Thursday, September 24, 2026 - Part 2

0:00The views and opinions expressed on analyzing this are entirely those of the on-air participants and do not reflect those of the station's board, management, staff or underwriters. We're back here at Lake Sesson One Tank, Jose B. Sikon's always for joining us. On the candidate's peak, he's counting up on the name. Bianca Francis is going to be joining us later in this OSO. We got a Frank E. Reiss laying up there. It's my understanding that one of the listeners, they hardly says childhood friend, I.V. I.V. Headman, right? She said we don't tell me that he, so that she, today's our board day. So happy board day, I.V. man. So, I know you've been telling me about Frank E. Reiss, I have to find out Frank E. Reiss classic

1:10to Portania. So we're going to knock that one out, get it out of here. And then once we do that, right, then we could welcome him. Miss Na, what candidate? Bianca, I think it's S.A.V.L. Francis, I don't know if I can forward to talking around. You're not going to tell you something, right? Don't hold it against me, right? You're not being biased. Don't hold against me. But as a former senator, it is always refreshing to see the young people stepping up and getting into the political arena. Do not interpret that as I'm anti my age or those who are older than I am. It's not. But, right? The natural progression of our people in general is for the cycle to work.

2:15And in order for the cycle to work, you cannot have stagnation. I'm going to use the R word because people might interpret that the wrong way, right? But stagnation. And leave it like that. Right? You got to have, you know, for a certain amount of time, the next generation stepping up. And it's always good to see our young people stepping up and offering themselves. So let me get our Frank E. Reiss classic. I don't know if I'm wrong. We're first listening. We're first on what listening. But, um, something that's not. I'm not a co-bell. I'm not for questioning some music. It is what it is. Jam is still good. Nothing else. So, Ivy, since I was a boy, right? Right? And I know you've been acting more, Frank E. Reiss, but this for you, man. Okay? Enjoy. Right? I'm not a cycle around the sun.

3:15Frank E. Reiss, ladies and gentlemen. speaking in Spanish speaking in Spanish

4:18Saboriéndonos tan leo si tan cerca Ah, eso se me jano De que llegué a que no peñan Le equifractivo el mismo Te traigo mi cuarto Con el desero, convertir, con fantasía Y el trastrismo a mis cuartos manos Me agarricían y sin ti perueltí Me vuelvo loco Y onmecen mal a memoria de tu abrazo De la pasión, que cuerpo a cuerpo Nos quedamos y me la pasas Te andote Que Unir a poco a chate No che deseándote Para unirme en tu sabismo

5:20Intentándote Cuando tiempo y me derramos sobre ella Te andote Así mismo como estás tú Ese andome En la parzada y otros labios Saboriándome Saboriéndonos tan leo si tan cerca Te deseándote Cada día, cada noche De deseándote Mujer cada día, cada noche Te andote Cada día, cada noche Y me quema la memoria de tu abrazo Y la pasión de tu cuerpo

6:28Te deseándote Cada día, cada noche Mujer cada día, cada noche Mujer cada día, cada noche Mujer cada día, cada noche Para unirme en la bismot de tu cuerpo Te deseándote Cada día, cada noche De deseándote Cada día, cada noche Saboriéndonos tan leo si tan cerca Cada día, cada noche Cada día, cada noche Cuando nuestros cuerpos encuentran Disfrutamos tu y yo C'mon! C'mon! C'mon! En la parzada y yo C'mon!

7:28C'mon! C'mon! C'mon! C'mon! I don't know, I am biased towards my quarter of the music. I know that right. I've been playing myself at the last couple of games, right? But I'm obligated to put on some type of quarter of the music. I know we had a win in earlier. The Blinky, all right? I can find a gym here before I'm going to see it or not. I can't stand it. I can't stand it or play. You know, I know something. I can stand the winning anthem, the quadril anthem.

8:36Put on a bad manja, I'm going to submit my bad Nerf first humble. But in James' journey, I have to submit bad manja. So my bad Nerf first humble. Go here, saxophone and banjo at his famous, you know, he's voice in the one. That's a quadril anthem. Put on a bad manja, just like how he pronounced, I'm sorry, it's very bad manja. And you see that red on white. You know, he's a beautiful picture of the post office square in St. Thomas. Put on a voice on the, so they could hear some of that saxophone that we're going to bring in on. Candidate number. I believe she's number six in them. Number five, isn't it? Yeah man. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah man, that's a, you know me?

