Nailah Blackman, Big Band And Stanley To Headline VI Consortium/WTJX Get-Out-The-Vote Event Sept. 29

ST. CROIX — The Virgin Islands Consortium and WTJX TV Channel 12 are partnering again for two major events leading up to the 2018 general election. The first will be a get-out-the-vote concert a la “Rock the Vote” that seeks to boost voter registration numbers among young people in the territory, while educating them on the importance of participating in the elections process.

Being held on the parade grounds of the Canegata Ballpark facility on September 29, the effort will include some of the biggest names in Soca, Calypso and Quelbe music. Nailah Blackman, a young and popular Soca artist out of Trinidad, with hits such as Workout, Baddish featuring Shenseea, Baila Mami and Sokah, among other chart-topping songs, will headline the show. Big Band from St. Croix, formerly Stylee Band, is expected to rock the crowd with local tunes such as the mega hit Big Jam and a surfeit of other popular songs. And Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights, whose following is large and dedicated, will no doubt get feet tapping with its signature sound of Quelbe.

Because the event is aimed at getting young Virgin Islanders involved in the voting process, access to the concert, which starts at 6:00 p.m. and ends at midnight, requires a voter’s ID card. Those who are not yet registered to vote will be given an opportunity to do so on the spot, as members of the Board of Elections and the Elections System of the Virgin Islands will be present to register individuals. If you’re not yet registered to vote, bring with you either a U.S. passport, birth certificate, DD 214 (military discharge document) or a U.S. naturalization certificate.

WTJX CEO, Tanya-Marie Singh, spoke of the public platform’s responsibility to provide information to the electorate during election cycles, while highlighting the need to encourage civic engagement among young people.

Big Band

“WTJX continues to be the public’s source of information during election cycles as we provide a platform for every candidate to present themselves to the electorate through forums and debates,” Ms. Singh said. “Our younger, eligible citizens are viewed as the most muted section of our population in the voting booth and it’s high time that we flip that. WTJX is pleased to partner with the Virgin Islands Consortium as well as the Elections System of the Virgin Islands in hopes of attracting qualified residents, especially younger ones, to register to vote while having a ridiculously fun time.”

Ernice Gilbert, president and founder of VI Consortium, echoed Ms. Singh’s sentiments. He said it’s high time that millennials — whose future he said in many ways depend on decisions made by the territory’s leaders — increased their participation in the election process.

“If millennials like myself want change, then we must get involved in the political process. That’s the only way politicians will take our generation serious and address our concerns,” Mr. Gilbert, 36, said. “Count It Up we hope will be the start of a wave of excitement among young people to affect change in the territory.”

Stanley Jacobs

The concert is one of two events that VI Consortium and WTJX are collaborating on leading up to the general election. The next, to be held on October 22 at the Starlight Lounge in Five Corners, is a debate among the top four gubernatorial candidates. The debate will be a two-hour affair, and will be carried live on WTJX Channel 12 and the station’s Facebook page, along with VI Consortium’s Facebook and YouTube platforms. (The Consortium’s Facebook page has more than 109,000 followers, and its website sees millions of page views monthly.)

Security will be provided by the V.I.P.D. and a private security firm. Vendors will be on hand to provide eats and drinks. And politicians will have the option of purchasing spots to promote their campaigns.