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by pltm
(PLTM) - Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Hon. Myron Walwyn says that the electoral race is between the NDP and the Virgin Islands Party (VIP). This, he said, is the view of the people.
He expressed these sentiments last night, January 12, during the NDP’s pep rally in Road Town, Tortola.
The General Election is due by April, and so far, five parties have declared that they are contesting.
There is the ruling NDP, VIP, and three new parties—the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM), Progressives United (PU), and the Reform Actions Alliance (RAA).
“I have been speaking to some people and they have been saying some things to me. Now what they’ve been saying to me, Myron we’ve been involved in the politics…we are seeing…This race is between two parties—NDP and VIP,” Hon. Walwyn stated.
Speaking on this, he urged that in making their pick between the two parties, voters examine the history of the two.
“Now, when you look at the record of the Virgin Islands Party and you look at the record of the NDP…NDP did far more good things for the country,” he asserted.
He pointed to the leadership of the NDP and VIP, highlighting that both he and VIP Chairman, Hon. Andrew Fahie, served as Ministers of Education.
“He was Education Minister for eight years, I was Education Minister for eight years,” Hon. Walwyn told those gathered.
Hon. Fahie served as Minister of Education between 2003 and 2007, and then again from 2007 to 2011.
When the NDP won the General Election of 2011, Hon. Walwyn took over the Ministry.
The NDP Chairman boasted of his management of the education sector, reminding of the increased pass rates at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, saying, “If you manage little well, you will manage much well.”
“Give me a chance as your leader. You all give me one term and I will earn the rest ,” he urged.
The NDP’s slate of candidates consists of Hon. Walwyn as an At Large candidate, along with former Principal of the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS), Sandy Underhill; former Chairman of the Festivals and Fairs Committee, Mr. Trefor Grant; and former Deputy General Manager of the BVI Electricity Corporation, Mr. Henry Creque.
Those contesting the for the district seats are local rapper and educator, Mr. Aaron Parillon for District three; Hon. Mark Vanterpool, Minister of Communications and Works for District Four; and former Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Sixth District candidate, Mr. Elvis Harrigan for District Five.
Hon. Alvera Maduro-Caines will be seeking reelection as the District Six representative, while Hipolito Penn will be running for District Seven.
The NDP’s Deputy Chairman, Hon. Marlon Penn will run once again for District Eight and Hon. Dr. Hubert O’Neal for District Nine.
They have not yet declared candidates for Districts One and Two.
Who Are The Others In The Race?
Meanwhile, the VIP boasts of a full slate, with the At-Large candidates being former Project Manager at the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board (BVITB), Mrs. Shereen Flax-Charles; former President of the VIP, Mr. Carvin Malone; Miss BVI 2013, Ms. Sharie DeCastro; and Mr. Neville ‘Sheep’ Smith.
The district candidates are Chairman Andrew Fahie, who will run once again for District One—a seat he has held for the past 20 years, and Mr. Carnel Clyne for District Two.
Dr. Arlene Smith-Thompson is contesting District Three, while the others are District #4 – Mrs. Luce Hodge-Smith; District #5 – Mr. Kye Rhymer; District #6 – Mr. John Samuels; District #7 - Dr. Natalio Wheatley; District #8 – Mr. Dean ‘Byron’ Fahie, and District #9 – Mr. Vincent Wheatley.
PVIM—the NDP breakaway party—under the leadership of Hon. Ronnie Skelton, has so far put forward seven candidates, while they court others.
The At Large candidates are Hon. Skelton; former NDP Women's Association Chairperson, Shaina Smith; and Apostle Carnel P. Fahie.
Hon. Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull will seek re-election in District Two, while former President of the BVI Taxi Association, Mr. Karl Scatliffe will be contesting for District Four.
For District Five on the PVIM ticket is former Customs Head, Mr. Wade Smith, while Mr. Jose DeCastro will be contesting for the District Nine seat.
Julian Fraser’s Progressives United so far only has four publicly declared candidates. These include Ms. Stephanie Brewley, commonly known as ‘the Brown Girl in the Ring,’ who will be contesting the District One seat and Hon. Fraser, who will be defending his Third District seat, which he has held for the past 20 years, since being elected in 1999.
Dr. Vincent Scatliffe, who previously served as Fourth District Representative under the VIP, will once again run for that seat, and for District Five, Dirk Walters will represent PU.
The RAA, which will only be seeking the At Large seats, is yet to formally launch or present candidates.