9:38Yeah. This toilet, the papa family know that we're there right there right now man. It's a Michael Malone, doc school. Oh, I don't see Bastia, me, you know. Oh gosh. That band, you know, Fosura. It's for I. Man. So, I don't know, so, so, so they go here not only the sax. But that band, you know, Fosura. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Erie Bruce. Tell him what was the music. That guitarist, that man, that man, that man, that man, that man. Oh gosh. That's a clear. And that's a clear. Then, I can't believe it. That's a clear. Yeah. That's a clear. Yeah.

10:38Is it the band? Yeah. I don't know. Yeah. The best thing is the music. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We're going to sign these up here with some spare tax on this unit

11:39Before he passed away all Aradayam told us everything is right As we fiberlyю You know, uh, when, when it doesn't I quite do it. And the colors are ladies forward.

12:40And the little civil. Just up it. And that, uh, that my dress. You know what I'm saying? Listen to this, this beautiful rendition of Bad Manja. Quite good music at its finest. I thought I would have the Williams on the saxophone morning. I'm from Cajunthres. Low and clear, Eddie Bruce out there seeing Django morning. So, let me get right to it. Uh, we have another candidate here in the studio number five. Number five. Bianca Acevito Francis. A little Francis Acevito. Acevito Francis. Acevito Francis. Welcome to the candidate's peak. Thank you. Glad to have you here. So, tell us about yourself.

13:41Uh, grew up where. Education, all that good stuff. So, my name is Bianca Acevito Francis. And I am a wife, a mother of two teenagers. Born here, third generation, Crujian of Puerto Rican heritage. And, um, I graduated from the St. Joseph High School. I attended both Barry and St. Leo. My background is in psychology, with a concentration in clinical therapy and counseling. And I am also the president and founder of the nonprofit, the butterfly effect incorporated, which was founded to support and empower the youth in our community. Why 2026 are you offering yourself to serve as a representative for the people in Crayway now? So, for over a decade, I've worked with both the youth and the elderly. And those are two demographics that's personal to me, because as a mother, I have two teenagers, and of course, I deal with my dad and grandparents who are aging. But it's the work that I've been doing on the forefront that I've seen and needs repeatedly of the families in our community.

14:43And I understand that my reach is limited through personal work. And, you know, to reach the level that I wanted to see, the changes that I want to see, it would have to be shifted through policy. So, I had to change vessels from focusing through my nonprofit, and taking the lead and seeking office to see how I can work with my colleagues to change policy and to strengthen what's already here. So, you're saying that you're tired of watching and talking, and you want to be a player? Correct. And, I mean, I, community services, and I guess, the Public Service, should be the foundation of every public servant. However, the reach is limited through just nonprofits. A lot of our issues are not just immediate relief. We need policy changes. And I know that while the work really forks important, there's not much focus. People talk about youth and elderly as talking points.

15:43For me, it's personal. For me, it's work I've been doing. And I need to see more shifts. I need to see more interest in both demographics. Tell me about Barriens' Leo's experience. You come from a small island. You go to Miami and Tampa, right? Yes. Right? What was that like? So, Barriens University was like Caribbean schoolers. It was just like Zangri, you know, with the one and I was like, well, don't mix and pat. So, my sweet mates was from Turks and Kiko's and Abahama. So, it was not much different to home. And then Barri I completed online. So, but my, I'm sorry, St. Louis, St. Louis completed online. But Barri, I, you know, lived in the dorms. But it was just like being home. Then you came back home? Then I came back home. I worked on the hospital for a private company in the hospital. And I was interested in healthcare management but shifted to psychology where I completed a site. I graduated with a concentration in clinical therapy and I was really to work to mentor the youth within my nonprofit.

16:43That was, that was the idea. Never really was running for senate. It's until I hit those barriers and I realized that, yes, we have legislators and they're working. But their interests were not my interests. So, I kept being placed on a back burner with my needs. And I said, you know what? I need to take the forefront. I need to take the lead and try to become active. What are you hearing out there? Is voter apathy? I asked this question to Alda Candace. Is voter apathy real? Are people out there who are not by the political process? Based on what you're talking to? Based on who you're talking to? Yes. Yes. People have a distrust for government. And they've basically almost a given up. And we need to shift that mindset. And this is why I tell a lot of voters, young and older. Because they know I know they say, well, they're young voters. But young and older, they're tired. They feel that their vote does not matter. They don't have a say. But it's not that. You know, I tell people politics is everywhere.

