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Thursday, October 8, 2026 - Part 1

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“The views and opinions expressed on analyze this are entirely those of the on air participants and do not reflect those of the station's board management staff or underwriters. on your mp or station in the US Virgin hours WTJ X FM 93.1 were yours truly. me…”From the transcript

Part 1 - On "The Candidates Speak" host Neville James interviews St. Croix Senate candidate Senator Kenneth Gittens.

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Thursday, October 8, 2026 - Part 1

Analyze This with Neville James

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Analyze This with Neville James — Thursday, October 8, 2026 - Part 1. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.

The views and opinions expressed on analyze this are entirely those of the on air participants and do not reflect those of the station's board management staff or underwriters. on your mp or station in the US Virgin hours WTJ X FM 93.1 were yours truly. me and the in Baptist on a line joining us on the calipsonians have an event coming up this weekend morning.

The in Baptist was up. Good morning, my everything is good. I got to be on your show this morning. on a whole calipsonian association. We're putting on a tent. This is like the tent we put on a sensory form with permission. We put in the sun and sun may at the green maybe in paradise free market. It starts at 5 a.m. trying to get it started at 5 o'clock so that you know have people out too late in the night. And we hope that you know the entire community come out and support the local calipsonians as well as we have. Gipsy is under the day Gipsy and Louis I will from same time of the so to get that is among all of the local most of the local calipsonians here in St.Coy. It's a transfer to be a next item shows we also have Tony Romano ban will be open.

Next best will be the accident ban also will be there and you could pick up tickets for it at Thomas B. Creak in Christians head that's going on on the left. After you pass the big shots like a couple of things at Thomas B. Creak right there you could pick up tickets there as well as you could pick up tickets with palms showing ice cream in strategic state. No, no, the calipson association. Give me some background. Well, we reform it was formed last year is a nonprofit organization and it was formed last year and it's all about you know trying not to let calipson slip away or die. We just want to make sure we keep calipson you know at a level and higher you know because like if you notice a couple years ago when Derby had was in the schools and stuff you know with the young calipsonian somewhere along the 90 kind of fade away.

So you know we we kind of want to get the young people involved in the calipson so that when the guys better you know when they Derby and the generic and the spirit and stuff you know with out of it then you have people to come in and fully in the space. You know just like the greatest calipson in the world of class the other than you know you want to make sure that we are trying to make sure that we keep this floor especially in think or in the present as an old but you know based in think or we just want to make sure that it doesn't you know it doesn't fade away. Did you get buying from the other calipsonians when you keep bro when you broached them with this idea that you want to start a association for calipsonians. They were all interested they were all you know they were all agreed with it they and everybody was on board you know we have some people some calipsonians from the same time as who wanted to be in board and that you know they are also it because if you notice calipsonians only the only thing at the competition in December and then you hear nothing about them again until the next competition.

You know so we we this is our third ten to put it on so we're kind of keeping them active throughout the year you know is that is just you know to get the support now and we try to get them to be not just be calipsonian singing calipson to be an entertainer so you know when you come to the show is not just sit on and listen to song you know calipsonian common states you they're going to try to enter. You know so that we don't want to be like boring you know like in some competition you come you think some kind of political sound and you know we we we we try to when you look at the might expel the might expel common states that he entertain the you know he talked stuff he singing have songs that you know everybody would be interested in hearing and this is exactly what we're trying to create here.

No you you you played with you played with spiral throughout the years. I did from nineteen eighty three up to nineteen ninety we two we I told it's all was excess and told it's all that time we were some of the Caribbean experts and we did you know out of the fifty two things that you have I am sure we did about 30 we did you up with it Africa we did couple of these things. You know we were out there so you so you had you had a you had a hands-on relationship with experiencing help you for responding to the great one. Yeah yes we we we we we saw it and you know it is amazing that you know you wouldn't know that calipson that powerful and some of the places you are some places you go in Canada we just total white people and you know and the people in there. Like they know who it is you know you know when he car when he started things are efficient stuff like this these are songs that they know and actually singing along with you.

