Recent years have seen other districts advancing economically while the Seventh District languishes, said Virgin Islands Party candidate Oleanvine Pickering-Maynard during her launch Monday night at The Stickett.

 

“Why is it that almost every other district can claim a growing financial or commercial sector, but the Seventh District cannot?” Ms. Pickering-Maynard asked. “This district is under economic oppression, and no one has done anything to remedy this situation.”

Her answer would be youth mentoring programmes, a civic centre with indoor sports and performance spaces, and bringing back weekend produce markets, she said.

“The market will allow our local produce growers, fishermen, and craft makers to come to the Seventh and make a living for themselves,” she explained.

Ms. Pickering-Maynard, who is a former labour commissioner, also pledged to encourage tourism-related activities in the district. She said she’d like to see area residents running businesses at Long Bay Beach at Beef Island or a water park in Brandywine Bay.

“This is long-term, sustainable investment — not handouts that will disappear after the election period,” she said. “That, my friends, is empowerment.”

Ms. Pickering-Maynard is running against Deputy Premier Dr. Kedrick Pickering.

See the May 21, 2015 edition for full coverage.

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