17:43Politics govern all of us. Everything we do. So, if you have a complaint, you need to exercise your right. You know, this is the first time I'm talking to you. And I can see that you've done your homework. And I believe this conversation over the next 40 minutes is going to be fruitful for those who are listening to candidates wanting to hear what you have to offer as a release to representation. And that's what the job is. It's about representing the people that are in the first-hand legislature. We're talking with Miss Candidate Bianca Aceviela-Francés. She's number five on the ballot to be a senator representing district of St. Croix in the 37 legislature. We'll take a break and be back right after this. . .

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20:47And you deserve support. If you're struggling with life after service, don't wait. Reach out. Three sources at V.A.Docco of Slash Reach. Brought to you by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the Ad Council. I went back here and I lay this with the candidate speak and the candidate on the mic. Is Miss Bianca, I said, we're the Francis. Good morning once again. What part did I learn from? Christiana said Easton. So my my great-grandmother was Clara Loyo. She owned Clara's markets and company street. Okay. Yes, I was my great-grandmother. Wow.

21:48I actually had my business for 11 years. I had a nutrition club there. So I met a lot of people, a lot of people who came and shared memories of her with me. But I also grew up with her. So I was able to have her for 17 years. She passed away when I was 17 and she was really the backbone of the family. And the one who instilled a lot of my moral and values. And really I would say the foundation of my community work, seeing her, seeing, you know, not just hearing about her, but experiencing her and all that she did within the community and hearing her stories. And really, really influenced me and becoming who I am. Yes, I'm also a saint. So you're going to say it? Yes, I'm a saint. And I had 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, but I did attend Provilarson for three years. I did a year in Alumacol. And then I went to St. Mary's, I graduated from St. Mary's 8th grade and then I graduated from St. Joseph. Okay, good. Some of you. Yeah, let me talk. Recovery. You were here for Maria, you were in Ireland or Maria?

22:48Yes, I was. And I also had a business that time. Nine years ago, a couple of days ago, it seems like yesterday. I asked this question for a grade, a recovery grade, numerical grade, one being poor, ten being excellent. What's your take? Numerically, you get the grade. I would say six. Six. Okay. That's not been the majority. A lot of people have been given a lower grade. And so explain why you say it's a six. I would say a six. I mean, with the government, I think that we could have been more prepared. However, deployment of resources to me came rather quickly through like the National Guard. So deploying those services did come quickly. And I assisted a lot with distributing water and also some of the memories.

23:50So I've seen how quickly that came to fruition. And then as a business owner, access to grocery stores and to the supplies I needed, it did come rather quickly. No, the part where like, Wapa, that took a while. I did receive power within a few weeks, but my store was in town. So what I did not, I chose not to open, not because I couldn't, but because one of the ingredients or what I needed in the necessities to make my shakes was ice. So I did not see fit for me to go and take ice, something that a lot of people needed for medication or for food to make some beats. So I used my store as a hub to allow people to come in, charge their phones, needed a break from what was going on in their home. So I opened up my doors more. I was like a resource center. And I saw that, or heard a lot of the frustrations, but people were not much frustrated with receiving services. There was more so with just the Wapa, the power and not being prepared.

24:54Do you believe that we've been, as a territory, we've been somewhat overwhelmed because of that amount of money that made available for us. And maybe we, as a people, weren't necessarily ready for that volubinance among that money and resources, 25 billion dollars in recovery for a territory whose annual budget is one to one and a half billion dollars. That's a big ratio, big, big difference. Yeah, but you see, it goes back in who you have in these in power. Yeah, yeah. Excellent. You have, we have in power. I won't say that we're not, we weren't ready. That's who you choose to put there. And what they decide to do with it. Biggest issue faced in the territory right now, well, actually, St. Croix, because you're running for St. Croix, St. Croix, Santa. What's the biggest issue faced in St. Croix right now, the European Union? My focus is primarily the youth. My biggest issue is lack of opportunities.

