is to open our sailing regattas to international participants. Our goal is to become the sailing capital of the world by hosting international regattas year-round. This will attract regatta sailors in the winter months from other countries. We have some of the most beautiful hiking trails in the world and mountain bikers and hikers can enjoy some of the most stable inclines the region. Within 60 days of being elected, I will make a motion to the house to remove the ban on the use of jet skis – a major tourist attraction. This activity is perfect for the calm waters of Brandywine or going out between the islands of Peter Island and Tortola, or surveying the coastline along Beef Island. Safety standards for all tourist activity must be instituted.
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TOURISM (continued) We will market the BVI as the best destination for deep-sea fishing. There are two parts to ‘Nature’s Little Secret’ – one you can experience aboveground and the other you will need a snorkel and mask for. The BVI is the proud home of some of the best snorkeling sites in the world, not to be outdone by deep-sea diving destinations like the wreck of the Rhone and other popular dive sites in the BVI. Opportunities for wind surfing, another popular water sport, has yet to be developed in the BVI. Putting resources behind this sport will be another prong in our tourism development strategy. We also seek to encourage both domestic and international sailing tourists to tour the BVI. We will be creating business opportunities for our people, teaching them to fish and not just giving them a fish. Our geographic location is key to our tourism product. Now is the time for our own local airline. Many have expressed interest in this investment opportunity. I will work with any Premier who is ready and willing to put this high on their list of priorities. This campaign for our local airline will be called ‘Spreading Our Wings’. Not only will a locally operated airline complement our tourism product but it will enhance our labor market, creating jobs for our sister islands and the region. The government must show foresight and recognize the urgency to start looking for opportunities that will create employment. We thereby hope to expand every government sector that will complement our tourist and labor industry. While the global economic crisis has negatively impacted the local tourism sector, we have to remain vigilant for new opportunities and continue to grow tourism. Page 28
Different markets must be tapped besides the USA and Europe, such as Canada, China and the Caribbean. The Canadian tourist right now, for example, faces the disincentive of a long journey to the BVI. Direct flights from Toronto, Miami, New York and Atlanta will increase the influx of tourists. We must encourage the regional tourist with preferential rates. These rates will be competitive with the US summer tourism market. Local tourism is also an important aspect in the development of the BVI. It is our aim to promote our nation to locals in the same way it would be promoted to the international tourist. We will encourage the ‘staycation’ on Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda and Anegada on the weekend and on public holidays. Developing the BVI tourism product will include the expansion of marketing and advertising via print collateral and the electronic media. We will encourage tourists to get the welcome magazine, see what the BVI has to offer and plan a weekend somewhere in ‘Nature’s Little Secrets’.
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Sport Fishing And Commercial Fishing The BVI can be confident in expanding this sector of the tourism industry, as our waters are highly ranked for billfish and deep-sea sport fishing. Our pristine destination is popularly known for the body of water called the North Drop – a natural haven for dolphin, wahoo, tuna, sailfish, blue marlin and white marlin. Sport fishing is a mutual opportunity for the fishing and tourism industry. There are significant opportunities for entrepreneurs of associated linkage industries. The revenues generated from these industries promise to contribute substantially to our GDP. The sport fishing industry can potentially generate more than $60M annually, once the requisite infrastructure is put in place. At present, the industry yields approximately $5M annually. The difference is transferred to the US Virgin Islands where there is vital infrastructure – infrastructure which could equally facilitate sport fishing in BVI waters.
The next government administration must achieve the following goals in order to develop the sport fishing sector. • Include sport fishing as a key industry to the tourism and fishing sector. • Discourage sport fishing for those tourists who benefit from our resources, but whose financial benefits go to the US Virgin Islands, by administering higher rates to those visitors. • Make fishing permits easily accessible by establishing government collection points at all ports and by providing online registration of permits. • Reduce the cost of licenses for local boats. This would mean that the tourist is already in the BVI and would be making local purchases, thereby contributing to the national GDP.
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Sport Fishing And Commercial Fishing (continued) • Encourage local fishermen to diversify their business. Assist fishermen in the purchase of equipment which will enable them to have a competitive advantage. Government must provide incentives to the Development Bank to easily facilitate local fishermen with loans. • Protect Belongers’ privileges in the sport fishing industry. Rights must include but not be limited to all business-related activities and linkage industries to the sport fishing industry. • Implement a sport fishing recreation safety policy, which will regulate sport fishing activities and reduce related fatalities. • Establish an agency to prevent overfishing by foreign vessels. This calls for strict surveillance of the seas.
Ziplining Jamaica and St. Kitts have been thrilling guests on their islands with ziplining tours and now it is the BVI’s turn. This daring activity is a major tourist attraction in many countries and will be of significant benefit to our proven tourism product here in the BVI. It is our intention to conduct a feasibility study for the installation and maintenance of ziplining facilities and the training of ziplining tour guides. We want to ensure that the Eighth District will be first in line for development of this type of adventure activity. The study will seek to identify suitable locations where this activity will thrive. If feasible, this will provide a unique opportunity for our visitors to experience our islands’ natural beauty. They will be able to experience the landscape over land and sea. We foresee ziplining as a new recreational activity for our young people; this, too, will help to boost local tourism. We will seek to expand ziplining adventure tours to ideal locations like Sage Mountain, Cane Garden Bay, Brewer’s Bay and Gorda Peak.
