Speaking in the House of Assembly on May 18, Mather said he hopes elected leaders will not allow party politics and selfish agendas to derail them and prevent them from providing the quality leadership that the BVI needs.

“As I sit here today and in many more sessions to come, I implore all of us to recognize that we are not an elite group but rather the servants of our people,” Mather said.

He also said the government and the Opposition must better communicate among themselves and properly engage and inform the community. The first-time legislator said it is important that members of the Fifth House of Assembly leave a lasting legacy that future generations can follow.

At the same time, he called on residents to hold leaders accountable instead of waiting until the next election to speak about issues they aren’t satisfied with.

“To the youth of the territory — my people, I urge you to not let your voices be silenced. Let your outcry for a better Virgin Islands be across all party lines and make it louder than it has ever been. Hold your leaders – all of us – accountable. Do not go quiet in the next four years and wait for another election. The change will not come without constant chanting from every corner across our territory,” Mather implored.

Mather joins the rest of the elected leaders who have doubled down on their promises to improve politics during the new legislative term. All elected leaders have acknowledged that the actions of politicians have deeply hurt the community and have all vowed to work together to improve their behaviours and leadership in order to restore trust.

Despite these promises, residents are cautiously waiting to see how the legislative year will unfold and whether elected leaders will stick to their promises to act in the best interest of the population as they carry out their duties over the next four years.