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Turnbull criticises politicians focusing on ‘personal legacy’

D2 Representative Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull.

Second District Representative Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull has criticised politicians for focusing on building personal legacies, saying elected representatives should concentrate on meeting residents’ needs and let their work determine how people remember them.

Appearing on the National Democratic Party’s The National Conversation podcast, Turnbull said he had heard government members and other politicians discussing the legacies they wanted to leave.

“Legacy is not what you say about yourself. Legacy is what people say about you when you’re gone. Legacy is you doing the work necessary for people to speak about,” Turnbull said.

“But if you’re talking about things to say, I’m building this legacy, then it’s about you,” he added.

Turnbull said elected representatives had a responsibility to serve the people of the Virgin Islands, address their concerns and improve their lives and the territory’s development. He argued that seeking personal praise amounted to serving oneself.

His remarks followed comments from NDP Chairman Marlon Penn, who questioned spending on projects meant to build politicians’ legacies rather than meet community needs.

In a separate interview on the People’s Leadership Movement’s The People’s Mic podcast, former NDP member Mark Vanterpool discussed leaving a legacy while explaining his decision to seek office again.

Vanterpool said his motivation involved public service and sacrifice, and that he wanted to contribute to the territory’s future.

In the meantime, Turnbull said the NDP would continue to press the government on several issues affecting the BVI.

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9 Comments

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  1. Mitch the .itch says:

    Somebody tell this power hungry and dece**ful man to please shut up.

    Like 6
    Dislike 8
  2. Xmas says:

    Poor Marlon the Plm took all of his votes he is dead like his ndp

    Like 5
    Dislike 9
  3. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT says:

    FROM A SET OF PLAYERS ,WHO’S JUST DOING AN ACTING JOB OF USING THEIR POSITION IN GOVERNMENT / SOCIETY AS A FRONT FOR THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO FLEX OFF THEMSELVES ON THE POOR PEOPLE WHO IS AT THEIR MERCY ?

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  4. Genesis says:

    Marlon will forever have Karma by his side just like the devil. Now that’s a legacy worth not knowing.

    Like 2
    Dislike 3
  5. AI says:

    This real or AI? This man talking about personal legacy? Mitch you have been elected almost 12yrs, name one single thing that you have contributed during that time, even when you were a Minister under the Unity Government. You are an author of mass confusion young man, you are not fooling anybody.

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  6. Lol says:

    All of you in govt are very selfish minded ppl. Who have a contentious relationship with the truth. All of you have overly inflated egos and are self serving. Greedy bill!!!

  7. captain obvious says:

    all of our politicians are greedy and self serving, they don’t care about the people

  8. Brad Boynes says:

    IN ALL YOU DO D4 …DO NOT VOTE FOR MARK VANTERPOOL.

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