So you know you see the reaction from from people some places to go is it's just total you know total involvement with him and the audience and we just we want to create something like that in the Virgin Islands in saying. Where we're you know some of the calipson and have songs that people really remember the thing along with you and stuff like that we want to create that kind of atmosphere. No no no no I want to ask you a question I have a dispute with with Lolo and Dolby and my show. Lolo Lolo said he asked me for my top 10 this was early in the year and we got into a back up for car I tell you a shadow day my top 10 and he said shadow don't make his top 10 what's your opinion. I shot but of course the shadow what listen if you if they check the down shadow like song yeah history history yeah the history from the time he started to retain he done there is songs is there some people put on and people could sing along with which means that he was he was popular yeah I mean nobody that's far level but when I tell you that shadow.

Got to be at top 10 I said anybody who could win a road match in 74 and then win another one in 2001 got to be great right so so he said I'm going to tell them and tell me he won't consistent enough I said every year shadow had a big tune while talking about so so so we're back on food and I know that express money used to love to play the shadow music a lot of shadow. Right we played for shadow we we played for shadow all over the place we didn't shadow in my the screen for real. All of the players we played for shadow and can you know we we we a lot of the trips that we did with Californians that the top kind of so many a lot of the top colors on those in from the shadow definitely was one of them. So he called you call the call you see the car melody Nelson Duke calipso rose okay that was another one to wear. I'm low low didn't believe calipso rose in the top 10 don't be did agree with me that she belonging to the top 10 and the reason why is because she she I she was influential in a genre that was dominated by males and she she had impact so that's the reason why I believe calipso rose got to be considered.

The top 10 artist over the years. Most definitely she had I mean because the world had a song that anywhere you go and you think that song you said that some people could sing along with you which one tempo or fire fire fire fire fire fire fire fire. I didn't I didn't even realize that that was a fortune I learned to road match back in 1966 all the way back there. I know we found out that the Korean band told me all events here do us a Spanish version of fire fire right so yeah yeah yeah but that's a beauty I'm using though we found that out over the years. And then another thing about it you know saying who I have a big song in the world as well. Oh gosh we need to get to that that that that one that culture that to tell them don't come down. Yeah I'm saying. Yeah that song has been played all over the world. I mean I kind of people have been that song that that's another popular song.

Oh you know you know who else you know who else we are like we belong in the top 10 arrow. We can't we believe that our our our our our got the most popular Calibzosang ever with with. We have also had had to we have a boss to point next story doing all that stuff. Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah a lot of history associated with Calibzos and that's why to me Calibzos could never die because Calibzos is one of the one of the tenets of Calibzos music is social commentary. It's just to get the young people to to continue it you know because some of the young people figure Calibzos is all time is all time is you know. Then I'm music. Yeah yeah yeah it's just to get them you know it's a final way to get them involved and get them to understand that you know Calibzos is just like we're gay. You know when it's just as good as we can be in all of the people push this.

All of these four of the Caribbean music is African music and African African music will live forever the drums the temple and then the the specialist that come through the year the brass. My name they be it's my name like all that stuff. Yeah it's it's it's a it's a hard form so so what we need to do is promote everything about it so that it go. It go live forever so the details again what time is the event. The event is Sunday at the Queen Mary and Paradise flea market. Yeah so the fiberglass if pick up tickets at the Thomas Bakery in Christian stead and also I'm so high-screeman Frederick set as we really hope that the whole community come out and support this kind of free event. And the guest artist the guest artist. She's see from Trinidad and Louis I will from say Thomas and they said she used to live on St. Gray once upon a time back in the day. Oh yes yes he helped he definitely used to live here he has a mouth and he has power any other day he can use to live in the first and I was too.

We got his driver's license he lives in St. Thomas. And he lives in St. Gray too back in. Then he wrote a beautiful song about St. Gray. Yeah. Rose told me that Rose told me she very well she very husband in St. Gray she tell me so when I met her and shadow back in the day. No we're going to have a after after the performances we can heading into the to the carnival. I could get you on sometime in November so we can be promoting the call of the whole December into January. Call of so window festival window we could do that. Okay. Thank you very much for keeping my point. Unfortunately thanks for keeping the genre and the art for my life and I'm going to look to the call of Sony and association and hopefully you can become a virgin. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. We got it five p.m. at the paradise at the Queen Mary. Queen Mary and Paradise Remarket. Okay you got it five p.m. on Sunday that's at 2 way 11th.

