VI Consortium To Introduce Two Broadcast Shows This Week

ST. CROIX — The Virgin Islands Consortium will launch two online broadcast shows this week in its new St. Croix studio, which had its grand opening on primary election night earlier this month.

While the company is working on a number of other programming to be introduced later this year, the two upcoming shows, starting on Saturday and Sunday, will be hosted by VI Consortium President and Founder Ernice Gilbert (Ashley Scotland will co-host one of the shows with Mr. Gilbert).

The Saturday show is called The Virgin Islands Political Consortium (V.I.P.C.). It was started by Mr. Gilbert early 2014 when he was a co-owner of then-radio station 102.1 F.M., Life Radio. (It’s now 101.3 F.M., Life Radio.) The show hosted all the gubernatorial candidates during the 2014 election year, as well as many of those who sought the senatorial office. It became popular for the tough questions posed by Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Scotland and Brenda Bertrand, known as “Maggie” on the show.

“We’re expecting to keep the spirit of the show intact,” Mr. Gilbert said. “I’m pretty excited about being able to keep our community informed on the candidates seeking office, especially during this critical juncture in the territory’s history. Hopefully voters’ decisions on election day will be based on relevant information and not emotion or other unimportant factors.”

The Sunday show, known as “The Weekend Quencher”, will be hosted by Mr. Gilbert and intends to feature a guest list that covers all what make the USVI whole. This includes entertainment, lifestyle, finances, government and more.

“Weekend quencher is supposed to quench one’s thirst for quality content following a long week of nonstop happenings,” Mr. Gilbert said. “Expect to see local celebrities, local star government officials, cooks, writers, entertainers and folks doing important things in our community.”

The months leading to November 6 are expected to be hectic for VI Consortium. The company has two major events planned in partnership with WTJX TV Channel 12: A get-out-the-vote event dubbed “Count It Up”, which takes place on September 29 and will feature a top Soca artist from Trinidad, Big Band and Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights from St. Croix. (More details on the event on a separate post later today.) The two media firms will also host a major debate in October, to be moderated by Mr. Gilbert, details of which will be shared soon.

“Nothing is more important than exercising one’s civic duty of voting,” Mr. Gilbert said. “Many don’t pay attention, but leaders are placed in power by the people, and the action of our leaders can make or break our collective future.”

Aside from the partnership, Mr. Gilbert said The Consortium will attempt to interview all the candidates for governor along with those seeking the senatorial office, before November 6, “even if it means hosting V.I.P.C. twice weekly,” he said.

V.I.P.C. will be held on Saturday at 6:00 p.m., and The Weekend Quencher will start at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Both shows will be live on The Consortium’s Facebook platform and the website via an embed code of our YouTube stream.

Feature Image: Part of The Consortium’s studio, located in Five Corners. (Credit: Cruselda Roberts.)