Being “a stand-alone in the wind” did not help cause- Allen Wheatley
The 7th District seat was retained by National Democratic Party member Hon. Kedrick Pickering, who mustered up 536 votes, while the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) candidate Ronnie L. Lettsome received 157 and Ludwis Allen Wheatley 72 votes.
“The outcome at the polls is basically a reflection of people’s sentiment about the need to have a properly organized party,” said Mr. Wheatley in an interview with Virgin Islands News Online.
He noted too that his indecisiveness as to whether he wanted to run in the District or At Large also affected his performance at the polls. “By the time I was able to finalise that it gave me too much of a late start and it was reflective in the process. Hats off to the incumbent, and the opponent (Ronnie Lettsome), they have been there before me and they are familiar with the district much more than me and it also showed in the turn out. I have no qualms with the turnout (votes); it is just basically a reflection if you are going to be in the race next time you are going to have to be better prepared from early.”
Asked if he would consider building on his party or joining another, Mr. Wheatley said it is something that himself and committee are going to address early into next year “and based on how things are progressing with the current Government and the situation at hand, make a determination as to what is the best thing for me to do. At this time we have not made a firm decision but I think it is clear to everybody that if you are going to make it substantively in the political arena here it is going to be important that you demonstrate to the public that if they vote for you, you are going to be able to hold the Government and be able to implement your plans and not just be a stand-alone in the wind.”
Makes plans available online
Meanwhile, Mr. Wheatley had promised during his campaign that win or lose he was going to make his plans available to Government the day after elections. “My plans are available online. They are up on my website www.partybvi.com. The basic framework of my development plans are out there for the public not just the party (Government). Anybody can look at it,” Mr. Wheatley said.
Mr. Wheatley had taken the lead in putting together a four-year Economic Plan for the Virgin Islands. The POP’s Economic Plan was broken down into four years, starting from plans to stabilize the economy in the first year, diversification in the second, accountability in the third and expansion in the fourth.
Service to community continues
The former Financial Secretary of the Virgin Islands also told this news agency that he would continue with his summer programme, which he has been doing for the last three years. He also said he was looking very keenly at an after-school programme as well as an apprenticeship programme and that he is in discussion with the principals of the schools in the area since he realised that since he made that promise of an after-school programme some attempts have been made to have it in schools.
“It doesn’t make any sense to duplicate what is already there so by the end of the year I will see how that programme is running and if I can complement or help in any way. And if there is still a need for me to have something separate I will look at doing that early in the following year.”
Mr. Wheatley also expressed appreciation to the persons who voted for him and for turning out in their numbers to exercise their franchise. He also extended thanks to his committee members and his mother Jennie Wheatley.
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