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Tortola Mall Our vision is to invest millions of dollars into developing a modern mall in Road Town that will transform the town, enhance the tourism product and bring new economic life to the entire nation. The Tortola Mall, as is envisaged, will replace the Palm Grove Shopping Center. The four-storey, 40,000sq ft venture will be a public/private partnership that will include shopping malls and an area for cultural expression and upliftment. Throughout its construction, the project will bring hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars to the economy, and on completion will be the lifeblood of the city.
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FOOD PRODUCTION A Nation That Cannot Feed Its People Is A Nation On Life Support. ocal food production is essential for our people to sustain themselves. Our economic growth depends on agriculture and identifying the challenges and overcoming them is of major importance. If we produce our own food, it will cut our import bill and it will strengthen our national flow of income, while creating entrepreneurs and enterprises.
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Creating Jobs Experts have predicted that by 2050 there will be a global food shortage. How are we going to overcome this in the BVI? We must prepare for this grim reality and take proactive steps towards ensuring that there is food for all. First, agricultural lands must be earmarked and protected by legislation, which can only be changed by a two-thirds majority in the House of Assembly. Next, we will establish a body to provide a comprehensive report and a strategy for agriculture, which will be fully implemented by 2020. This strategy will include livestock, largeand small-scale farming, agro-processing, and fisheries.
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For agriculture to be economically viable and sustainable, we must: • Ensure that farmers have easy access to water supplies. • Sensitize financial lending institutions so that they can provide funding for agriculture and turnkey projects. • Ensure that lands earmarked for agricultural development are legitimately used and owned by farmers for agriculture. • Provide farmers with technical knowledge and assistance for the production of food in accordance with international standards. • Educate agriculturalists about food preservation and storage. • Develop a national policy that encompasses the identification of agricultural lands and their protection. Ensure that these lands are used for agricultural purposes and not other unauthorized uses.
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DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT MEAN DESTROYING THE ENVIRONMENT
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here must be a national environmental policy that can only be amended by the House of Assembly.
The work of all government agencies, in one form or another, impacts the environment. We will seek to appoint a deputy secretary to deal specifically with environmental concerns and all government agencies will liaise with that individual. This national policy must be in keeping with international standards and regulations. Financial lending institutions must refer to standard government environmental policy in deciding eligibility for funding for land development projects. Any industry that threatens the environment will not be encouraged. Land use should be approved prior to construction. Retaining walls must be insured through the lending institutions as a standard loans requirement.
Specific Initiatives To Restore And Protect Our Environment • The Pockwood Pond environmental hazard at the incinerator plant must be corrected within 30 to 60 days of the installation of the new administration. • We will pass a National Environmental Act, which legislates air pollution and solid and hazardous waste. • We will establish an environmental tax that will be used to fund environmental protection, cleanup and development projects. • There must be a national approach to drainage and flooding. There will be a comprehensive assessment of all flood-prone areas and a proactive approach to prevent flooding by updating infrastructure. There will be a prescribed schedule for design and construction, which will be funded by the TLAF.
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We Will Work Hand In Hand To Beautify Our Land • Each village and community will be responsible for beautifying and landscaping their surroundings. This is essential in our efforts towards tourism development. Such projects will be funded by the Tourist Board. • We will educate our people about the environment and the importance of preserving it. We will encourage conservation practices across the country. • Government will provide incentives for the development of a recycling industry. This will create employment and foster entrepreneurship. • We will build a park in every community and thereby encourage family and community togetherness. • Alternative energy is a key issue. We want to start investing in natural, environmentally friendly energy sources other than oil and natural gas.
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ENERGY PRODUCTION The BVI relies heavily on diesel for the generation of electricity. The price of diesel is governed by the world market and therefore fixed. It is imperative that the government seek alternative energy sources like wind, solar and wave power technology as well as bio-gas and bio-diesel options. This will provide lower cost energy for consumers and will need to be evaluated versus the cost of available technology, possible subsidies and international support. A review of the billing process in the BVI shows that the more power consumed, the less one pays; the less one consumes, the more one pays. This model was initially adopted to encourage investment. This must change immediately. Commercial businesses do not need that concession; rather, it’s the hardworking low- to middle-class income earners who will benefit from that reduced rate.
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urs is a vision of mobilizing the community to achieve its full potential, building on the solid foundation set by our elders and drawing on inspiration from the daring and the dreams of our youth.. We are confident in the ideas we have put forward here, because they have all come from our people. Those ideas are both realistic and fair, and indeed achievable, even in this challenging environment. What is needed to see them through is dynamic leadership, which is what Bevis Sylvester provides. A genuine community activist and mobilizer, Sylvester has the real opportunity to unite the people behind this platform – not divided among party lines – but united in a shared vision and the strong determination that BETTER MUST COME.
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