Drag racing: Will the new government budge?
VINCENT FRETT - Thursday, April 12th, 2012 at 3:16 PM
Officals at a drag racing press conference held at the National Currriculum Redesign Project Room in June 2010. New Direction Consultancy, headed by Bevis Sylvester (extreme left) was awarded the $96,500 contract, which was signed on May 28, 2010. The contract called for a six-month consultancy to evaluate existing drag car racing in the region and on the international scene, and to advise the government on possible locations for the sport. The Ministry of Education and Culture had collaborated closely on this initiative with an ad-hoc committee established under the auspices of the then Minister of Education, Culture and Sports, Andrew Fahie. The committee’s chairperson was Zoe Mc Millan.
Greetings to drag racing enthusiasts and to the entire BVI. It has been a while but I felt I needed to say something to our new government about our efforts on the said topic.
The plan that was already in play for drag racing to be established in the BVI. However, it seems like the government does not care that the money that was paid to the consultant was not or is not used for the purpose it was intended for. Do the Government and the people have to pay the remainder of the 94,000 plus? I think many people would want to know the status of this situation.
We just celebrated Black History Month. What did the BVI do to celebrate our ancestors who paved the way for us. Not just because we are Caribbean people, we can’t celebrate the same things that the Americans do. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and others that died fighting for their rights – the same right that we enjoy today. We all need to do more than what we are doing now. Everyone has to do what they need to do to get the BVI economy back on the road to making money for everyone, not just the regular set of people.
We are known as a tourist destination and the people that get the work from this are taxi drivers, restaurants the hotels and the supermarkets – One Mart, Rite Way and Bobby’s. These supermarkets and most of the hotels are owned by one circle of people and these businesses make money from the majority of the boating population. But what about the mom and pop shops? Don’t get me wrong now, there are many other jobs that come from seasonal tourism, but it’s just that – seasonal. What happens when the season is over?
Now with drag racing you add work for a different set of people like mechanics, graphic designers, electricians, engineers and so many more. This would not be a seasonal thing. We have professional people telling you that drag-racing is a good thing and can make us better as a tourist destination, but still their words fall on deaf ears. You are listening to people who don’t know anything about motor sports. Yet they want a golf course on Beef Island with exclusive membership with fees like $20,000 for membership.
They bashed the VIP about hiring a consultant for something the people wanted, but these same brutes have gone in there and hired three that we the public know about for the sum of some $268,000 plus a year. They did not consult the people. They are now saying that the VIP left the country broke again, but still money can be found to pay these people and the budget is not passed yet.
Cock fighting has been going on in this country for as long as I can remember. The police had no problem with it and the guys had no problem with the police. Now after all this time just because a new commissioner of police comes it is animal cruelty and it is illegal. Be careful you stir up an ants’ nest. Maybe the people should just carry all the cocks by the Commissioners’ house and let them loose, then we can bet on the side as to which one will make the most noise. It’s so easy we forget the person in the country’s capital selling lottery tickets. We quickly forget that gambling is illegal. I love my country and want it to get better, but you guys running the show need to listen to us the young people, cause we are the future and right now the future is not looking so good.
You campaigned on growing the agricultural industry, but yet you have not spoken publicly with the farmers. Farmers’ week was the worst I have ever seen it. No donkey races or other traditional races were held? What about the green houses? There were no tours like last year. I displayed my exotic birds in the past and I encouraged the department to bring the visiting school children to view these birds and the rest of my farm but received no response.
The one person that came to Paraquita Bay before the election asking about the farmers’ problems was Hon. Walwyn. However, I haven’t seen him back since. These are only some of the reasons why other farmers boycotted Farmers’ Week.
Before elections, they spoke about helping the young people but it is my undertstanding that the persons who took part in certain commercials still have not been paid. They spoke about the cost of living, and yes, they are trying on that part, but who is going to make sure that we the customer receives that savings. I would love that job.
Come on guys, start thinking like Obama, help us help you. A lot of people lost their lives fighting for a better future for all of us so let us not forget where we came from. Do not think because you have a little more money than the other man that you are better or know more. Thank you and I hope this will open someone’s eyes.
