Parsons: No political drive to bring back horse racing
Former legislator Eileene Parsons has criticised the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government for its failure to resolve the ongoing impasse that has halted horse racing at Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay.
Speaking on The Alliance radio show on April 23, Parsons highlighted the government’s apparent inaction in addressing the land dispute that prevented the sport’s resumption. She stated, “It’ll take the political will to get that track back and the political [will is] not there.“
The dispute centres around leasing agreements with the Thomas family, who own a portion of the racetrack land. Attempts to reach a compromise have proven challenging, with Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley confirming that while discussions have been ongoing, they have not yet been successful.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn recounted his own experiences in negotiating with the landowners, stating, “I had a wonderful working relationship with those people who owned the track… I still strongly believe that better negotiating skills must be brought to bear to be able to solve this problem.“
Parsons emphasised the cultural and economic significance of horse racing in the territory, noting that the sport was once an economic driver and a unifying activity for the community.
Despite suggestions to explore alternative locations for horse racing, Premier Wheatley noted that no suitable options have emerged. “We also have other persons who have suggested to us that we look at other areas, potentially for a horse track. We’ve explored some of those areas. Nothing has come forward as being viable at this particular moment, but we continue to try,” he said.
Walwyn urged the government to take decisive action, stating, “This problem can be solved. But it’s a matter of just sitting down diligently and having a conversation. Have some give and take in the conversation so we can move things along.“
Horse racing has been part of the BVI culture for many years, but in recent times, the sport has been on pause because of the impasse between the government and the estate of Ellis Thomas.
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Horse racing is a niche event. If it’s worth saving let private industry do it not a broke government that has a deficit budget. Let’s get our priorities straight. Then again when S!0wW@nde is minister of finance you know deficits don’t mean that much because he is terrible with math
Good. We don’t need it.
We do need good agricultural land for food security if we are to believe the Ministers. This would be great agricultural land and owners that are in dispute could also get on and use their land in productive agriculture.
There is apparently a political will for agriculture and not for horse racing so let’s get started and get planting.