FRASER SEEKS RE-ELECTION TO THE 3RD DISTRICT

As the ruling Virgin Islands Party (VIP) continues on the election campaign 
trail, it was the turn of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of 
Communications and Works the Honourable Julian Fraser to present his 
‘report card’ to residents of District Three. The party held a grand rally 
last Saturday evening ending at the Little A race track.

The Committee to Re-elect Hon. Julian Fraser describes him as a Man of 
Action, one who has delivered the goods, done a great job in the District 
and worthy of another chance. Their slogan is “If It Ain’t Broke, Leave It!”
Meantime, Party Chairman Mr. Carvin Malone said Hon. Fraser is a man who fights unashamedly for the 3rd District and together with Team VIP, they will continue to develop the infrastructure and economy of the British 
Virgin Islands. The VIP’s At Large candidates, Mr. Elvis Harrigan, Mr. Roy 
Pickering, Mrs. Irene Penn-O’Neal and Minister for Natural Resources and 
Labour Hon. Reeial George, were given the opportunity to publicly endorse 
the candidacy of Hon. Julian Fraser, tout the virtues of their party and 
outline their plans to represent the people of the territory.

Also speaking on behalf of the 3rd District candidate were businessmen 
Myron Walwyn and Cyril Romney, Chief Minister Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal and 
former District Representative and Minister for Natural Resources and 
Labour in the VIP administration Mr. Oliver Cills.

“I have waited four years for this moment, this night belongs to me,” Hon. 
Fraser declared as he began his report to the people of the 3rd District. 
He credited himself with taking them from a state of ‘being ignored’ to 
ensuring that ‘you are somebody’.

Hon. Fraser told his constituents that their trust in him has made him 
three times the man he ever dreamt of being by first making him their 
Representative, a Minister of Government and the territory’s Deputy Chief 
Minister. He expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister O’Neal for putting 
his trust in him.

He said in the past four years, he has travelled overseas on behalf of 
government 14 times to 18 different countries on various missions. He said 
worthy of mention are trips to the UK to attend the annual UK Caribbean 
Forum 2000, to Denmark for a tourism promotional visit, to Nairobi at an 
environmental conference, to Nova Scotia for discussions on fishing, to 
Spain to witness the admission of the BVI to the International Commission 
for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna, to Bonaire to attend the Overseas 
Territories and Countries of the European Forum 2002 and to St. Vincent and the Grenadines to attend a joint meeting of CARIFORUM/EU officials.
“Ladies and gentlemen, with that level of exposure came a wealth of 
experience, experience no one trades for adventure,” Hon. Fraser stated.

He said God has blessed him in many ways, in particular with the wisdom to put together a winning programme for District 3 and a willing and supportive team.

Hon. Fraser said his District has grown to unimaginable heights, both 
physically and philosophically. He said his work in the area of image 
building and development has given them a voice in this territory that 
no-one can take away.

He said in the past four years, more people have had the opportunity to 
attend college, he has been supportive of all churches, clubs and youth 
groups and the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School is about to benefit from the generosity of a businessman who has promised to equip the school with a full complement of computers and furniture with full Internet access. 

He stated however that his service to the community in the area of benevolence started long before politics.“When I go to bat for you, it is usually with no holes barred; you know my style…it is accommodation that gets results, I battle for you long before you know…when you don’t see me, I am working for you, full-time,” the District Representative declared.

In terms of other accomplishments, Mr. Fraser reported on the awarding of 
83 lots to prospective owners of the Nibbs Estate sub-division, the fencing 
of the primary school, sidewalks in Sea Cow’s Bay and Palestina, the almost complete Parson’s well, the opening up of access roads, ensuring that the road from Fort Burt to Cox Heath is motorably comfortable, a growing Sunflower programme for youngsters and the completion of the race track’s grandstand.

Upcoming projects include construction of a third bridge for Nibb’s Estate, 
gut training as part of the overall harbour development project, a world 
class sporting facility for softball and baseball, a fully equipped gym, 
proper fencing for the basketball courts, more sidewalks and the widening 
of the road to Mount Sage.

“People of District 3, stop allowing outsiders to influence your way of 
thinking, we have done well for ourselves over the past four years, show 
your pride and appreciation, all is well in District 3, re-elect Fraser,” 
he declared.

The ruling Virgin Islands Party continues every Saturday night to present 
its candidates to the electorate. This Saturday, they move to District 5 to 
present Minister of Health and Welfare Hon. Ethlyn Smith. She is running on a VIP ticket for the first time, having been appointed Minister in the 
place of Hon. Eileene Parsons, whose appointment was revoked two years ago. 

Hon. Smith was a member of the opposition Concerned Citizens Movement.
The other VIP candidates to be re-launched include Hon. Omar Hodge, D-6; 
Chief Minister Hon. R.T. O’Neal, D-9 and Minister of Education, Culture, 
Youth Affairs and Sports Hon. Andrew Fahie, D-1.

Those already re-launched are former opposition National Democratic Party 
Member of Parliament Hon. Mark Vanterpool, D-4, Mr. Kelvin Thomas, D-2; Dr. Clinton George, D-7 and Mr. Ray George in D-8.