Okay good thing. Okay thanks a lot. That's Dean Baptiste. No, no. That's me and Dean. Great musician. Based man over the years. With the express ban. I'm here. I'm St. Croix. Falada is so. California. I'm doing anything so Louis I will. Welcome to St. Croix. I command them. Now I'm saying looking forward to hearing from you. This weekend we got a side I can get in. Joining us number 11 and the ballad. You can be joining us. No for the candidate speak. Here in our number one. I'm on an analyze this. And we're going to get him a set up there. And then we get right right to a good morning. I'm saying I get in. Good morning. Good morning. How you doing? I am blessed. Thank you. It's nice to watch. Introduce yourself. Kenneth Kenny Gittens.

Number 11 on the ballot. November 3rd. I'm happy to be here. Thank you for the invitation. I just want to reach out to the people of St. Croix in particular asking them for their support. So I could continue the work that I've been doing in the legislature. What are you hearing or hearing on the campaign trail when you talk to the your constituents? Is voter apathy a real thing in a virgin house right now? You know, people are really frustrated and would like to see a lot more and I do understand and agree with them that we could definitely do a lot more, especially here in the St. Croix district. So I'm hoping that we will be re-energized and ready to move forward and make those changes a reality. You serve as the vice president in the 36 legislature? Yes, I do.

How has that been? It's been a good run this term. Talk about the term starting. What was the focus of the caucus in the legislature in January 2025 and where we are now compared to where we are now in October of 2026? Well, we definitely wanted to stick together as a group to challenge. I mean, not to challenge, but to address some of the challenges that we have in the territory of health care wise, GRS, public safety. We were able to tackle a couple of those topics, however, you know, we have so much more work to be done. I wasn't able to chair a committee because there's 11 of us and there were only a space for 10 committees, so I don't chair a particular committee but I've been active on every committee that's within the legislature.

All 10. What's the biggest issues for this territory? In your opinion. In my opinion, you know, accountability across the board. I think if we have people held accountable to do their part, that things will move a lot smoother. We have issues in various areas. However, I do believe that once we could get people accountable to just do their part, we'll be able to move these islands forward. What part, the biggest issue? That's definitely one of the hot topic issues because, you know, the cost is so high and then yet still, you can't rely on them keeping the lights on. So I'm looking forward to this added outcome so that we can start to do some of the things

that we know that the professionals or the experts are looking for us to do. We're talking with Senator Kenneth Gittens, number 11 on the ballot. The survey has six terms in the Virginia Islands legislature. We'll take a break here on the candidate's peak and come back right after this.

Healthcare costs are continuing to rise. Bank of St. Croix offers health savings accounts for individuals enrolled in qualifying high deductible health plans. HSAs provide a way to set aside pre-tax funds for qualified medical expenses, such as doctor visits, prescriptions, and other eligible healthcare costs. Contributions may be made by account holders, employers, or others on behalf of the account holder. Accounts may be opened with a minimum deposit of $25, earn interest over time, and our FDIC insured. Bank of St. Croix offers health savings accounts through its local banking centers and online. More information is available at bankofsynccroix.com. Bank of St. Croix, member FDIC. You took the first step in quit smoking, but even former smokers may still be at risk for lung cancer.

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I'm back here. I analyze this. The candidate speak. And the candidate on the mic this morning is in convention. The candidate can get in number 11 on the ballot. Come on in. Once again. Morning. So we are a uniform question that we ask every candidate as a related recovery. We asked for an numerical grade from 1 to 10. If you were to assess where we are now, 9 years you move from the hurricanes. 8 years you move from getting significant fund enter. Re-hardened our infrastructure. What would you open the Merkel grade B? Sadly, I'll have to be around at 3. I haven't been seeing much rebuilding. We continue to talk about having at least funding. But every time we have an update for a hearing, we can't see where these funding are being fully utilized.

