The Governor’s Race Is On!
Sen. Terrence "Positive" Nelson
Senator Terrence “Positive” Nelson reaffirmed his intention to run for Governor of the Virgin Islands at a news conference on Wednesday.
The three-term St. Croix senator, member of the Independent Citizens Movement (ICM) party, has been the top vote getter on St. Croix in the last two elections. He did not announce a running mate, but said he has two top candidates, one from St. Thomas and one from St. John.
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He said he would announce his running mate as soon as plans were concrete, but assured the community it would be someone who wants good government and has the talent to oversee the workings of the banking and insurance industries.
In addition to his experience as a senator, Nelson outlined his background in teaching, labor relations and community activism and said he will continue to be proactive in promoting accountabilty.
Relative to the ongoing matter of Governor John P. deJongh, Jr.’s use of public funds to renovate his private residence at Estate Mafolie, Nelson said the matter should be handled by the courts, particularly “since there’s been no remorse,” shown by the Governor. He emphasized that his stand on the matter was not related to his candidacy, but that the Governor’s decision to dispute the US Inspector General’s report that held him responsible for improper use of public funds was troubling.
“It is immoral… it is repulsive to think that this gross action can be denied publicly,” Nelson said.
And unlike the hopeful vision of the future the Governor attempted to paint in Monday’s State of the Territory address, Nelson said he believes the atmosphere in the Virgin Islands is one of fear and uncertainty, and that the problems will only be solved through good leadership.
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@ ‘ENOUGH’:Appreciate your taking the time in helping a fellow resident (‘Enlightenme’)by providing the advice/suggestions you have given.Lets hope he follows through and someone (perhaps a labor attorney as you have suggested) will come to his aid.Much of what he is complaining about sounds unlawful and the Dept.of Labor should be all over this case.Again,thanks for the assist.
‘ENLIGHTENME’,the ball is ‘in your court’.MAKE SOME NOISE.
@ enlightenme
Sorry for the delay in responding. I agree with all the suggestions “Enough” provided and agree that the arbitration procedure is at best flawed and at worst, outright biased.
The fact that you were forced to sign indicates to me this is a non-union position – having worked with the unions here I am reasonably sure no collective bargaining agreement would tolerate that as part of its dispute resolution process.
That leads me right back to the Department of Labor. And while I understand the general reservations about what type of reception you’d receive there, I think that’s the place to make the first push.
The commissioner of labor is Albert Bryan and the reason I’d do whatever was necessary to get directly to him is that I know the lower level operatives at Labor and that will be a waste of your time. Call, write, visit and document all your efforts. With the situation you have outlined, any insufficient response from the agency charged with regulating these activities will lend great substance to your lawsuit – and you will end up filing one.
The labor issue here and the absolute invisibility of the the department charged to monitor it is frightening. Examples have been given here of grave inequities at the major projects that were sold to the population largely because of their potential to provide local employment. It is inconceivable that there has been no attempt, not even a token one, from Bryan or his department to address the atrocity going on at Hovensa, the hiring issues at Diageo and individual issues like the one you describe.
Good luck to you and keep us posted on your progress. Hope this helps a bit.
The Destructive Game of Politics,
In the end, politics in the Virgin Islands is very destructive especially to the native population: De jongh is a native, Mapp is a native, and Donastorg is a native.
This ritual every four years serves only to destroy or discredit one native after the other.
People, we need to debate the issues without getting too personal.
It seems as it matters not who wins in November 2010,the loosing side will continue with the bashing of the winning side.
Maybe it is impossible. On the mainland, the Republican and Foxnews can find no HOPE in President Obama.
In politics can you ever win?
If deJongh had done right by us then we would have supported him. He didn’t and that’s why we want him out.
I don’t remember alot concerning John deJongh’s first guberatorial run back in 2002, but I remember that he was very vicious against Turnbull. Eight years later, I sense that same mood in his campaign. The only difference is that he is letting his “disciples” doing his drity words. If we were paying more attention to his at the time, we would have probably never fallen for his tricks in 2006.
@’CLOCK’- I knew you could be counted on in giving sage advice on matters being encountered by ‘Enlightenme’.Appreciate your pitching in.
‘Positive’ Nelson will be getting my vote for Governor in November. The other 3 candidates you people keep talking about don’t have it. Not one of them are real. They’re all phony.
Positive I wish you much luck.
good luck
De wolf a native correct me if i’m wrong but wasn’t he born in New York?
DONASTORG 2010
If deGreat loses the election, I will relocate to the States. The VI can not survive without an intelligent person to lead it. The other candidates just do not have what it takes to build a stronger economy here. I am confident;however, deGreat will rule again in 2010. My crystal ball says Nelson will drop from the race,Foncie and Mapp will be jailed and those left in the race will be sent to the emergency room when they get the blows of defeat!!!
@ Anon at 8:48 am.
The crack in your crystal ball is only outmatched by the crack in your skull. The only one going to jail is deWolf. Better get your one way ticket to the states now!
So the dejongh strategy is to jail all the other candidates?
Donadstorg will win. Verdell you will be jailed too
It seems to me that the deJongh camp will do anything to get back in government house again. They will try and destroy every candidate that is going to challenge him. But remember you can do what you want, but not as long as you want. By the way,why is it that he must be Governor again. It must be something he have to finish giving away to his investor friends. People please stay FOCUS.
We, the people,will stay focus and re-elect an Ancestral Native Virgin Islander who looks out for all the people. We can accomplish the goal by uniting as a single powerful force. Together we can!
I do not know Mr. Nelson that well but my borther and him are good friends. I don’t think he can run these islands as they should be ran no hard feeling Mr. Nelson we need someone with a strong backgroud in financial maanegement and able to repsent themselves in Washington as a professional you have not shown this in your years as a senator what makes you think you can as Gov? People, People lets get our act together we cannot seriously be consiering him for Gov he might himslef but truly he isnot ready. Lets try and find a native VIer who has the gumshoe to make things happen then and only then will I vote for Gov.
Unfortunately, we only get to cast a vote for those who run for the position. Even if we write someone in, can we all agree to do a write-in to get that person elected?
We gotts choose from the ones presented to us, so what in the world are we gonna do???
John deJongh is going down. Him and his people willbawlcome Primary night. I hope they have the Kleenex ready.
CHANGE is coming no matter how many mountains those in sheep skin clothing place before the people and our next governor.
The excitement is growing in the masses that the tyrant of Mafolie has falling into his own bottom less pit of misery.
The conch shells are blowing at maximum volume Donastorg in 2010!
Hallelujah CHANGE is coming.