25:56Opportunities for the youth. That's one of the biggest issues I see. I hear all the time, you know, bring our youth back home. You know, we need our young people back home. We need our young people to stay. But stay for what, you know, stay, what are we building for them to stay? And what opportunities are we showing them? What realistically can we provide to them? And not saying that we don't have opportunity here, I think the issue lies in the pipeline to success. We need to bridge that gap between career, schooling and career opportunity. So bridging that gap and having more accessibility to the young people, we can definitely keep them here. Because we're building a territory, honestly, for other people to come and enjoy. Because our elderly are phasing out and our youth are not staying here. So who are we building this for? You are articulating that we are literally experiencing a brain drain here. I'm saying, you're opinion.

26:56We are experiencing a brain drain. And people are honestly they're tired, but they don't know what road to take. They don't know what road to take. No, let's talk WAPA. It's actually been worse since St. Thomas and St. John than on St. Croix. Not that we should be, not that St. Croix should accept where we're at, but the power outages what have you, the setbacks they've had with infrastructure. I'm saying, Thomas saying, John, St. John, has been just taxing. We don't want that here on St. Croix. The cost of living is directly impacted to the cost of energy. And you've been a business owner. You could speak to this not only as a residential repair, but a commercial repair. Talk about what you've gone through and what you hope to bring to the legislature when talking with your colleagues about relief legislation to actually get a sort of this

27:58protracted energy crisis. So when it comes to WAPA, I'm really hopeful that this new administration takes a lead on changes necessary as a senator or reaches a limited when it comes to those changes within WAPA. And I can't sell anybody a dream saying that as a senator, I could fix WAPA. However, I do feel that we can appropriate funding for renewable energy. I think that we are not using our resources. We have sun, wind, water, and we're not using or not, we're not tapping into it. It's untapped resources. But when it comes to WAPA, I'm hopeful that this new administration will definitely make that an interest. We've heard from our current administration that they would have fixed WAPA. We're to the end of that. And I have not seen anything. And as a business owner, while I did have high WAPA bills, I've seen a lot of surrounding businesses close down due to WAPA. And most of my products I needed, I had to import them.

29:02So they came, I had issues with the mail on different things. So there were different issues that really were a little difficult for me to navigate when they come to having a business here. But WAPA person was not the reason I saw most, well, it wasn't the reason I saw my business have to close. But most of the surrounding businesses did close due to WAPA. Let me ask you a question. For somebody who never run for office before, you suddenly get being like this, you tell me. You are giving, you just gave an answer. That is very, very rare. Where candidates give the impression or want to give the voters the impression that they got all the answers for our problems. And you literally just said, I don't have all the answers for our problems. And you're looking forward to the executive branch because it's going to be a new administration as well. But does it know? Yeah.

30:02But did you also say, no, but you also said that there are limits that, with the legislature? Yeah, there is. And one of the historical problems we've had in the Virgin Islands is we've had candidates and successful candidates who became senators, who gave the impression that they could do everything. And you're literally saying, upfront, you're taking a political stance. You're letting them know upfront that you know their limitations within the branch of the first government, I mean within the first branch of government. Yeah. The thing is, you know, when I decided to take on this role, I had to educate myself. I had to know what I kind of cannot do, what my limits are. So I knew that while I was able to provide immediate leave through my nonprofit, I needed to change vessels to explore policy to find out what the issues were that I can nip in the bud through strengthen in the system. And now as a senator, I know that I cannot fix WAPA. I cannot tell you I could put pen to paper and say, as I get in, I'm going to make this

31:06happen. What I can say is that we can work, I definitely will work with the executive branch. I work with our new, you know, administration. But what I would like to see is more funds being put into renewable energy that I think that's our way out. It is not I think, I know, I know that's our way out. But we're not utilizing it. You know, we don't have the weapons to solar, I was solar planned. What happened to our wind turbines, we have hydroelectricity. You know, we have water, we're surrounded by water. Sun all year round, wind, you know, our tree, why are we not utilizing that? So the one thing I heard when I asked those questions was funding. Okay, well, as a senator, I could walk with funding. You know, we could find where the money is at. But to fix WAPA, that I know that is all time I reach. But then let me ask this question. Executive, chief executive, the executive branch, they believe that, but it just comes with

32:10a territory. They got the biggest branch in government, right? 600 million dollars for the most part. Legislature, 20 million, 20 to 25, the judicial branch, 30 to 35 million. So let's face it, from a numerical standpoint, the executive branch has, is the dominant branch numerically. Do you think the legislature should be, play a greater role with the executive branch in this recovery? Because if we don't fix it now, there's a possibility that we could be left behind for another generation, we can't afford that. Of course, of course, and, you know, senators have the power of oversight. You know, you ask the questions, you could request at it, you could find out where the money is going, you know, re-appropriate funding. So you find where the gap starts. What's falling through the cracks? You know, what's working, what's not? You know, where's the data?

