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by pltm
(PLTM) - The new Chairman of the main Opposition Virgin Islands Party (VIP), Hon. Andrew Fahie has vowed to get down to serious work to build the party as a viable option for the people of the Virgin Islands, many of whom are suffering.
"We have a lot of work to do. There are a lot of heads (in VIP); a lot of people are suffering in this Territory...So the new task I am going to have is to build the Virgin Islands Party back as a viable option to the people of these Virgin Islands," Hon. Fahie, who is also the Representative of the First District told reporters at Maria's By The Sea following the party's internal election last evening, November 30, 2016.
Hon. Fahie, who has earned the boxing legend Joe Louis' moniker as the 'Brown Bomber', was up against Hon. Julian Fraser, Opposition Leader, who took over in 2014 from former Chairman, Hon. Ralph T. O'Neal.
The vote from the delegates was 52 for Hon. Fahie and 22 for Hon. Fraser.
Newcomer to the party, Natalio 'Sowande' Wheatley won the position of President. The other contender was Preston Stoutt, who contested against Hon. Fahie in District One as an Independent Candidate in the 2015 general elections.
The vote was 53-19 for President.
Hon. Fahie told reporters that he has to work to unify the party; activate the fundraiser committee; ensure that all debts by the party are paid off; set up a VIP headquarters; implement initiatives to broaden the base of the party; create think tank committees, inclusive of members from all districts; implement initiatives to attract viable broad based candidates; and take full responsibility for any approved expenditure of the VIP.
Further,he has to work to create a conflict resolution committee of the VIP, remain fully accountable to the congress and members of the party; conduct regular meetings with the general body and with the executive and district committees, among many other things.
"It was a tough fight and one of the aims was to make sure that we bring some new energy into the Virgin Islands Party. I think that it was time to bring some new energy, new ideas; not in offence to anybody...And so I put them forward," he related.
"Some persons might say in their minds, 'Fahie wouldn’t be able to get this pool together', so I am glad that I am coming in, in terms of in general with a low rating, because it's only up from here; rather than those who came in with a high rating and disappointed the people. So I have a lot to prove not only to others, but to myself...I told them it's not a me thing, it's a we thing," Hon. Fahie said.
The First District Representative indicated that no doubt, like any other competition, there is usually some falling out, but the party decided that they need to move forward.
"But we have decided tonight that we are going to put all our differences behind us and as Chairman, I will concentrate on areas that unite us because I don't believe on dwelling on things that are not going to bring any productivity…We have a lot of work ahead of us.."
He outlined the first tasks.
"First thing we will try to do is to set up an office and a fundraiser committee. And also we have a lot of other committees we will be setting up because I told them that our aim is not to get the next government because the NDP (National Democratic Party) or any other political party or group is bad; that should not be your aim."
Hon. Fahie said, "Your aim should be to get the government because you are better, because you bring programmes to the table that the people could identify with and they can see what you are doing. Understand what you are doing and bring hope to those who feel a sense of hopelessness."
He noted that he will need Hon. Fraser's help.
"So I want to congratulate Hon. Fraser for the work he did before; at the end of the day you cannot discredit it. I told him that I will be calling on him for advice and other VIP members and the public at large."
Like A General Election
Meanwhile, Hon. Fahie described the internal elections as that of a general election. He said that the campaigning was rigid. He also addressed the issue raised with aspects of it going public.
"The campaign was to me almost like a general election because it was quite a lot of campaigning. Some people said that it was not good (that) some of the things went into the public. I would say that sometimes you would wish certain things wouldn’t go there, but I am not against open process," he said.
"The VIP has an obligation now to be transparent and I think I am going to be the best person to bring that back to the Territory---transparency, accountable; bring people’s confidence back into their leaders."
Hon.!Fahie indicated that they have to make sure that they stamp out a lot of things that have become acceptable lately.
"So we are going to work on those areas to bring back accountability and transparency in leadership," Hon. Fahie asserted.
The new Chairman reminded that the NDP will soon be going through a similar process to select a leader.
"So this is what happened during this election process; it was normal and healthy. You have the sitting government who will have to go through it in a little while and no matter how you try to keep these things inside, it's going to come out."
"Whenever you have one prize to get and many people are going for it, you are going to have some little bumps along the way, but when it's finished, you have to be mature enough to pool everybody together."
The new executive members are Vice President Lemuel Smith; Secretary-Wanda Malone; Assistant Secretary-Kimberly Kuntz; Treasurer-Terrance Gumbs; Assistant Treasurer-Sylvia Todman; Public Relations Office-Akeem Martin; and Assistant Public Relations Office-Khalid Frett.
Previous Article Published November 30 - Brown Bomber Is VIP's New Leader; Sowande Is President
The delegates of the main opposition Virgin Islands Party (VIP) have spoken, with majority casting their votes to elect Hon. Andrew Fahie as their new Chairman this evening, November 30, 2016.
The vote was 52-22.
This means that Hon. Fahie will lead the party into the next general elections.
Hon. Fahie, First District Representative, who has earned the boxing legend Joe Louis' moniker as the 'Brown Bomber', was up against Hon. Julian Fraser, Opposition Leader, who took over in 2014 from former Chairman, Hon. Ralph T. O'Neal.
Newcomer, Natalio 'Sowande' Wheatley won the position of President. The other contender was Preston Stoutt.
The vote was 53-19 for President.
More details to follow.
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