The event, which is being put on by the church’s Men’s Ministries, will take place from 6:30 PM today, Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the church’s location in Long Look.

The candidate line-up is expected to include incumbent Seventh District Representative Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley, who is also the Premier and Minister of Finance; Independent Seventh District Candidate Perline R. Scatliffe-Leonard; Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Marlon A. Penn, the incumbent representative for the Eighth District; and the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) candidate in the Eighth District Mr L. Allen Wheatley.

Bringing ‘awareness’

The church’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Natasha Chalwell told our news centre that the forum aims to bring awareness to the residents of the two districts.

“The aim of the forum is to allow the residents of the Seventh and the Eighth Districts to hear what the candidates have to say concerning basic issues,” Chalwell said.

“It is just a way to educate the voters as to what these candidates are presenting, so that they can make an informed decision when it comes to elections and who they are going to choose as their candidate,” Chalwell further explained.

Pre-prepared & unprepared questions

The candidates are expected to respond to pre-prepared questions as well as choose from an unprepared list. The PRO disclosed that the pre-prepared questions were done by a group of church members who came together, voiced their concerns and decided on the questions.

“We’re also going to have an opportunity for the public to ask a question but it wouldn’t be out loud. What is going to happen is they would get a piece of paper. They can put their question in a basket, we’re going to have a basket for each candidate and there’s going to be a specific time allotted. So, they may be able to choose two or three questions from those questions that those who are in attendance would have put in the basket, “Chalwell said.

Theodore E. James, who is a member of the church’s Men’s Ministries, is expected to be the moderator of the forum that will be live-streamed on the church’s Facebook page.

“We know at this time, everybody is going to have their own political rallies and campaigns, but some people are not comfortable going to the political campaigns and rallies. So, we just made this an opportunity for them to come together and hear what the candidates have to say,, Chalwell noted.

According to a statement on the church’s Facebook page, a warm welcome is extended, particularly to residents in the Seventh and Eighth Districts.

“As Kingdom Citizens, we have much to bring to politics - a deeper commitment to justice and compassion which throughout history has made a difference in the political sphere. At CWC COGOP Long Look, we endorse the education of VI Voters to make prayerful, informed decisions. Join us as we converse with these 2023 Declared Candidates”, the statement reads.

As the political season heats up and the public is ever eager to hear what the various candidates are promising, the Community Worship Centre Church of God of Prophecy in Long Look, Tortola is hosting a forum titled, “A Response”, featuring the declared candidates for the Seventh and Eighth Districts.