33:12And I feel that they can play a greater role. And it lies in the interest. Everybody has an agenda. You know, we have 15 senators. Everybody's not focused on the same thing. However, you know, we need to all be focused on moving the territory forward. And I think that we're not holding one head. It's too much tension. And that's one of, I wouldn't say a concern of mine, but one of the things that I would like to see change is more collaboration within the legislature. You know, it's, I feel it's too much crime and environmentality, even with candidates running. You know, I'm like, we need to be able to work together. And I come from a foundation of collaboration. And I know that's the, how we were able to get most of the stuff going is because we're able to work together. So bringing that into office, I feel that we can accomplish a lot more. And that's working with all branches of government. What would you want? If there, they should be in school right now. But if we have younger ladies listening to Tabiyanka, Asaveo Francis, as I can, I'm

34:17kind of, what would you want for them to take from you based on what you're articulating when you're looking for their support? Yes. As a young people, it is a primary focus for a lot of candidates. Now it is. So I actually, I mentor a lot of young women. And you know, I try to say youth on a whole, even though I do focus a lot on young women because I mean, I'm a woman, so I can relate more to them. But for me, it's, I want them to know that there's no limit to what you can achieve. You know, that there's so much, there's more for you to build here. You have to have vision and you have to have trust. And for those that can vote, I encourage them to vote for those who can't. I encourage them to take a lead in understanding what our government is, what it can do to assist. And definitely to get involved. Talk about education. You were fortunate. I was fortunate.

35:18We were fortunate. But I will window close. Not fully close, but we've gone through the educational phase. Now we're in our professional aspect, the professional parts of our career. What are some of the areas of concern that you want to legislate and help on where education has come from? So I am struggling to pipeline between career and education. You know, I have, I know a lot of people are not going to go and do four-year university. You know, and that's what I've been hearing. I do mentor young women, but I do take time and sit and speak to our seniors. To kind of have an idea of what they want, because I have a senior on myself. My son is graduating in this school year. And it's true, my experience is in here. I'm a senior student. He's a graduate in this school year. But thank you. And I've had that conversation with him. And what do you want to do? And he gave me a list of things. And like I told him, I support anything that you want to do.

36:20I just don't support just sitting on my couch doing nothing. So what do you want to do to the military? You want to go to four-year university. You want to take out, you know, go to technical school. It's fine. But his thing is he doesn't even know what he wants. And it's because he felt that he did not have the support here going through high school, having, you know, the resources or the build experiences to the different technical careers, even though we have CTE. So he took electrical and for him was, he took it because he had to take it. So I told him, I said, you know, I need you to figure out what you want to do. I mean, are you going to stay home? And that's out of the question. I said, well, are you going to come back home? And he said, for what? So that hit home for me, you know, it's having a young person at home and having someone tell me, I don't have no reason to come back to St. Croix. And I'm trying to sell him a dream that I had to ask myself, do I even believe in this? So when I did some self-reflect and I said, you know what, we really need to push for change

37:26and work on definitely getting our young people to see the vision. So working with him and working with the students, I wanted to have the opportunity. So to clear that pipeline, to strengthen that pipeline so that they have that opportunity to go from, you know, high school, whether it's central complex or private high school, to UVI and then have something after that, where we can secure that they could have a job to go to whether it's in an office or whether it's a skilled work, something. We're talking with candidate number five on the Senatorial ballot, on the end of the Francis here on the candidate's seat. We'll take a break and be back right after this.

