Oct. 16, 2006 — Candidates for governor met for a debate Monday evening, focusing on such issues as improving the territory's public-education system, revamping the V.I. Police Department, promoting economic development and providing affordable housing opportunities to residents.
Community members and students, including supporters, packed the Sports and Fitness Center on the University of the Virgin Islands' St. Thomas campus. The gubernatorial candidates sat onstage with their running mates.
Each team fielded 16 questions, which covered a range of topics, including transparency in government, strategies for developing the territory's tourism industry, building vocational and athletic programs for students and ideas for cutting crime rates. Some questions also forced candidates to speak about a particular island, such as how to deal with the undercurrent of racial tension on St. John and strategies for bringing cruise ships back to St. Croix.
Each gubernatorial team also had the opportunity to list the issues most important to them.
Top priorities for John deJongh and Gregory Francis include rising utility costs, workforce stability, addressing the Government Employees' Retirement Systems' unfunded liability, maintaining public schools and bringing more investment to the Virgin Islands through the Economic Development Commission's tax-incentive program.
Education ranks highest for Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg and Dr. Cora Christian. "Education has got to be number one," Donastorg said. "In every aspect, in every department, a person has to be educated in order for them to function successfully."
Other top priorities, Donastorg added, include stabilizing the police department, cutting crime, "marketing and packaging" tourism and creating wellness policies for government employees.
Gubernatorial candidate Kenneth Mapp and running mate Almando "Rocky" Liburd said they made their "top priorities clear" back in May. Mapp cited as some of the team's major issues law and order, education reform, economic diversification and implementing an "aggressive" energy policy.
Each candidate addressed the territory's housing crisis. "We need to assure the residents of the Pearson Gardens and Marley housing communities that they won't be taken over by the federal government," deJongh said.
In terms of economic development, the candidates discussed the idea of developing tourism by increasing the hotel-room capacity in both districts, training the territory's youth for jobs in the business and financial sectors and appointing people from both the private and public sectors to the cruise-ship task force.
Similarly, all three teams agreed on the importance of bringing more transparency to the executive branch, and said they would actively promote the disclosure of government contracts, bids for projects and financials.
When asked about the role the lieutenant governor should play within the government, the three gubernatorial candidates stressed the idea of balance, with both lieutenant governor and governor working together to make public decisions and shape policy.
The candidates also had the opportunity to talk about themselves, and what significant qualities they would bring to the table. While Donastorg listed "consistency, dedication and loyalty" as his best attributes, Mapp stressed the importance of "integrity, leadership, commitment." DeJongh called "consistency and respect" for the people of the Virgin Islands the two qualities "any governor" should possess.
The candidates will also have the opportunity to speak on St. Croix in a debate scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the St. Croix Educational Complex.
Monday's debate was sponsored by the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce and the USVI Hotel and Tourism Association.
Wednesday's debate is sponsored by the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce and the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association.
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