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by pltm
(PLTM) - Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Hon. Myron Walwyn says that the members who recently walked away from the NDP and formed the new Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM), won their seats in the last election because of the work of other members of the party.
During a recent press conference, Hon. Walwyn was asked about his feelings towards the separation of the party, and the fact that the members—Hons. Ronnie Skelton, Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull and Archibald Christian—went on to form a new party.
These very individuals, he stated, gained political offices as a result of the work of members of the NDP who have remained.
“I remember joining the NDP…I was the first candidate to declare myself in 2011 because after looking at the party closer, I saw the ideals were good ideals...I came, Honourable Penn came, Honourable Caines came to the NDP when it was the lowest ever, losing an election 11 to 2, and we stuck with the party,” he said.
Hon. Walwyn further lashed out saying ,“Some of the same people touting for leadership now won elections on our back.”
He refuted their claims that their exodus from the party was as a result of the NDP losing its core values, saying that the members left because they lost the internal elections.
Hon. Skelton went up against Hon. Walwyn for the position of Chairman, while Hon. Turnbull contested against Hon. Marlon Penn for Deputy Chairman.
He said that if he had lost his bid for NDP Chairman to Hon. Skelton, he would have stayed in the party and worked alongside him.
“These things happen in life. I would say to you, I am disappointed in the way the matter was handled. If the election had gone the opposite direction, I would have been there. I know Marlon would have been there working with those persons,” he stated.
Th NDP Chairman disclosed that after winning the internal election, he met with Hons. Skelton and Turnbull.
However, he said, “Even after meeting with some of them on ‘what role do you want to play? Come work with us, work with Marlon and myself’…Waiting for a response only to hear they formed a new party. I’m disappointed.”
It should be noted that Hon. Turnbull publicly admitted to requesting a ministerial position during the said meeting.