So I mean, I don't really see the progress across the territory not just here on St. Croix. We could definitely start seeing the rebuild if we start to really spend some of these money. I just don't see it. Well, three is the cover answer. That's a uniform response. We're going to get an 80 to 80. I said about 80% of the respondents are saying three. Three itself. And then a couple of other sentry and have some same force. That's a uniform response to a uniform question. When we're going to have individuals calling us constantly, I mean, you know, at one point, we really thought that we were going to start seeing some action. And we were able to get people out of the homes, totally knocked down the homes. And then next year, you know, a whole year, two years later, you still don't have the first block going up.

So with that, you know, we're just not seeing the progress that we want to see. And then, you know, the big part of the whole thing, I saw the rebuild maybe of one house. And this lady got into a house some four, five years later. I mean, it's just not acceptable. No, the big part of it, I think I know about different areas that we have touched on. The main focus with the rebuild is energy 30% of the original eight billion dollars was set aside for energy. That was about 2.4 billion dollars. What are we doing structurally, not with the edits. What have you? But structurally because the governor and nonx couple of years ago, that FEMA agreed with them. And they were good for 600 million dollars for two plans, one in sync, one in sync, time. What are you hearing with respect to that? Well, I personally spoke with the CEO of WAPA and was trying to get an update of the move of the plant over an assault site.

And really, and truly, the conversation didn't go in the direction that I thought it would. I think that I've heard more positive feedback that we are in the process of moving the plant from where it's at over to the south side. But I didn't get that comfortable feeling that we would see this anytime soon. And I'm a bit disappointed to be case, you know, we've heard the governor over and over repeatedly saying that WAPA will be fixed before he leaves office. And I just don't see that at the same. Another area of concern with the recovery is the health care industry. The health care area, both hospitals, slated for our redo, two Bayonamas combined between the Schneider Regional Medical Center and St. Thomas and the Wanghev Louis hospital.

And St. Corey, what's your take on that? We got to do a lot better. And one of the problems, a major problems that I have seen with our health care system is that we don't collect. And in order for you to be able to manage your funds and what, now you got to be billing. People leave from the Virgin Islands and go to places like Cleveland Clinic and whatnot. And by the time you get back, you guarantee to have a bill in the mail. Here you go into the hospital emergency room. I remember back in the day as a young police officer. The first thing I mean, that I ask you, that know you're working for a government, that's asking if you have a signal. Yes, you have a signal. You pay your co-pay and whatnot. You're seeing and you're out of there until you get your bill. Now today, you're going, you don't even be asked anything or having to pay a co-pay.

I just had a conversation with someone the other day and they called my office to let me know too. Hey, listen, you know, we had a visit at the hospital and we're able to pay. And we weren't even asked for a co-pay. This has to be one of the reasons why our hospitals is in the predicament that it's in. So we got to start to collect and they're not doing that. You're the core ranking member of St. Croix Caucus. Having sold 12 years in the body along with Senator Francis. The relationship between the executive branch and the legislative branch throughout the years, I believe you've been a senator to three different governors, right? The young map. I know Governor Brown. What about our relationship and what can be done so that the relationship is more working together on behalf of the people?

As was articulated to me by Judge Warren, Hatchback and the day as opposed to the executive branch being in lockstep with other entities and it seems to be the executive branch versus the legislative branch. You know, what I think it was not I think I knew was you I remember one time you used to talk about the trefactor. Because we had you know, Democratic governor, Democratic Congress, Democratic led majority and whatnot. And we're supposed to make that work for the betterment of the people of the Virgin Islands. But oftentimes, you know, it just seems like administration after administration, everybody have their own agenda and then things change rather than you cap it to a liaison. What it is you have. So I'm looking forward that going forward with this upcoming administration that the three that we just spoke about government house Congress and the legislature will be able to sit together, come up with an agenda that we can meet.

And I'm not talking about having a whole laundry list of 15, 20 things to do and then you can't achieve one. But I'm looking at us sitting together, making sure that we talk about the things that we would like to see done and challenge ourselves, give ourselves a time period to get things done and move forward as one. You know, no, I heard that this particular legislature didn't even meet with the governor, which is a formality. A January meeting, typically the governor will. And then we have a meeting with the full body. And this is the second time this has happened that I know of. We happened with the 31st legislature. We actually actually had to. We actually forced that meeting because of something that we did in the very first session. Prior to that, you know, when I began serving in 2005 and I left every at the beginning of every term, the governor would entertain me like a formality.

