'We are lacking real community leadership'- D2 Candidate Troy E. Christopher
Independent Second District Candidate Mr Troy E. Christopher believes what is lacking in the Second District and the rest of the territory is real community leadership, which he claims is responsible for a lack of progress and failure to rebuild following the devastation of the 2017 hurricanes.
'I can’t stay on the sidelines'- Christopher
During his official campaign launch at Myett’s in Cane Garden Bay on April 1, 2023, Mr Christopher, the son of the late legislator Deloris Christopher, said he has decided to come forward now as a concerned community member and a representative of the next generation of leadership, which he believes the territory currently needs.
“It is because I see the trouble that our country is in, in such a critical time, and I can’t stay on the sidelines…knowing that I can help, knowing that I can see the problems that we are having and how they can be fixed…,” he said, as he pointed to what he described as very critical issues as it relates to water and sewage.
“Just at the back there, people living next to the school and they have issues when the sewage bubbles up…they have young grandkids, and how do you explain to your grandkids that this is a sewage scent that you have to live with all the time?” Christopher highlighted.
Independent Second District Candidate Mr Troy E. Christopher believes what is lacking in the Second District and the rest of the territory is real community leadership, which he claims is responsible for a lack of progress and failure to rebuild following the devastation of the 2017 hurricanes.More problems in D2
He further highlighted issues with the beach and docking facility in Cane Garden Bay which is in a deplorable state.
“Quito [Rymer] has told me many people sometimes slip through the wood there and mash up their legs, they have to call the ambulance for them. And he also has proposed solutions to government and has been willing to partner with them in terms of creating a better docking facility. But to no avail. This bureaucracy that is government, whoever is in charge they’re not seeing the response that they need to have and the things that are concerning, especially to the residents in Brewers Bay,” Christopher stressed.
He noted too that the community centres which previously housed clinics that older people attended have been closed for 6 years, which he finds unacceptable, since a number of his initiatives are based around them as they are seen as places where people can learn.
“When I look at the damage that was caused by the hurricane and I’ve had many people look at it, it wasn’t something that we could not fix. It was something that could’ve been fixed and used and stabilised the community centres so that we could continue to use the centres…Why would you allow the centres to be closed for 6 years? I don’t understand the excuses…What about the community spirit? What about let’s get us together and let’s go and fix the problems?
“So we are lacking some leadership, that real community leadership…because before government there was community…,” he said.
Christopher's opponents in the political ring are incumbent Hon Melvin M. Turnbull of Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) and Marieta C. Flax-Headley of Virgin Islands Party (VIP).