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39:57Next time on Finding Your Roots, three entertainers find good stories in their own families, my Rudolph. Cannot believe I'm looking at them. Shinder Rines. This piece of history is really powerful. And Keenan Ivory Waves. I could never see myself before. Distant relatives are closer than they think. I mean, that's shocking to me. On the next Finding Your Roots. Tune in September 29 at 8 pm on WTJX TV channel 12. Weekday mornings are a juggle. Sometimes even a struggle. Morning edition from NPR News eases you into your day and keeps your company through the chaos of a busy morning. Here interviews that give you context on the day's biggest stories along with reporting and updates on latest breaking news. Stay on top of the world with more in addition every weekday. Morning edition weekdays at 5 am to 8 am on WTJX FM 93.1.

41:19And we're back here. I'm out of my existence. The candidate speak. And we got candidate Acevero Francis Bianca Acevero Francis here in the studio. A couple of things during the break of the talking. The candidate said that she's intimidated by coming into the studio to talk to Dr. Neville Zayn. Why would you be intimidated? I don't do gotcha politics. One of the things I get beat up for is I enjoy having a conversation. Certain shows, people are trying to ask questions and then want them. What you didn't, you said this. I don't, I don't, I try not to get into that. We don't really deal in. In fact, we don't deal in my land. It's short, I think that's the distinction. We're an NPR station. So why would you be intimidated? It's because I've been a senator for 12 years. Exactly. Exactly. And you know, it's, I've been doing my radio interviews. And this morning I'm talking to myself in the room.

42:19Like, you know, Bianca, you have to make sure that you're prepared because he was a senator. You know, he can't be no flop. But I'm sure I did my homework before coming. You did your homework. Yeah. What is it? It's going to pleasure speaking with you. No, it's not a pleasure speaking with you. I'm an Oleg candidate and I mentioned earlier. And I told the audience that the whole thing against me are interpreted the wrong way. But as a former senator, there's nothing that pleases me more than see a young people step up. I want it to be a part of the process as opposed to waiting for the government to provide for them. So that to me, when I first ran, I was 40. Right? That was 22 years ago. I'm up there. And I'm saying, and I consider myself stepping to a pretty young age. So I think it's important that when you feel you're ready, you could be ready at 30. You could be ready at 40. You could be ready at 50, whatever it is. And you want it to be a part of the change that you're clamoring for. You step up and you ask for support. Definitely. And you know, it's like when you're ready when you're sick and tired,

43:23you know, and sick and tired of the same thing when you're tired of the complaints and realizing that, you know, you have to be the change you want to see. You have to be that change. You can't sit back and wait for somebody to make it happen for you. And I've been doing that a lot with my community work. You know, I'm just hoping that somebody would be as focused, as invested in it as I am. And I'm like, you know, why wait? You know, you can work with those who are there and make it happen your agenda could be to use under LDD. You know, we have a lot of issues on St.Coy and when the territory period. But I don't have to focus on every single thing. When you have 15 senators, if I say, you know, I'm going to walk in my strength, the youth and the elderly let that be that. You know, and I want to talk about what family this and I'm not in there. I'm a WAPA, but I also understand that as a senator, my reach is limited. With the hospital, that's personal to me too. Because my parents are not here.

44:23My mother-in-law is not here. And it's because we don't have a function in hospitals. And of course, maybe need medical care. And I want my mother-in-law to come for a campaign season. And I'm like, you know, I'm not paying a ticket. I'll go up for you. I'll do everything. And she's like the younger. The reason I don't want to go is because of the hospital. She said, I'll come down when my son is graduating next year for a week. But to spend two months here, she has a hard condition. So her fair is what if I need medical treatment? And I had to respect that. And I understand that. But that hit home for me. There's a person. This is personal. So I know that when it comes to things like this, I am investing. When it comes into things like this, I mean, that is my focal point. That's always my focal area. But my strengths lie in the youth and the elderly. And I do want to see change in those two demographics. You know, our seniors deserve to aid with dignity. And I use the reserve to have something tangible to come home to. A reason to stay, you know. Let me be devil's always here. What about, you know, I hear a previous candidate, former player of my Jose Gonzales, yourself, the youth and the elderly.

