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-Supporter outraged at utterance; immediately lash back

According to Walwyn, the USVI was “eating our lunch,” in relation to Tourists who have to pass through the USVI to get to the VI. Photo: Facebook

Hon Walwyn’s statement was endorsed by one of his party’s At-Large Candidate, Mr Trefor A. Grant who is known as a Tourism specialist in the territory. Photo: FacebookROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Embattled Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP 1), Hon Myron V. Walwyn, appears to be brewing war with sister Territory of the Virgin Islands (VI)—the United States Virgin Islands (USVI)—over some comments he made at a recent NDP rally.

According to Hon Walwyn, the USVI was, “eating our lunch,” in relation to Tourists who have to pass through that territory to get to the VI.

Mr Walwyn’s comments appeared to have been taken in bad faith and prompted an immediate negative audience reaction, given the VI’s close diplomatic relation with our immediate neighbour.

Audience outraged

 “I love our neighbours in the USVI, but they’re eating our lunch. They’re eating our lunch because our tourists have to pass through St. Thomas to get here,” Hon Walwyn said last evening, Saturday, January 18, 2019, in the parking lot of Sunny Caribbee.

He was at the time underscoring the importance of forging ahead with the expansion of the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island, VI. In reaction, one irate NDP supporter at the rally immediately lashed back saying, “This man always making statements that he will later have to sit down to clarify because people will take it differently.”

According to Hon Walwyn, it is critical that the VI be made more attractive to other countries that have a growing number of outbound travellers.

 “If the flights are too long, we will not see the benefits of those markets. We need to extend the runway at T.B. Lettsome International Airport. It needs to be done,” he said.

Bypass USVI – Walwyn

“Airlift continues to be the biggest issue plaguing the tourism industry. We cannot have visitors using two days of their vacation to travel to and from our territory, we need to get them here faster… It can be done, and under a new NDP Government, it will be done,” he said.

According to Mr Walwyn, the way to do this is through the right public/private partnership—that eases the financial burden on the Government and the people of the VI—with the least environmental impact. Hon Walwyn’s statements was further endorsed by one of his party’s At-Large Candidate, Mr Trefor A. Grant who is known as a Tourism specialist in the territory.

During his spirited address last night, Mr Grant said that it would be irresponsible for the Government not to develop the airport which is the answer to realizing seamless travel to and from the VI. Mr Grant and Hon Walwyn’s comment comes as the current NDP government, ran an 8-year regime full of corruption allegations, lack of transparency, breaking of laws and reckless spending of public funds.