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I personaly think, that drag racing is a good idead.. BUT! you will always have ignorance to deal with,where as people looking jobs and that areana could provide jobs, and boost work in the economy as far as engineering and mechnaic etc, it will also be somthing to do other than horse racing and boat racing ( which By the way needs to be revamped and made a bigger and better sport here in the bvi)…drag racing could and will do alot for the economy.. our neighbors stx, stt and purto rician friends always looking for action in those types of areans so why not take there money to.. But again…would always have have resistence.. people that have no vision or just always want there ideas to be the ones heard.. we could never come to an agreement on anything when it comes to government cause everybody wants to be in charge… personally if i had the money i would do it and then let the people who was agaist govenment helping watch me reap all the benifits… every busniess venture is a gamble, would never know 100% if something is good or bad for even with all the reseach done.. until u do it… start small scale .. see where it leads if anything it does work you wont have to spend millions to get it removed.. this government thats in right now is doing for the country yes.. but focusing on all the wrong things… this is to show where the mind set of bvislanders are… they just want to build this and build that… we need to focus on management…we could build what ever but if u cant manage it.. it will always fail..food for thought for all government officials… focus on what we need and not wa everybody wants…
Such a rambling article it would be sad if it wasnt so funny. So drag racing and cock fighting because of Martin Luther King and the way Obama thinks but none of that youth empowernment rubbish?
you are sharp!
DRAG RACING… foooolishness
Government need to DRAG themselves down to that hospital and finish buiding it…..so that we could have some place to put these DRAG RACING people when then broke up dem A>>>
Somebody please give me a breakdown of how that $96,000 was spent. How do you ask people who are in support of drag racing to do a survey on drag racing to ascertain whether it is good for the territory?
How do you ask a person associated with an oil company to do an ‘independent’ survey when drag racing will require importation of said companies expensive high octane fuel?
If the Drag is such a good business then go ahead and develop it as a private facility like it happens in the rest of the world, and make all the money you can make…Be my guest don’t be shy…
Government never inted to build a drag racing strip. Their intent was only to legalize the sport.
But that is really what we trying to do. Again government will not build the track, investors will.
Funnel monies into protecting our natural ressources, protecting our historical sites. A museum which depicts a timeline from the first peoples to inhabit these islands and recreating various tools etc they used, form of dress etc. Put pictures, videography that tells everyone the stories of national heroes, I dont think that is too hard to do. That is what the tourists want to see and our local people and others who are not from here but reside here, should be aware of. It’s not rocket science. If there are museums in the states that can build/recreate life like figures of mammoths and dinosaurs etc. why cant we do the same? If you want to bring in some modernization, create a family oriented waterpark, an aquarium as the one in St. Thomas (well a bit more upscale, lol). But drag racing??? I dont knock thinking outside the box, but that isnt for right now. Hospital need to finish along with recruiting/securing personnel and the roads need to be fixed to say the least.
yes i like that its the truth,hit them lol
we knew you came to VIp ur party with that idea this government is smart enough to block it the country broke go rest your behind.
If you guys only know what going on, lol let the races begin lol
Be patient. There may soon be an unused runway extension that can be used as a drag racing strip
vote for VIP if you all want a track
no drag racing simple
you know i’m glad for what happened to the drag racers because i know 90% of them voted NDP…let them take that…if they had voted vip, the track would’ve been started already
Boy go back Sea Cow Bay and sit down with your stupidness. You will wait for that one. The people smarter than you and the rest of you VIP koonoomoonoo. You living off the fat of the land with security contracts and other waste. You going suck salt when we open the books on you. Pack your toothbrush. You going straight to Balsam Ghut. The Hon. Hog Tuss ain’t going be able to save you.
HAHA Hon. Hog Tuss LOLOL Lord meh ghuts!
real talk… yet another name change?
@ooooo if you weren’t collecting a government paycheck for doing anything for more than a year you wouldn’t be here asking about people identity. You have too much time on your hands, and all you doing is creating mischief and causing a big humbug.
You and the VIP gravy train wreck this country with a heap of contracts for doing nothing. We know bout the drag racing study and the medical school study – just foolishness to put money in the hand of a bunch of parasites. Imaging if the likes of theses so-called consultants had gained office. The whole country would be down in one of them latrine pit you all used to have down there by you.
Don’t worry, we going to take care of SCB and bring real progress there and to the rest of the country.You, the fab five and Hon. Hog Tuss could all rest assured. However, this time, you going to have to prove yourself and answer to the people. Take that and tell critic, Peter Crumble, VIP loyalist – you all are one anyhow. And another thing, we wil take you back at WSD because you made a good difference there. But your tail going have to work.