45:27What about you? What about the middle class? What about the middle age community? Where everything, the 40 to 30, let me say, like 35 to 55, where the brunt of all the pressure is on right now, remember now, every time I, like, when the governor comes here, at first thing, I say, Governor, Governor, how you do it? In other words, I ain't here to just ask you what, but this particular controversy, how you doing personally? Because you can't help someone if you're not in a position to help someone and to go physically deal with the issue. So how do we keep the working class age group of the community confident, because public confidence is one of the biggest things that we're struggling with. How do we do that so that they can provide for their children and also be there for their parents? Well, that aligns with what they're working on, not increasing minimum wage. The WAPI issue that we have with the high class and groceries. So it's what we make, but also our expenditures.

46:30So if we focus on bringing down the cost of our necessities, our essential groceries, WAPI, then we can have good livelihood here. We can have a good livelihood, but those things will be working with the executive branch on WAPI, then grocery costs, and we import a lot of our stuff. So it's getting into agriculture, and those are things that I'm focusing on as well, and I'm actually working on a project with agriculture. If we're growing our foods, if we have more opportunities in agriculture, so that we're not important so much, then that also can help with the cost of groceries. I think the biggest issue is we spend more than we make. When we was able to raise a minimum wage, businesses are going to have to raise their costs of stuff. Yes, it's all positive, but really, our food and groceries are too high for us to survive.

47:35You cannot talk about it. Look, you know, you're telling us, being a speedy, you're literally saying that we're in a deficit. We are in a deficit, but again, it's things that can be worked on if they're going to work on it. And I don't want to sit and say, you know, it's not their interest or whose interest or... But it's not there, in that case, it would be we. But... Because you're looking to get elected to be a part of the solution. Well, that is correct. That is correct. But I'm talking about currently now, you know, things that could have been done. There we go. That as a regular community member, things that I too struggle with, things I have questioned. I mean, my husband works for DLC, and I'm on him all the time, about the rising cost of groceries. And now I understand more obviously, and pricing, and pricing of goods, and pricing of services, and why it's price. So, and as a business owner, I also understand, you know, the high import costs. So, all of those things, we live in an island, we live in paradise.

48:36And I sometimes tell people, you know, we really pay to live in paradise. However, we should not be paying this much. Let me ask this question. Can we spoke about it during the break? You say you don't like the political process as it is right now. Early voting starts in another 22 days, right? Yes, it is. 24, you got six more days. And then October 16, you liked it when everything was focused on a particular day. There's a cultural aspect of that. Talk a little bit about that. Let talk about the human side. I don't want candidates to just come here. I got to talk about this particular issue. Talk about it on the human side, but your desire is your likes. So, my experience, because this is my first time running for office, but my experience, I'm a doer, right? I like to get to work. I don't like the fluff. And the campaign in part for me was a little exhausting and having to check out the boxes, please, all these people, and showing up for this, doing that. I like to get the work done.

49:37So, in that part, the whole campaign in part, it was not my preference. I like to get to work done, but in preparing for the election, the early voting, I feel two weeks, I guess I'll add up to my team members. We're not preparing for November. We're preparing for October 16. Because when our vote has gone cast, cast that vote, they cannot go back and change their mind. So, we have ex-amounted days before October 16, for people to know who Bianca is and what she plans to do, what she plans to do to help move our territory for, who she is as a person, her character, her work ethics. So, it's really an overdrive. It's like every day we're working over time to allow the people to get to know who I am. And most of the work that I've been doing over a decade has been on, you know, the background. And my face has not been the center of a lot of the things. So, when I'm introducing myself to people within conversation,

50:37they're like, okay, yeah, I know about this initiative, but I didn't know it was you. So, where you think, like, you're doing a lot in the community, people know your work, but they don't know your name. So, it's been, it's been not tough, but tougher than expected. Getting my name out there, you know, showing people who I am, what I've been doing, what I've been contributing to, the community and what I plan to do. But, yeah, two weeks before voting, there's a lot. You feel that there's a change, movement, out there when you talk to the voters. If you feel that 2026 could be a change here or not a business as usual here, as it relates to the electric officials. Every year, every election time, I hear the same thing. This is going to be the time for change. But, I'm hearing a lot more of our season voters, really ready for change. Before, we'll be like, oh, yeah, we're changing, but they're taking more of an approach.

