VIP TO LAUNCH MANIFESTO THIS SATURDAY

The ruling Virgin Islands Party will officially present its manifesto this Saturday May 31st at a convention to be held at the Old Festival Village site, it was announced here Tuesday.

“This promises to be quite an enlightening session as the Virgin Islands Party will outline its goal of leadership for the next four years,” Party President Mr. Carvin Malone announced during a press conference. “As we’ve said before, we believe that we have made the case and we will make the case for re-election of Team Virgin Islands Party…(we are) confident that our leadership has met the hopes and aspirations of the people of the British Virgin Islands.”

Keynote speaker at the convention will be Dr. Timothy Harris, Minister of Education and Foreign Affairs, St. Kitts/Nevis. Calypsonian Explainer from Trinidad and Tobago will also appear and so too will BVIslander Reggie Georges, the writer, composer and singer of the party’s jingle “Rally”.

On June 7th, there will be a gospel extravaganza at the Greenland Field in East End, a youth social in Virgin Gorda on June 8th and an island wide motorcade and youth rally on June 14th at the Old Festival Village site.

Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party, Chief Minister Honourable Ralph O’Neal said the June 16th general elections is also about the past, where it is necessary for voters to assess the performance of past legislators in order to decide how to proceed into the future. He said the VIP expects to be judged on its performance and outstanding record of achievement.

Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Communications and Works Hon. Julian Fraser said the government of the BVI is fully functional, despite what some people may think. He said despite the dissolution of Council, the Ministers are still functioning.

As far as his District 3 is concerned, Mr. Fraser said he would continue to report to the people during public forums before June 16th. He said there continues to be progress on projects in his District such as the Nibb's Estate sub division and the bridge in the area, the water plant to be completed by June to increase the supply in the territory and the exercise gym and the well are just about ready for dedication.

For the Ministry, he announced that progress is also being made on the competition of the Brewer’s Bay bridge, the Jost Van Dyke dock, the Long Look bridge and the national sewerage project in East End/Long Look.

“The situation with the telecommunications and liberalization, we are in the process of getting Executive Council approval for the hiring of a consultant to advise the government on the course of action to take regarding the licensing of telecommunications in the territory,” the Minister of Communications and Works announced. He said this could happen in the next few days or weeks.

Mr. Fraser said the airport runway extension project is also about to get underway. Responding to questions from the media, Chief Minister O’Neal discounted suggestions that it is an insult to invite a regional official to be the guest speaker at the VIP convention. He said this is a common thing that happens throughout the region. The BVI leader commented on infrastructural projects undertaken by the VIP government over the past years, including new clinic in Anegada and North Sound with expansions to the clinic in The Valley, established a dialysis unit at the hospital, began excavation for new hospital, started the new airport and established the Financial Services Commission, the BVI Finance Centre, the Law Reform Committee and the Human Rights Committee.

“In addition, we have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the Public Service Development Programme which we saw the great need for,” Hon. O’Neal continued. He also spoke of the opening up of new roads, new parks at West End and Carrot Bay, new bridges, repair of schools and established a marine unit, along with the promotion of the BVI as a tourist destination.