I had the honor to render service to my homeland from the second Legislative council 1954-1957 with six elected members to the Third House of Assembly
2015-2019 with thirteen elected members. I have seen governance and administration rise slowly from political slavery to internal self governance. During the journey since self governance began I have seen the moral barometer began to fall signalling the approach of a "moral hurricane." Hon I Dawson drew it to my attention lamenting that he was leaving politics for that reason.
Warnings after warnings were sneered and jeered at because they did not come from friends and cronies of the powerful, but civic-minded citizens who cared about and loved their homeland. The "hurricane has finally made landfall" and we are afflicted with the damage left in its wake.
However, "don't let today's disappointments cast a shadow on tomorrow's dreams."(unknown) "Excellence can be achieved if you care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, dream more than others think is practical, expect more than others think is possible." (unknown)
Now is the time to tap into the pool of civic-minded B.V.Islanders and friends to help chart the way forward.
We are in this together and it is not the time to play the blame and fame game. Time to "rescue the perishing."
- Dr. Charles H. Wheatley.