The governor would entertain the body up to the government house so we could sit on and talk. What has happened over the years that something as rudimentary as that. Now requiring two, three months for the governor to meet with the legislature side. I don't understand. And honestly, it got to be. Eagles and people too busy. But then you got to put your egos on the side and you can be too busy to meet for the coming betterment of the community. So again, going forward, I hope to see a better relationship between all three Congressional representative and government house. Along with the legislature. You are. I'm a line of Christmas background. We got a problem here in the territory. Senator get things. And it starts with guns getting into the territory.

A commission out for my commission sat right here and told us that the the criminal element is so sophisticated now that they're actually getting guns into the territory. We are parts and assembling them here. What can we do? I mean, we keep talking about young people and all that stuff. So we also keep talking about legislator, but you can't legislate fixing a crane problem. We got to be more than that. Go be more comprehensive than that. What's your taking as a former police officer? So just like how they get the criminal element gets so sophisticated. Line enforcement and government period got to get sophisticated as well. So we have some of the most stringent or strong firearm legislation here in the territory. We just need to make sure that we have strict enforcement and continuous enforcement going on.

You know, we live in an area where we have open ports. So these firearms are going to get in here. All kind of how and sadly, I've always told my colleagues, you know, some of these firearms and illegal drugs are coming in even in the mail. And that's why we have addressed the ghost guns. The ghost gun issue and tighten up those legislation and whatnot. I've been working closely with the department of justice so that we can tighten up and do some amendments and some of these firearm legislation. Because when they come in through the ports and whatnot, customs is who's at the airport. We have a requirement that you're supposed to declear your firearm once you get into the territory.

However, there's no mechanism in place where the airline is responsible to notify the destination that someone is coming in with a firearm. Your only requirement is for you to be honest and declare your firearm. So honestly, you could declare your firearm at the airport and come in with the airline and come in here and don't declare it with the line enforcement entity at the airport. You could just come in and go straight to your car and drive off. We have to somehow try to get Congress involved so that we can have it from a federal level where the airline is required to notify the enforcement. But currently the local legislature can't require that. But outside of that, I'm telling you though, we just need to start doing some more enforcement.

We need to start seeing more traffic steps and whatnot out there on the streets. Often time traffic steps is what recover these illegal weapons in these cars. And right now I'm exploring legislation with a zero tolerance. Just like how you remember, we have the zero tolerance law with the drugs in vehicle. Well, I'm exploring zero tolerance legislation with illegal firearms in vehicles. And it was a retired police commissioner, Franz Christian. We always have these conversations. I speak with a lot of retired offices and commissioner Christian asked me one day, why don't you explore the zero tolerance legislation that is on the books for illegal drugs and do the same thing with the illegal firearm. This should reduce people allowing others to utilize their cars to commit crimes and whatnot because a lot of these crimes that we're seeing, they're being committed on bicycle or by foot, they're moving in vehicles.

I mean, just some time back, remember, we heard about this situation with them firing shots right down the street here by the police station that was supposed to be an arrest made. Soon thereafter and we haven't heard anything yet. So enforcement again is key. Let me talk about the environment. The brand, Russia administration, and nonx that we've been dealing with a financial shortfall. And we are on the right now. Tourism is the goal in ghost falls right now. And as a result, if you go ask people to come to the territory and come to parties, then it has to look like parties. It has to feel like parties. Indeed. And what's your take and where we are in terms of protecting and preserving our environment? So obvious reasons. And again, we could do a lot more. So let's take our downtown historic district. I've been trying to move legislation where we can lift the strict historic preservation requirement on buildings that are just old.

It's not everything that's old is historic. And therefore I know that our downtown area areas are in a historic district. But it's not every building that's in a downtown area is historic. So I am hoping that we can just authorize the historic preservation commission to let us know identify those buildings that are to be historically preserved. And let's keep those to the full historic preservation. But the others that are just old buildings that are not necessarily historic allow them to rebuild and just maintain the facade and the outside so that the tone don't look different. But I always tell people, you know, if you go to Charleston, South Carolina, downtown, you will be able to see what Christians said, Fredrick said, Charlotte, Amali, Supposed to look like.

