“Hope Over Despair” Message To Mapp Supporters As They Hear “We Can Do Better” At STT Kickoff
Gubernatorial Candidate Kenneth Mapp
Lt. Governor Candidate Dr. Malik Sekou
“We can provide a better life than this for our people,” said gubernatorial candidate Kenneth Mapp at his formal kickoff this morning on St. Thomas. “Hope is dying – but hope is not dead.”
In front of an extremely enthusiastic crowd, and following an impassioned introduction by Juel Malloy, Mapp and his running mate, Dr. Malik Sekou, threw their political stake in the ground and burst through the campaign starting gate.
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From the beginning of the well-crafted address, Mapp was clear that his priorities will focus on crime, education and a return to the quality of life once enjoyed in the Virgin Islands. And he spared no words in placing the responsibility for the current conditions squarely at the feet of the Gov. John deJongh administration.
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And while the criminal epidemic was clearly top of mind, Mapp emphasized that it was not the only issue to be addressed.
“Crime is number one but not the only issue,” he said “Where are all the guns coming from and why is our government so helpless to get them off the street?”
Mapp said the community cannot ignore the connection between rising crime and the current Administration’s failures in education and lack of job creation, including the practice of giving contracts to retirees rather than offering those opportunities to young Virgin Islanders who need access to employment.
“We can provide a better life than this for our people,” he said. “We can return to the values and beliefs that made us great – Hope is dying but hope is not dead.”
Mapp, a former Lt. Governor, said his background as a policemen, labor leader, three-term senator, director of the Public Finance Authority and executive in the private sector provided the experience he needs to act effectively as the Territory’s Chief Executive Officer.
He discussed the “deep seated fear” Virgin Islanders are feeling based on the possibility of losing their land because of the property tax burden and blamed the current Administration for “failing to administer the property tax laws” correctly. He was also critical of the Administration’s approach to the environment, saying it has “advanced the destruction of our islands to advance development;” their failure to address skyrocketing energy costs; and the misuse of public funds on personal projects when there are so many urgent public needs.
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Mapp was sharply critical of the Administration’s apparent lack of awareness of the problems facing Virgin Islanders as they struggle to meet day-to-day obligations.
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Lt. Governor candidate Dr. Malik Sekou said that his experience as an associate professor at the University of the Virgin Islands and a political consultant had given him many opportunities to contribute to the lives of many in the Virgin Islands community. But the current environment of hopelessness and despair he sees today was a determining factor in his decision to run with Mapp.
“I started to ask myself, “Is this your only role?” he said. “What does a patriot do when his beloved homeland is on fire? He stands up with the will of God to shake up the place – and I mean shake up in a good sense.”
He echoed Mapp’s sentiments on crime and said that 180 homicides in 3 years in 8 months and has “successfully broken the record” of criminal activity in the Territory’s history, and said leadership must “understand the cause, the ways to prevent it, and the courage to make the tough decisions to reduce crime on our islands.
“Fighting crime means preventing crime and this means improving education,” Sekou said, adding that alternative approaches including charter and magnet schools, vocational and technical education opportunities and a heightened focus on activities that promote sports, culture and the environment are essential to that improvement.
Mapp concluded by assuring the crowd that he and Sekou were up to the challenge, and warned that while the transformation “won’t be easy,” that there is no other choice at this critical crossroads in Virgin Islands history.
And in line with their consistent message of “hope over despair” Mapp concluded his comments with this promise.
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Strange quote of Edgar Ross as this was said about Juan Luis back in the 70′s by the Gov King upper chamber people. Ironic as Ross was like Juan Luis an ICM and Juan Luis turned out to be the most effective and best loved of all our elected governors.
Bring Back the 70s,
The fact that you are FOR Mapp (your words, not mine), even after all the recent info about bribes Mapp took from Jeffrey Prosser doesn’t shock me at all. You are a hypocrite. You say that all the candidates have baggage, but, none is so greater than what Mapp did to defraud the US Virgin Islands people.
The VI people don’t mean sh*t to you once you get your high paying job. Huh?
WE THE PEOPLE OF THESE VIRGIN ISLANDS ALREADY KNOW THAT THE CASE AGAINST THE SENATOR IS A SET UP AND “WILL” CLEAR HIM OF ALL CHARGES.
HERE IS THE REAL ISSUE FOR DE JONGH AND ANY OTHER CANDIDATES THAT’S TRYING TO PROMOTE FEAR IN OUR COMMUNITY:
WHERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU WILL FIND A JURY TO GO ALONG WITH YOUR SET UP AND CONVICT THE SENATOR?
DE JONGH WILL YOU GET YOUR “JUDGE” ADAMS CHRISTIAN TO ISSUE A COURT ORDER IMPORTING A “EXPERT JURY PANEL” FROM NEW YORK TO CARRY OUT YOUR DIRTY WORK?
WE CAN NOT RUN FROM OR TRY TO BURY THE REALITY OF HOW WILL THE DE JONGH APARTHEID JUDICIAL SYSTEM FIND A JURY IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TO ENDORSE ITS DIRTY PLOT.
SENATOR DONASTORG AND SAMUEL BAPTISTE WILL GOVERN THESE VIRGIN ISLANDS COME JANUARY 2011 BECAUSE WE THE PEOPLE OF THE VI SAY SO!
Donastorg’s case has to be after the primary. Duh. That is deJongh’s insurance that if he loses the primary He will convict Foncie through judicial manipulation. Tito Morales dem will name John as the party replacement. The plan is well laid.
I hate that for Foncie even though I am a Mapp supporter.
Just saying.
