Hon. Lloyd Black launches 2003 Campaign for 8th District

Representative for District 8, the Honourable Lloyd Black, presented his record of achievements over the past four years to his constituents during a political meeting in Parham Town on Saturday night.

A member of the opposition National Democratic Party (NDP), he officially announced his intention to seek re-election to the 15th Legislative Council.

“Yes, better days indeed are coming,” was his punch line. “Yes, it has been a very challenging four years…(but) I stand before you without fear of contradiction (and say) that you were well represented in the 14th Legislative Council.”

He told supporters that a vote for Lloyd Black is a vote for the NDP, a vote for efficiency, equal opportunity, honesty, fairness, commitment and most importantly an end to fear of victimization. He said a vote for Lloyd Black and the NDP team is a vote for a cleaner and more beautiful entrance to the BVI, the end to sewerage running in the streets of East End and Long Look and for environmentally sound waterfront development from Jo Rhymer’s Bay to Fat Hog’s Bay.

Hon. Black accused the government of trying to hamper the progress of his District over the past eight years, but suddenly now promising improvements if voters elect their representative.

“Ladies and gentlemen, my income from my job as a Legislator has sustained the needs in many ways of most of my constituents,” he argued. “So don’t allow them to fool you and say that you have not been properly represented, or the reasons why our district suffers is because I have a job. You know that it is a lie because you have heard and seen me fighting for a sewerage system for our districts. You know it’s a lie because you have heard and seen me fight for our waterfront development that is so vital to the economy of our district. You know it’s a lie because you have heard and seen me fight for the beautification of our district, a district that is the gateway to the British Virgin Islands and should be everyone’s concern.”

He pointed out that in spite of the many challenges, because of the pressure of their collective team begging, significant repairs were done on the Red Bay wharf. He said he continues to pursue with government construction of the replacement ramp for the boaters and fishermen that was destroyed as a result of the construction of the new bridge, but in spite of many meetings and promises nothing has happened. “Successes also include paving of the Shepard Hill road, the paving of the Little Dix to Lambert road, completing paving of the road to the prison and some of the road to the Josiah’s Bay beach,” the District 8 Representative reported.

Other successes as reported by Hon. Black, included the resolution of a number of drainage problems in East End and the renovation of the Willard Wheatley Primary School.

He said he was able to donate 10 computers to the Church of God of Prophecy in Long Look to complement their youth program, $10,000 to the East End church to assist with the purchase of a set of steel pans for their youth programme, gifts at Christmas to each child at the Willard Wheatley Primary School and seven computers to the top primary 5 students of the school.

He also made it possible for three young budding musicians to attend classes at the Harrigan music school by way of scholarships, he also assisted with the reestablishment of Scouting at the school and, along with his colleague in the 7th District, granted scholarships to many hardworking young BV Islanders to attend HLSCC and universities overseas.

Hon. Black said there is an urgent need for tradesmen in the community. He said until a vocational school is built, an NDP government would establish an apprenticeship programme, in addition to after school programmes. “We will use tax reduction and other incentives to encourage our plumbing, electrical, carpentry and building contractors to train young persons in a trade, thereby transforming them into productive citizens in our community.”

He said as can be clearly demonstrated, where the financial resources were directly under his control, he was very successful. However, he said when he had to rely on government to execute, that was when the trouble started, case in point the unfinished works at the park at East End and improvement plans for the Greenland field.

“Under an NDP government, with yours truly as Minister of Communications, a 10 year community urban development plan as part of our ‘no district left behind policy’, will ensure that each community will be afforded funds to carry out essential revitalization projects, such as the construction of side walks…painting of murals on walls…(and) expansion of our water supply,” he continued.

He said proposals have been presented to government for the building of a desalination plant in the Hodge’s Creek area, however, government chooses to play politics and ignore an obvious need for this fast growing community. “An NDP government will see as to it…that that plant is built, so that not only the residents of East End, but our farmers as well, can get all the water that they need. As well, we commit ourselves to obtaining qualified engineers to help in water irrigation for our farmers, so that a high standard of food crops and meats could be produced to supplement the large import market.”

The MP D-8 said the East End harbour development continues to be a high priority of his. He said he hopes it won’t be long before dredging begins and before the opening of Ella Reef to improve the water flow and flush out the bay, as well as the construction of a boardwalk to enhance business activity on the waterfront. He said another area of high priority is the distribution of the Stevens land in the Greenland area.

He noted that while government is making some progress in this regard, the price of $1.25/ sq. ft is too expensive and is not in keeping with the spirit of what was originally intended.

Hon. Black mentioned other projects he would immediately undertake as remedying the sewerage problem, upgrading roads and honouring the lives of those who have played important roles in our community.