Vincent you pour soul, we have a few hundred yachts and a few hundred power boats in the BVI. How many sailors, captains, skippers and marine mechanics do we have locally? It seems we currently have almost more cars than people here so if guys wanted to become mechanics, they would’ve done so a long time ago as most of them along with the body men who spray cars are expats. come again.
Put it up Trellis Bay, give those folks up there something else to complain about lol
All joke aside but vincent did you finish school? do you have investors willing to put in real money to make this happen? i dont think so because if you did you wont be on here with this crazy talk sound like you was typing while smoking some sis joyce special.
This man comparing that bullshit drag race contract to hiring OJ, Claude and others to do actual work which will bring money and assistance to the people of this Territory? Him and Khoy need to go to the damn bank to fund their pie in the sky bullshit! One want a million for cock farm that will be his alone, now this damn lunatic talking about drag race? There is no comparison.
Ok, I want a casino with black jack, craps and roulette. I want the building to be built on beach front property and the Government will have to fund it. It will provide employment from bartenders to dealers and security. Since everybody want bullshit let me get my shit in from early.
When will this man realize that if he want drag racing he has to put the necessary funding into it? Where will they put it? He talk talk talk talk and up to now he hasn’t identified a suitable place for this. Who will lease/sell their good flat land for this? I don’t have nothing against drag racing personally, if it comes, I’ll attend. But the attitude of this dude is really mind boggling as if we owe him something. Everybody else wanting to do stuff get off their behind and do it, but we must fund his hobby. boy go sit down!
This man coming back here with this stupidness what people done reject. They shut he up last year from talking foolishness. The country broke. If he want to drag race let he build a track with he own money. He want a good bull pissle cross he back. Meson stop talking froth and go look honest work to do. we will not waste money on a set of lazy good for nothings. Ban he from the internet before he cause more humbug!
LMFAO!! @ “A good bull pissle cross he back” HAHA!!!!!!!!!
I agree with you Vincent. Keep on keeping on don’t mind the nay sayers.
keep on keeping on? lol st croix got a big track and they broke as joke over there now. antigua same ting. who u fooling except urself?
why are they broke? tell me that, is it because of the track or the island itself? It is US and everyone can not go to the US and not everyone wants to go to St.Croix.
If you can’t get into the US, you must have real problems.
These people got to be joking, Drag racing will be nothing bout a nuisance to the BVI community. We need better representation than this BS you all be bring to the people.
horseracing didn’t create a thing except fashion shows ever so often but drag racing will be a job creator? this boy is a genius, NOT!
drag racing will create the same amount of mechanics and graphic designers as horse racing created jockeys and vets.. oh wait! lol
How many people are employed by horse racing? Once every four months
This gov’t is smart enough to write of the loss of the $96k study and end it there.
Here we go again.
Hey everyone grab a stick we have a dead horse to beat again….
utter, utter b**cr*p. I hope this person is not the future of the BVI. Gimme, gimme, gimme.
There is a small minority interested in drag racing and it is NOT a toursit attraction. The previous governemnt wasted the 90k doing a survey that no one ever saw or was involved in. If you and your friends are so keen on a drag racing strip then I suggest you be an entrepreneur in this area and seek out investors and the land to do so on your own. When we have poor medical facilities and schools, when our education system needs an overhaul, when our road system is crumbling, when our water system and sewage system is a mess….you have the nerve to ask for government funding so a few small boys can have a funtime? Honestly,take up a hobby such as playing an instrument or painting or photography. The scooter boys are already theifing from us all to support their crotch rocket habits and we can only imagine what an expensive hobbby like drag racing would do to the crime rate. Please go sit down and grow up!
Go fund your drag racing yourselves or through local donators, it should have nothing to do with the government/tax payers money.No wonder all in the picture are smiling $94,000.00 plus of public money wasted already.
The former Government had enough time to do it. What happen?
Utter nonesense
Boss! The Government in 6 months now and focusing on the real issues, what phuckry you here ranting about? schuups!
boss go sit down with this foolishness.
who is this trying to sabotage me?
this sounds like what ronnie had told OJ when he wanted to issue out petty contracts in sea cow’s bay
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