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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Why not do this? Everyone go and register as a Democrat and vote against Dejongh in the primary.
Get rid of Dejongh early in the election and let the remaining candidates fight for Governor during the general.
Dejongh coming with even more money this election. I don’t think the other candidates have that kind of money to fight Dejongh all the way through the general election. See what happened the last time?
Get rid of John Dejongh as soon as possible.
I hope all the opposing camps are reading and understanding.
@ T
So how does STX factor in with this team? I know you want to get dewolf out of office but where is the support for the big island. Again I see that we tend to forget that the big island has a steak in this whole race!
Hey, Sensibility. Is Vene Hodge from St. Croix or St. Thomas?
Judge Verne Hodge is from St Thomas. As far as I was told Judge Hodge will not be a candiddate in the 2010 election.
Sources say he does not think highly of John Dejongh and hopes he will be defeated in the primary.
Verne Hodge’s Spokesperson, who does the judge want as Governor?
Does he hope all the deGreat’s supporters will stay home during the primary election? Let him keep on hoping…We’ll be out in great force. Meet some of us this Saturday at the Ag Fair. We are coming to the Big Island.deGreat rules! Hodge to scare to run!
Judge Hodge is a respectable man.
The Judge does not need John deJongh, deJongh needs him.
You deJongh supporters are playing with fire. You better leave Judge Hodge alone.
This is coming from a Mapp or Donastorg supporter.
You people for deJongh are very sick, you all don’t care how you bad talk, just as long as you all keep your jobs, if you were working for to better the Islands it would not be so bad, but you are a set of do nottings that want something for notting, and that is what is so sick about all of this, and why you all have to go home.
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VERDEL YOU ARE A LOOSER,ALL THE FREE MONEY IS COMMING TO AN END.ALL THE DEwolf SUPPORTERS WILL BE CRAWLING ON YOUR KNEES IN 2011. BY THE WAY WE WILL TAKE ALL OF YOU IN AND SHOW HOW REAL PEOPLE LIVE,UNLIKE THAT NO GOOD CROOK DEwolf.
So, I just listened to Nelson’s interview on WSTX and I’m now TOTALLY convinced that this campaign is a joke. A caller asked him to list his accomplishments as a senator and he failed to answer the question. The caller had to call back and ask him to answer the question. This man could not provide and substantial accomplishment in the senate. He simply babbled about his accounting background. Nelson please save yourself some money and go sit down, so a REAL candidate can compete for governor.
I do not know who has been advising Senator Nelson to run for governor, but they should advise him instead to throw his support behind either of the top-two contenders for governor.
I dont know if any one is advising them some of them just think that it is all about them and not us, I am just sick of them, all they are doing is giving King john a next win.
Thanks for seeing what I have been saying all a long. “Postive” please bow out gracefully and don’t let Louis Penn set you up. He has sent out someone to massage your ego to believe that you have a chance. If you use your good sense you would put the best interest of your people first. John dewolf is the master of throwing in the monkey wrench. He needs you and Donastorg to stay in the race hoping to spilt votes and rely on his core voters to get him back in office.
@Sensibility on February 10, 2010 at 11:38 pm,
I too agree with you that Donastorg and Nelson supporters will split the votes and allow for de jongh’s core supporters to win if not the general election, the run-off election.
My solution to this problem is SIMPLE: The TEAM of Mapp/Donastorg!
I would rather vote for Positive than Mapp if that’s the case. Mapp aint much of a difference than deJongh.
Beg to differ. Mapp is far more intelligent and articulate than deJongh!
He is also just as arrogant and think he knows it all .
Again as I asked some weeks ago, what legislation or advocacy on behalf of the working masses has Senator Nelson participated in since being in a position to change things? Originally, his stance on unfair labor practices and bringing these to the public’s attention is why people like myself supported his run for elected office. Just like he rallied us during the Turnbull administration, all I’m hearing now is silence on this issue.
I’m not picking on anyone per sé. Let me throw this question out to the forum. How any of the people seeking public office in public office today, have actually done what they campaigned on?
Back to the labor issue. Right now, I’m staying in St. Croix and Hess has already paid this accommodation to house imported workers at the refinery.
As a Virgin Islander, I am really p.o., because I know for sure there are unemployed people right here that have the ability to do the same work as those imported. I even just found out that a former experienced worker at the refinery, training folks was sent home and was replaced by someone they trained.
How many people is this happening to and where is the Department of Labor in all of this? Who’s enforcing the EDC rules as it applies to the employment of a certain percentage of Virgin Islands Residents? Some of the hotels are doing replicating this same practice. Who is protecting us from these sharks?
So I can’t really be p.o. by HOVENSA because our elected officials are allowing our working community to be held hostage by outside companies that benefit from being in the Virgin Islands, but not benefiting the Virgin Islands.
So HOVENSA pays the airfare, living quarters and provides a salary to people from elsewhere while the qualified Virgin Islander’s compensation to perform the same duties is far less if we really started adding things up. Is this the same thing we do to our teachers, nurses, etc?
We expect Virgin Islanders to come home and be treated this way? Graduate from college only to return home and be treated as a slave, while lavishing all the taxpayers hard earned money supporting outsiders while working side by side with someone with the same job title as you, but earning less.
What a slap in the face of those of us who do pay taxes and do not receive the tax breaks of the “big” companies. So technically we tax payers are shouldering the burden of this society while our quality of life continues downward.
This is quite depressing to me.
@ ‘Enlightenme’: Well sir/madam,let me first say that you’ve raised a whole bunch of interesting questions and ‘I feel your pain’.But the answer to the particular question you have ‘thrown out to the forum’(about how many in public office today have ‘actually done’ what they said they’d do once elected)is.. FEW,IF ANY.In your 5th paragraph you asked ‘where is the Dept.Of Labor in all of this’and ‘who is enforcing the EDC rules as it
applies to the employment of a certain percent of V.I.residents’
…..and they,with all due respect,are the ones you (and others)need to badgger to find out what the hell is going on.Also bear in mind that there are some jobs some folks find beneath them and won’t take even if it puts a little bread on the table….and that is where ‘outsiders’ will creep in to pick up ‘the crumbs’.However,the example your give of someone being dismissed after training others needs looking into.Look,if all that you are saying is in fact what’s going on(and I’m not saying it isn’t)you and all those so affected need to raise some hell…..starting at the Department of Labor.Knock on the door of the Commissioner.Not on that of some Clerk.Raise hell m’son.
I have noticed a bus load of white continentals staying at a mid-island guest house and working at the Hess Refinery. Taxis drop them off and pick them up daily. There are at least 20 men that I have counted – all wearing coveralls. Who pays the housing and transportation? Why can’t we find men on the island to fill these jobs?