Gov’t ministers respond when called out publicly — Parillon
Aspiring Third District political candidate Aaron Parillon has argued that government ministers in the Virgin Islands often address local issues only after they are highlighted publicly, and called for greater accountability and responsiveness from elected leaders.
Parillon made the remarks during an appearance on the Talking Points radio programme, where he discussed community concerns, government responsiveness and the role of public advocacy.
The former educator and past National Democratic Party candidate said he has frequently used his public platforms to raise complaints brought to him by residents after conducting his own research and enquiries into community issues.
“You would have seen that I champion many of the complaints in our community through my platforms,” Parillon stated. “When these things are being addressed, I go to my platform because I understand the fact that we are in a time right now where ministers of government respond when they are called out publicly.”
Parillon, who confirmed his intention to contest the Third District seat at the next general election, said he has spent the past several years identifying problems in the district and working with residents to develop practical solutions. He pointed to community service projects, youth engagement initiatives and efforts to re-establish programmes for senior citizens as examples of work undertaken outside elected office.
His comments came amid discussion about ongoing road works in the Third District, where residents have complained about dust, traffic disruptions and a lack of communication from government regarding project timelines.
While acknowledging that road improvements are necessary, Parillon said residents were left without sufficient information about the scope and duration of the works.
“We don’t articulate the information to the community well enough,” Parillon said. “Persons in the Third District complain because you have to live through a difficult situation without knowledge of when this will be resolved.”
The issue of government responsiveness has been a recurring topic in public discourse in recent years, particularly as residents have voiced concerns about infrastructure, water shortages, derelict vehicles and other longstanding community problems. Public complaints have frequently surfaced through radio programmes, social media and community meetings.
Amid mounting speculation, Deputy Premier and Third District Representative Julian Fraser recently signalled that he intends to defend his seat at the upcoming elections.
In the meantime, Parillon argued that elected officials should be held to a higher standard of accountability and maintained that stronger mechanisms are needed to ensure leaders remain answerable to the public.
“The people are requiring leadership in the country that is for the people,” Parillon insisted.
He added that citizens should make greater use of existing oversight mechanisms and document concerns when seeking redress, while urging public servants and residents not to remain silent about issues affecting their communities.
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The NDP is dead. Its leadership is weak and the people are not excited or encouraged in any way by Marlon Penn or Mitch Turnbull. If major changes are not made ahead of the general elections the NDP will suffer another crushing defeat. Parillon means well but without a strong team to win and show him the ropes he will not be very successful.
Rape is a crime against humanity
If Aaron join another party he can beat willock but with the ndp he dead dead dead
Who the heck is voting for Willock!!!!
It don’t even feel like election coming up. The VIP doing their thing to make sure they secure another term and from the look of it they will win. Nobody following behind Marlon Penn. Nobody! What has Marlon done? Look at his district? The bare sight of him you see a low energy, not forward thinking, deer in headlights, tired looking man. I rather stick with Natalio to be honest.
Shame is the VI’s currency. That’s exactly why voices like kishma and cindy are important.
whether you disagree with the sentiments or think they are divisive, the critical voice that does not bow to political pressure or family ties are the only way we will see ANY progress in our Virgin Islands
Young Parillon needs some guidance and may well be the next Stacy Mather. Lots of passion and emotion but little or no action.
When the politically untested enters politics, they all say the same thing. If it does not go in the right direction I will leave. And then when they get nothing done as a back bencher, regardless of party or independent, they never leave. They just go over to the dark side. Mather said he would leave if he didn’t things were going right and then? Lights out, dark side. They all say the same thing for going over. They were sent by the people to do their work. Yeah, right. What they’ve seen and can’t get out of their head is the benefits of being on the government side, they see the template, that thing they all follow that continues governments to work as they always have. Which is why it is so difficult to see why people are hating on Walwyn over a wall. NDP, like VIP, hire their party followers, whether they know what they are doing or not, mostly not. So the wall was split up into petty contracts and built by a whole set of people who mostly did not know what they were doing. If Walwyn had not followed the “way we do things here” everyone would have him to kill because “he’s a island man and only hiring other island man”. He followed the play book as written by BVIslanders, and attested to by the party leader, who incidentally was a BVIslander. Why is that wrong, isn’t that what we want? If Parrillon wins in his district it will be a momentary breath of fresh air. Eventually we’ll be back to same ole same ole. He’ll sit in the house, talk as much as he wants and get nothing done. Unless someone needs a place holder to give them a majority of something. Then he’ll get criticized for going over to whatever the dark side is at the moment. We like it so.
IT’S BEST WE LEAVE THE VIP IN OFFICE, MINUS MATER AND THE TWO VETERAN POLITICAL FIGURES. BECAUSE ANY OTHER PARTY WILL BE DISASTEROUS TO THE FUTER OF THE BVI. A SETTA CLOWNS. AS OF NOW I’M EITHER EXERCISING MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO NOT VOTE OR VOTING VIP ALL THE WAY, UNLESS I SEE ANY REPUTABLE PERSONS ON THE BALLOTS.
If Parillon wins the seat as D3 Representative would he end up like another Mather. Mather started out as a go getter and he has now faded into the sunset.when Mather was running for his seat, he talk a good talk but he failed to walk the walk. I voted for Mather last election thinking he would be the one to make a change with the positive go getting attitude that he had however he failed miserably. He would never get another from me next election if he is on the ballot.
No he won’t. Aaron ain’t built like that.
Smh
I can tell he is correct. Since he called out the wrong doings of the Dock in Sea Cows Bay, they have begun cleaning up and clearing the dock. Keep on em Parillon.