As a matter of fact, Charleston, South Carolina has the same exact street layout as Christian said on Fredrick said with the same identical street names. The only thing is is that St. Thomas kept the Danish names and on St. Croix, we have King Street, Queen Street, King Cross, Hill Street, etc. And in Charleston, South Carolina is the same thing. I experienced it in 2018. Yeah, St. Street is the waterfront street. King Street is your main street. When you go down and you reach to the end of the main street, the first thing you see down at the end of the main street is that circular bandstand. Correct. Sorry. Hold on. We're going to take a break. And then note we got Senator Kennedy Gettys, number 11. And the ballot here on the candidate's peak will take a break. Pick up the discussion right after this. The global order as we know it is changing rapidly.

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We're back here. I analyzed this. We got the candidates beac. And Senate. I can't. Can it get ends here in the studio seeking a seat to return to the legislature. The 37 legislature will convene on Monday. January 11th. I'm looking back throughout the years when you first got in in January 2013. And now what's the biggest difference between legislating then and legislating now? Well, that's a good one. Well, legislating then for sure. You know, it was all new to me. And I mean, I think I have the grip of it. But the thing is is, you know, to get like mines in order to get bills passed.

And, you know, going back to that historic preservation, downtown discussion. You know, that's something that I can't understand why we can't move forward yet. But that's that's what happens when you have 15 different mines and you don't have everyone on the same wave length. No, no, you were out at legislature in 17, 18 when you came back in in 18. You had a great relationship with what would be the incoming administration. What has happened since then over the years? What's in nature of the relationship? I saw them many times when you brought legislation initiatives and the governor would be countering it. What happened? Because one of the things that I experienced over the years, people want to know, if you're in the same party, why is it? Why so many times you're not in the same page? What is it about that? Exactly. And that's what I was saying that, you know, going forward, we need to make sure that we communicate with each other.

And have an agenda that we would like to move forward. Again, you know, I just, I just have to call it a speed. I just think that it was egos and people just doing what they want to do. And sometimes if it's in my ideas, not a good idea, but if you have a plan or an agenda that you want to move forward, then you would work towards that goal. But that hasn't been the case in the last couple of years. And it's been real strenuous. And only the people is who will suffer in this instance. Any regrets about your controversial legislation, respect to the symbol and the ballot? When the, it appears that the Republican party and the ICM party, their numbers have reduced tremendously. They used to be a force back in the day.

They are no longer a force. It stands right now. They're only two parties in the Virgin Islands, Democrats and the nine Democrats. What about that argument? Because we don't hear like on the mainland, we're hearing a talk now because their soak, the line of demarcation is so deep with you either pro Trump or anti Trump and you're hearing, well, I'm voting down ballot because we just can't support who might be running for president, who might be running for US Senate. We got to support everybody who is running down the ballot. What's your take on that as relates to the Democratic branch? Because you've always ran as a Democrat. Well, I don't regret championing that piece of legislation. I mean, I've had some of the older party heads even threatened to not support me for that reason or whatnot. But, you know, can he get in and do that on his own? Obviously, I had a majority of members who are also Democrats that supported it. And you know that back then, maybe it might change a little bit.

No, but back then, what happened is that when you had the symbol on the ballot, when you press a symbol and then press to vote for somebody who is a non-democrat, that became an issue because you had spoilt ballots. No, that's not supposed to be the case at the same. However, what's required is for them to have a picture on the ballot. That's not taking place because then the picture will be too small on the ballot. So what I've been trying to advocate for, and I don't think that we need to legislate it, but the board of elections need to think about it, I think that when you walk into a poll in place, that you should be able to see a big banner in the common area before you get into the vote in boot area. But you're supposed to be able to see a big banner with all the pictures up, the name of the candidates, and their... I mean, the photo... The ballot number, right? All the photos. The other photos, yeah. With the name, and the...

