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by pltm
(PLTM) - The threats to the BVI’s Financial Services have deeper implications for residents of the islands, especially with regards to the potential European Union (EU) backlisting that the Territory can face.
According to incumbent Seventh District Representative, Hon. Dr. Kedrick Pickering, who is seeking re-election, should the BVI be blacklisted, residents will likely face increased taxation.
As such, he said that it is in their best interest that someone with experience is elected to serve his district, someone with the know-how to sit at international forums and in meetings, and negotiate for the BVI.
He is of the firm belief that he is one of those persons with the requisite experience, telling the public that "experience matters.".
The Deputy Premier at his campaign launch last night, February 12, told those gathered, “Our country is going to face some major, major challenges over the next four years. It doesn’t matter who is elected. We have major, major issues to contend with.”
As such, he noted, “We are going to need persons in the House of Assembly, the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands, who understand how regional and international events affect our daily lives. We are going to need persons in the House of Assembly, the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands, who understand why international investment is needed in any country to be able to advance the country.”
He added that persons with a key understanding of what the implications for our financial services really are would be an asset.
“…If we ever get on the EU blacklist, it could literally destroy or financial services, and what that really means?...Sixty percent of the entire government’s budget depends directly in the financial services in this country,” he stressed.
He further reminded, “If we lose that, it means that you’ll have to be taxed left, right and centre just to provide basic services like school, like hospital, like police...”
Situations like these can be impactful, and according to Hon. Dr. Pickering, “It means therefore that you have to have people who you could send away to London, who you could send to Brussels, who you could send to China to represent you…to sit around the table and speak to these people and speak their language.”
“Person who can sit around the table and speak to these people and speak their language,” he continued to stress.
“I could represent you here, I could represent you in the House of Assembly, I could represent you anywhere,” he said as he marketed himself for re-election.
The Deputy Premier emphasised, “When I go away to represent you, I represent you! As we approach the General Elections on the 25th, in the next House of Assembly (HoA), experience matters! And you can’t buy experience!”