51:40I want people that are going into office to work, not just to make noise. And that was a big thing for me because I grew up hearing of the political side of you here, the RARA, and noise making, but I was not talking with the action behind it. So, now our voters are more, they're ready for change, they're ready to see something tangible, not just the noise. So, I do see a shift in that. But, again, we hear every time, is, oh, this is going to be a different year. We're going to put these in people back in. And I'm like, you know, we need to put the people back in that are doing work. But then we also need more, you know, new people who come from community base, who know the people, who can walk alongside the people, who will do the groundwork as well. Because, you know, one thing is to sit there and sit and have a title, but another is to actually put in the work, the effort that's going to meet change. I want environment, people tend to take it for granted. You mentioned it a while ago, we did in paradise. But, you got to work to protect paradise as well.

52:40Because if you're negligent, paradise will decay. Talk a little bit about environment and how important it is to have our environment at its apex. Because we do live, we're a tourism driven economy. You know, we're a consumer driven economy. We're not manufacturing anything right now. There was a 45, 50 year period, we were manufacturing. With the refinery that has shuttered some 12, 13, 14 years ago. What about our environment? So that's something that I had also brought up as a talking point with my team when I speak on the effects of a country, we had our Dekinae environment. But with the refinery, you know, we had the air pollution, we had water pollution. So we had all of that. Like you said, right now we're not running the refinery. A lot of the impact is still there. I think we need to strengthen DPRR by allowing them more oversight, giving them the tools necessary to be able to have a stronger oversight and our

53:45environmental protection. I think they lack funding, one thing, the tools and the training necessary. And that's our biggest problem right now. But the federal side, we know our current president, his focus is not on environmental protection. You know, and so he did away with a lot of the funding and the grants that we received. However, I think locally we can shift that oversight to DPRR and equip them with the tools necessary. Final question before I give you a chance to put up a tie on this appearance here on the Canada to speak your support of libraries. And right now everything is cell phone, this cell phone, that you began to libraries. I am big on the libraries. I actually, same thing I said, I had a, was mandatory for me to get a library card. You know, and I was selling some money like my kids, and I'm a shampoo set as I've never walked into a library. I mean, it was not functioning for a large part of their time. But I actually told them, I said, listen, we're going to go and get you a library card and they're like, what?

54:48But libraries don't just have to be books. There's library, I mean technological changes. Libraries are now ebooks as well. But they should be able to know how to utilize the library, how to even to hold a book. So I am big on library and big on library support. And I'm also big on the evolution of what the library is to. And library is also a discipline. It's not just about going there to reach, but just going in a setting and having something for the youth. Yeah, yeah. Do you want to be quiet? Do you want to? I want to focus. You can't make, you can only make extra money. Yeah. That's a good thing. Yeah. They can't do it. Her name, the number, why she should be supported and voted for beginning on a tour of 16, ending on of a minute or third. My name is Bianca Acevedo-Francés. And for over a decade, I have been the forefront of our community serving primarily our youth and our elderly. I do want to see a government that's dependable enough that our people don't have to depend on it. I want more for our territory.

55:50I support working and collaboration. I support our nonprofits. And I am eager and ready to take on this lead and be one of the leaders elected to serve in the 37th Legislature. I'm asking for your support, your vote early voting starts October 16 and our election day is no longer met there. So number five on your ballot, Bianca Acevedo-Francés. Ask your vote. Ask for your support and your vote again. Number five on ballot. Was it three times? One more for good luck. Yes, number five on your ballot. Definitely asking for your support, your vote. It was a pleasure to meet you. Likewise. I'm glad to have... First of all, let me check this out. Let me officially check out if you have any say. There's a lot of people being here. Good luck with the campaign. Thank you.

56:50More importantly, you and the other first time candidates, thanks for stepping up and offering yourself. Because the easiest thing to do is what I do. Which is coming here in the arena running my vote. Completed. Completed. So you've got to... But I think I paid my dues. I think I've heard. No, definitely. To do that. But for others, finger pointing and all that stuff, that's the easiest thing to do. Step stepping up and watching to be the change that you want. It is important. Thank you very much for joining us on the campus. Thank you. Again, I appreciate being here. No, I appreciate you stepping up on behalf of one of representing correct tomorrow. We got another candidate. Two more candidates. One for Senate, one for Board of Education. Lisa Charles, she can be joining us on the 8 o'clock hour and we're going to have Hendrix. And incumbent for the Board of Education can be joining us on the 9 o'clock hour. Until then, be good and be safe. 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.

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