I mean, if you want, you can put the party affiliation and the number. But I remember, too, as a young police officer, that people will come in there just with a small paper, and all they have there are numbers. The wouldn't have names is the number that they're looking for. So I'm saying, even if I were to come in there and just say, I'm challenged at reading and whatnot, but I have the numbers. I will go in, and if this big banner that I'm talking about is up with the picture and whatnot, I know the person more than likely who I want to vote for. And if I look up and I see a number 11, and yes, that's him, when I go in, that's what I'm looking for, the number. The next thing that's really confusing is that all of us have to be clear at the same time to run for public office. Yeah, the common fun. But still, you have two different dates that you're going to poll your lot number.

So during the primary election, I was number 10. In this general election, in the same election cycle, I'm no number 11. It's confusing to people. But that doesn't mean that's wrong. No, no, no, no, no. Because keep in mind, no, a primary election is a nominating process. Yes. And a general election is the actual election to see who's going to represent. No, don't get me right. I didn't say it's wrong. No, I never said the right. I never said the right. I'm just saying that they cannot because I know where you're going where people, they are those who are advocating for whatever number you had in the primary, you hold on to that for the general election. Because they're two different, if you're different processes going on. If you want to make things easier for the electorate, I think that's one area that they need to look at. And if they don't, then again, that big banner I'm talking about in the general area, if you had number half the change, then at least have it up where people could view it just before you go in. Because it assists you with the process.

It just be smoother. No, but I had no way. I mean, we bring up a very good point, right? But the point that I'm making, and I learned this from Johnny Munson, right, was we know of a primary election and a general election. And folks equate both of them as being the same because they're both elections. But in reality, the primary is a nominating process. Yes, it is. So that you could determine. So it will determine who is going to represent the party. So, you know, we shouldn't even go there because you're right, this is a nominating process. And we determine who is going to be on the ballot, representing Democrats. And who should, which cycles back to what we were talking about earlier, sorry, which is the other parties don't even have primary. Right. No, and there was a time when Republican party, the Republican party, the ACM party, did have primary, it don't have it anymore. But then again, even if it's a nomination process, then the party should be able to fund that process for their nominees.

You would think that the Democratic party with its numerical dominance would be doing that, but... By no. But yeah, but see, you see, that's the beauty of this conversation that we have in now. We're exchanging perspectives and ideas. Other states have primaries and the government pays for it. Why do we want to beat up on the Virgin Islands, beat up on ourselves so much? And you got states that have millions of people's voting in their primaries. Well, I don't look at it as beating up on ourselves. I think so. I think what it is is the Republican party and the ACM party, because throughout the years, their roles and their numbers have been dwindling. The biggest target is the easiest target and they beat up on the Democratic party. I look at it as being responsible with the finances. That's a perspective. Yeah, well mine. Yeah, yeah. No, no, no, no. I said there are certain ways to look at them and justify it.

Right. And that's a justifiable argument. And if we can't afford it, that's a whole different thing. Right. So with that, I mean, I've seen where there was a nomination process where the party handled its own nomination. Just like how they handled the nominations for when they want to travel to the DNC and whatnot. They could utilize the same voting machines rented from the election system and run their own party primary. But this is a conversation for me. I don't know if you realize it. That's the beauty of the American process where you have dissent or you have agreement. For example, people may not know who's a senator that moved the legislation to create all the voting. That was me. What's the saying? I mean, I'm not talking about it. I just said it. Yeah, I'm saying you cannot. You are the starman. No, no, no, no. I moved that piece of legislation in my first term. And look at what is evolved to women.

We only first started. People were struggling with it. Yeah. Now, it's the most popular thing. Now, three quarters of the people who vote in an election to include the nominated process of a primary vote early voting. You know who I often think and with this early voting, man, and again, what are we? Thrills, right. My mother. My mother would have definitely wanted to utilize that because I mean, she was somebody that, I mean, she always took me to vote with her as a youngster. And I could remember her. I was telling me when I turned up my glass, you don't turn it down. I ain't coming here to make up my mind. My mind don't make up. Correct. So who am I who I'm voting for? And so, while the excitement of the day is, is, is, is all well and good for some. And people don't like cultural and cultural. And cultural. Yeah. And some people just don't like the hassle. And to walk into the election system office, vote and get out.

