Delving into the records and reminding that the National Democratic Party has a history of fighting against its own people for the interest of others as is evident in records of their involvement with Glover Park Group, which at one time supported the unseating of the legally elected government through the moving of a motion in the then Legislative Council, Conrad A. Maduro of the United Party (UP) has accused the NDP of again working against the interest of Virgin Islanders. Photo: VINO/File

During a radio broadcast on ZBVI 780AM on June 6, 2015, Mr Maduro said one of the major concerns was the alleged restrictions to beaches and the seabed by foreign investors, which he said the government has turned a blind eye to despite the constant cries of locals. Reminding that all beaches in the Virgin Islands are public, according to law, he said the alleged restrictions can be likened to provocation and which may only be allowed by an irresponsible government.

“Therefore it is the duty of Virgin Islanders to check and test the work of any administration of their government to determine these and make the necessary changes at the polls.”

Discrimination

The leader of the United Party, which is not contesting the 2015 General Elections of the Virgin Islands, said he understands there is a so called business development in the VI where Virgin Islanders may only go by invitation. “If attendance or visitation is only by invitation, is this not discrimination against those who are not invited?”

He cautioned that every public business must be open to the public and if there is any person who moves to live among any people and then separate themselves by restricting access to their area, especially beaches and portions of the sea area for the purpose of separation and private use is an act of discrimination.

Mr Maduro also spoke about the exorbitant hospital fees imposed on non-residents and visitors and likened that as a form of discrimination, especially against our own Caribbean brothers and sisters.

Infestation of sharks an asset or liability?

Mr Maduro was also in disagreement with the National Democratic Party prohibiting the catching of sharks, which he said was more of a liability to have Virgin Islands waters infested with such predators.

He said the catching of sharks would not have endangered their existence but would have instead prevented overpopulation. The incident of a fatal shark attack in a nearby territory some years ago was also noted.

‘NDP ‘Action’ not in our best interest’

Highlighting the NDP slogan for the 2015 campaign, ‘Action Speaks Louder Than Words’, Mr Maduro said the works or actions of the National Democratic Party are not in the best interest of the people of the Virgin Islands.

“Their policies do not lend themselves to the people of the Virgin Islands. And since honesty is the best policy, when the National Democratic Party government called the snap election, they should have been honest with the people and tendered their resignation instead.”

“And while as it seems the snap-election is serving the purposes they intended, to prevent their reputation from being unfold…The people of the Virgin Islands need and want good government, and to experience good government, all forms of corruption, including discrimination and deceit, must cease.”

Can’t lie money into treasury

Another deception of the NDP, according to Maduro, is the state of finance of the territory which he believes is not what the Government is suggesting it to be.

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith has repeatedly stated on the campaign trail that government has some $90M in savings. But according to Maduro, if the government has so much money as they are boasting to have why have they seen it necessary to borrow money from the treasury for infrastructural works.

“The NDP should be aware of the fact that one may lie his or her way into the legislature but they cannot lie money into the treasury, and spend lies.

“The economic plan of the NDP is a hoax, and another form of deception, which shows that they should not be trusted, as documents previously show,” Mr Maduro concluded.