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Flax-Charles makes emotional demand for truth over HOA recall

Junior Trade Minister, Shereen Flax-Charles

Territorial At-Large Representative Shereen Flax-Charles delivered an emotion-filled presentation in the House of Assembly (HOA) yesterday, arguing, among other things, that Virgin Islanders appear to be fighting against themselves as they strive for independence.

“We are in an uphill battle against those supposed leaders who continue to shirk proper protocol and process, and in doing so, it presents a picture of the Virgin Islands as unfit to lead itself,” Flax-Charles said while urging that this is not the case.

Flax-Charles encouraged lawmakers to put aside politicking, and appreciate the complexity and human component of the unfortunate situation that left lawmakers having to validate the status of nearly 700 residents as Belongers after a legislative oversight was discovered.

“I demand that we be presented with the full truth of this matter,” she urged. “I demand that we are able to understand the true guiding rationale as well as the full scope of the implications which arise from this matter as it relates to issues such as land holding, trade licenses, and even naturalisation and passport issuance.” 

I’ve been called every manner of ‘half-breed’

The first-term lawmaker shared that, although she felt very conflicted on the matter, she understood how persons felt from both sides of the divisive issue. She also shared that she was encouraged during the 2019 elections to stop saying that her mother is from Antigua. “I will segue for a quick second to say that unfortunately, sometimes I too feel that I do not belong,” Flax-Charles said with her voice filled with emotion. “I’ve been called every manner of half-breed.”

She said until the full details of the matter are explored and presented, she would abstain in the interests of good governance and respect for the good sense and good nature of the people.

The lawmaker said persons were urging that she needs to read the report on the issue, but said even members of the HOA were not given an opportunity to do this. “How can I make a decision on something when I do not have all the facts?” Flax-Charles asked.

According to the legislator, persons have to be given an opportunity to read and dissect the reports in order to understand and be able to ask the questions that need to be asked.

“We are following this Westminster system, but the time has come where we need to take a stand and decide our destiny and that system needs to be addressed as soon as possible,” she commented. 

She added: “The secrecy cannot continue, because at the end of the day, I’m walking these streets and persons come up to me and say ‘the government do this’, ‘the government do that’, and a lot of times, some of us have no idea until we read it on a news site or it pops up in one of these chats.”

 

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14 Comments

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  1. Exit stage left woman says:

    I don’t want to hear her. She was right there when the things were being done and now want to give the impression that she is not involved. I want Coy put some blows on her. Nothing but a confusion maker.

    Like 44
    Dislike 8
    • After fake tears and demands for information … says:

      … she voted for the new legislation! What was the point of her lengthy speach?

      Like 2
      Dislike 1
  2. Tell me says:

    When kishma penn marched campaign had motorcade none are you study her esp the candidates don’t talk about the black trump that time he was high and mighty want to call police for her now the greedy bill 8n question which could have been avoided long time. Everything that girl said was gospel truth those guys were suckers

    Like 22
    Dislike 2
  3. Hmm says:

    Shereen you talking your nonsense what about when we were growing up the nasty and hurtful things you all would tease people from Northsound with.

    Don’t talk about people from the other Caribbean. Because a lot of Antiguans have the mindset that all other persons from the Caribbean is less than others.

    So don’t come here and make it sound like you were down trodding. You and your siblings were always rude. Your father though quiet and maybe a little proud was always though gentleman. You all help Fahie mashup this country.

    Like 27
    Dislike 8
  4. Campaign rhetoric says:

    stops when a recalled HOA member walks through the chambers door. She obviously is not aware of this good governance fact.

  5. She has a point says:

    The speaker should not have allowed any parts of Kai’s speech that was clearly devised to use the House as a platform to push the VIPs election campaign by spreading false propaganda, as they continue to do. But that is the nature of who they are. Good governance my tail. Then Wheatley talking about the meetings should have been done in private. Rubbish!

    Like 16
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  6. Common sense says:

    Madam, the problem is you are not following the Westminster system, had the government done this the belongership / residency problem would not have occurred in the first place.

    Like 10
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  7. James says:

    A lot of abuse and discrimination dish out by VIP. Let them stay there with them nationalist agenda. Them some wickedness to them own race.

    Like 10
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  8. My take says:

    You few who hate Fahie and VIP with this issue can continue with your foolishness. For years no one wanted to regularize the people especially those from the Caribbean who lived in the BVI for years and applied over and over and over. Only to hear the application was burn up in the fire or lost in the office. This had nothing to do with elected officials. Imagine if this fast track was not done where these 1500 people would be now. Last election only the 70 rich and well-off status quo people were given status just before the 2019 General elections in an undercover way by the NDP, and no one saw an issue with that, not even Kishma Penn, Cindy, Governor, AG, Auditor General, and all who are now up to no good out of hatred but calling it otherwise. Most of those people back then did not qualify. This new fast track was done from 2019 as soon as VIP took office so it could not be about politics but about doing the right thing. In HOA after all the noise by Mitch and the others they still arrived to the same destination of rightfully validating the regularization of 1500 persons. Fahie did more good than the bad a lot of you trying to give him. Bad mindedness is killing the BVI. Hopefully we change before it does.

    Like 7
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  9. Rubber Duck says:

    Another one who claims she knew nothing.

    When she knew everything.

    Needs to be gone.

    Like 19
    Dislike 3
    • Lilly says:

      How do you know what she knew? If she was lying they would have called her out on those specific lies, but the mere fact that they do not, I believe she is telling the truth because they don’t let things slip them by.

      Like 2
      Dislike 7
  10. Boo says:

    Sick ah all a yall

  11. Blah blah blah says:

    Oh STFU! To full of tricks. Darn chameleon !

  12. Guy Hill says:

    Truth will have a difficult time with our new cultural ways.

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