Man, the other day, even when I did that, I think I was like, I got there. I was number 10 or something. I got out in 10 minutes and said it was something with 10, 10 and 10. Seven minutes for me, man. And I was like, wow. I'm looking at how you want to vote paper. You want to use a machine. And I love to see when I see our elders be able to go in and just flow in and go out. And they tell you how, what a good process that they had. Two further questions. And let me, let me also credit, if I may, let me credit former Senator Adele-Bott-Bott-Brenn for that idea as well. I was on the board elections at the time. Right. And we were working on some revisions. And that was one thing he asked me to look at. He believes that it would have been something good. And I sure thought of that. And I cite as a benefit for our seniors and disabled in the video. Should you be elected to the 37th legislature?

You feel good about where you are foundationally? That you could hit the ground running, come January? Definitely, because my record speaks for itself. And I'm an advocate for the people out there and championing the cars in our community. Put up a tie on this appearance here and analyze this. Tell the people name, number and why they should be elected to be a senator for the 7th time representing the district as the inquiry in the version of this legislature. Kenneth Kenny-Gitins, accountability, transparency. And again, I'm one of your biggest advocates in the legislature, championing the issues within our territory. And I'm a humbly asking for your vote on November 3rd. You know, I, the other day I came up with something and I said, you know what? If heaven is your choice, then number 11 on the ballot should be your choice as well. Kenneth Kenny-Gitins, number 11 on the ballot. So thank you, James.

Thank you very much for joining me here. I'm the candidate speaker, like I told Senator Frankie Johnson yesterday, right? Until I order the West, right? Yeah, I told him the questions and the tone of the conversation that I have with incumbents are different from those who are aspirants for obvious reasons. You're, you, you have a record and you're asking to be returned to the legislature. Aspirants are being considered based on their potential and that's the reason why the conversation isn't so much about what do you think about Crane? What do you think about that? Well, they're in comments. It's about what has happened, how you feeling as well as a direction, what have you and I'm glad to have you here on the candidate speak this morning. Good luck with the campaign. And my promise to the people is always to do my best and to be honest and transparent.

That's, that's my promise to the people. I don't promise to do things that that's outside of my limit. We got 26 days until November 3rd, but we have eight days until early voting starts. I believe it was 16. That's next week Friday. And it runs through October 31st. Okay, 16 days, including the 16th. Santa, thank you very much for joining us on the campaign. Thank you so much for having me. That's Kenneth Kenny Gittens, number 11 on the ballot. There we go. That's in comment center from St. Croix serving his six terms. I have a Kevin Gittens. Kenny Gittens, out to the West joining us here, number 11. And the ballot tomorrow, we're going to have two more candidates joining us at large senator. I'm going to have a ball. I'm going to be joining us in eight o'clock, and then during the next. I'm going to see in John district, Eugene Farrell joining us as well. Here on the candidate speaker.

Then we got four more days, actually three more days because I'm on the table. So we got two, they went in Thursday. And then early voting officially starts next week Friday at 12. And then we got 16th. And that runs for two days, for the three days remaining. And that week I'm starting the following Monday, two more four weeks after that as well. So we'll take a break and come back right after this. Check. Nothing? Definitely. So, this is where the VOBsc分享 actually... Will you... The views and opinions expressed on analyzed this are entirely those of the on-air participants

and do not reflect those of the station's board, management, staff or underwriters. The PBS NewsHour has a rich legacy of in-depth reporting and strong storytelling. Only four people have sat in that chair before us and the enormity of this moment is not lost on me. People turn to us because they know they can hear from trusted sources of information and news. That will change a bit even as the face is behind the desk change. Good evening, I'm Jeff Bennett. And I'm Omnitivaz. Weekdays at 7pm on WTJXTV, Channel 12. When we pursue only convenience, we miss those hidden connectors that give our lives meaning. When nearly anything can show up to our doorstep with just a few clicks, what's the point of pursuing something more challenging? This is a show that celebrates the people around us that haven't taken the convenient road to where they are. And they remind me that life's meaning often comes in the pursuit of simple pleasures. I'm Georgia Pellegrini and this is Modern Pioneering.

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