Vegan,
Donastorg won’t be convicted, because it’s a jury trial. St Thomas and St John already knows what’s up. Have faith in your sister islands. Donastorg will be free of all charges.
That’s true! Adam Christian has no say about the final decision. Trust me when I say Donastorg is crazy strong in the STT/STJ district. Tito won’t have a chance to mane de Jongh anything. Donastorg case has been won.
JOHN DE JONGH, VINCENT FRAZER, ADAMS CHRISTIAN, WILSON CAMPBELL AND ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE TRYING TO PROMOTE THE WITCH HUNT OF SENATOR ADLAH “FONCIE” DONASTORG WILL BECOME A VICTIM OF THEIR OWN DEVICES.
HERE IS A FACT THAT CAN NOT GO AWAY NO MATTER HOW DEEP ANY ONE MAY TRY TO BURY IT TO FURTHER PROMOTE CORRUPTION IN THE VI BY ALLOWING DE JONGH TO WIN THE PRIMARY.
FACT: DE JONGH HAD TO GO TO ST. CROIX AND EXECUTE HIS SET UP BECAUSE NO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WANTED TO TOUCH OR PART TAKE IN HIS EVIL PLOT.
FACT: IT IS IN THE ST. THOMAS / ST. JOHN DISTRICT WERE THE SENATOR IS BEING PERSECUTED BY THE TYRANT JOHN DE JONGH.
NOW IF DE JONGH COULD NOT FIND ANYONE IN THE ST. THOMAS / ST. JOHN DISTRICT TO GO ALONG WITH “HIS” EVIL PLOT – WHO THEN WITHIN THAT DISTRICT WILL HE FIND AS JURORS TO GO ALONG WITH HIS EVIL PLOT TO CONVICT A INNOCENT MAN?
TO DRIVE THE POINT HOME – IT IS DE JONGH THROUGH HIS “JUDGE” ADAMS CHRISTIAN THAT IS ONCE AGAIN MISUSING PUBLIC FUNDS (OUR MONEY) TO BRING TO THE ST. THOMAS / ST. JOHN DISTRICT A SO CALL “EXPERT WITNESS”. IMAGINE THAT…A EXPERT WITNESS TO COME BEFORE THE VERY PEOPLE WHO DID NOT WANT TO GO ALONG WITH THIS EVIL PLOT OF DE JONGH.
THE AUDACITY OF JOHN DE JONGH TO MISUSE AND ABUSE OUR MONEY TO PUT BEFORE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS A SO CALL EXPERT WITNESS FOR HIS “PERSONAL GAIN”. DOESN’T THIS SOUND FAMILIAR AND A TRADEMARK OF DE JONGH.
JOHN DE JONGH USE OF A “EXPERT WITNESS” IS A DIRECT “CONFLICT OF INTEREST” BECAUSE “HE” RECEIVES A PERSONAL GAIN.
THE QUESTION IS NOW WHEN WILL AMERICA END THIS MADNESS AND INDICT GOVERNOR JOHN P. DE JONGH, JR. FOR HIS ABUSE OF POWER?
WHEN?
So let see if I can understand the chronology. Gov. deJongh caused AFD to impregnate a teenager, forced her to have an abortion, and then pistol whipped her when she requested the medical bills be paid by AFD. This was all done by some devious plot by the governor and his henchmen to deny AFD his insatiable desire to be the top gun. Now we learn that the judge, jury, court system are all corrupt and under control of the governor. All this would make great material for a novel. Wish Herman Wouk was still around to write it.
Too bad for you, Donastorg did not have a relationship with the woman, nor did he impregnate her. The woman said none of that happened in a written statement. You got to try much harder than that de Jongh. Everyone is on to your games.
Did she write it with a gun pointed to her head?
Didn’t Bill Clinton say the same thing?
@ Anonymous at 12:25
Yes he did – but Ms. Lewinsky never recanted her story as has the so called “victim” in this trumped up “case.”
DeJongh should have paid the lady the $150,000.00 Lesly Commisiong and the body guard promised her for making what she now concedes is a false claim. She might not have come clean. Hey wolverines make sure you get your classified Nopas before the primary because He does not keep promises. If he could betray Sylvester he’ll betray you.
Classified NOPAS or not all the Gubernatorial candidates know who worked for de Jongh and in what exempt position. It will take a few months but it will show in their work that they are not qualified to be in their new ‘classified’ positions and the process will begin to have them removed.
It’s time to clean house!
Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg is the only Virgin Islander who is not corrupt. Everybody else in the territory is going to hell except AFD. OK?
Not everyone else, only John P de Jongh and all of his buddies that are robbing us blind. You wouldn’t just happen to be one of them. Would you?
AFD may not be corrupt but he has established to a moral certainty that he is vindictive, and has temper tantrums.
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De Jongh deserves what is coming to him. He has wickedly and purposely try to destroy too many innocent people.
And thank GOD for what you call AFD ‘temper tantrum’ without his fighting spirit and love for the Territory and it’s people, de Jongh would have gotten away with everything.
You know what some call temper tantrums may just be passion.AFD may be one of the few native sons that are actually passionate and really care about the VI.He doesn’t exactly come off like Bert Bryan does he??(lol) BTW I heard the president of UVI speak again today and for a 300 and something thousand salery he sounds HALF PAST DEAD…B4 anyone on here throws a tantrum(lol) I’m not saying he can’t do his job,hey maybe it’s just his personality.He still is making to much though,for islands in so much financial distress guys like him,the lady for the hospital,and hugo for wapa just to name a few..Those saleries are ridiculous….
sp…salaries…