“The new Chairman [Hon. Marlon Penn] might as well get ready to get re-elected to have at least a chance to have a government either 2031 or 2035,” he added.
Political commentator Claude Skelton Cline believes the National Democratic Party (NDP) has further damaged its credibility and is no longer a viable option for government in the next general elections, following fresh internal fractures emerging after the election of Hon. Marlon Penn as party Chairman.
Skelton Cline delivered the stinging assessment on his Honestly Speaking radio programme on Tuesday night May 13, just hours before the official launch of the People’s Leadership Movement (PLM), the new political organisation spearheaded by former Fourth District Representative Mark Vanterpool.
Skelton Cline suggested that Penn may need to survive another leadership cycle before the NDP could realistically position itself as a credible governing alternative.
“The new Chairman [Marlon Penn] might as well get ready to get re-elected to have at least a chance to have a government either 2031 or 2035,” he added.
Vanterpool, who unsuccessfully challenged Penn for leadership of the NDP during the party’s internal elections last month, has since moved ahead with the formation of the PLM, intensifying speculation of another major split within the opposition ranks.
According to Skelton Cline, the latest developments signal what he described as “NDP 4,” following years of repeated fractures and reunification within the once dominant political organisation.
“Now we have NDP 4. There was the original NDP. They split in 2019 and the NDP became PVIM [Progressive Virgin Islands Movement] – NDP 1, NDP 2. Earlier this year they came back and told us the family is back. Had a press conference; we together again. That was NDP 3,” Skelton Cline stated.
He added, “Then they had election on the 18th of April. That Saturday night by Sunday morning we heard some horses break their feet and now we hearing we have NDP 4. And we supposed to take you all seriously? We’re supposed to take your word for anything? Does your word mean anything at all?”
Skelton Cline accused party figures of misleading supporters during the highly publicised reunification exercise earlier this year, where former political rivals within the NDP and PVIM publicly pledged unity ahead of the next elections.
“You all went in there that night fooling off the people telling them it is kumbaya. The prodigal son is home and please kill the fatted calf, let’s throw a party. The family is back and we will submit to whatever the results of this election is,” he said.
The outspoken commentator said he was not shocked by the latest fallout, describing the unfolding political behaviour as “petulant, impulsive and transactional.”
He further argued that the instability within the opposition movement is far from over and predicted additional defections could still emerge in the coming months.
“The tree has not stopped shaking yet. There are still some more mangoes to fall from the tree,” he remarked.
Skelton Cline delivered the stinging assessment on his Honestly Speaking radio programme on Tuesday night May 13, just hours before the official launch of the People’s Leadership Movement (PLM), the new political organisation spearheaded by former Fourth District Representative Mark Vanterpool.
Skelton Cline suggested that Penn may need to survive another leadership cycle before the NDP could realistically position itself as a credible governing alternative.
“The new Chairman [Marlon Penn] might as well get ready to get re-elected to have at least a chance to have a government either 2031 or 2035,” he added.
Vanterpool, who unsuccessfully challenged Penn for leadership of the NDP during the party’s internal elections last month, has since moved ahead with the formation of the PLM, intensifying speculation of another major split within the opposition ranks.
According to Skelton Cline, the latest developments signal what he described as “NDP 4,” following years of repeated fractures and reunification within the once dominant political organisation.
“Now we have NDP 4. There was the original NDP. They split in 2019 and the NDP became PVIM [Progressive Virgin Islands Movement] – NDP 1, NDP 2. Earlier this year they came back and told us the family is back. Had a press conference; we together again. That was NDP 3,” Skelton Cline stated.
He added, “Then they had election on the 18th of April. That Saturday night by Sunday morning we heard some horses break their feet and now we hearing we have NDP 4. And we supposed to take you all seriously? We’re supposed to take your word for anything? Does your word mean anything at all?”
Skelton Cline accused party figures of misleading supporters during the highly publicised reunification exercise earlier this year, where former political rivals within the NDP and PVIM publicly pledged unity ahead of the next elections.
“You all went in there that night fooling off the people telling them it is kumbaya. The prodigal son is home and please kill the fatted calf, let’s throw a party. The family is back and we will submit to whatever the results of this election is,” he said.
The outspoken commentator said he was not shocked by the latest fallout, describing the unfolding political behaviour as “petulant, impulsive and transactional.”
He further argued that the instability within the opposition movement is far from over and predicted additional defections could still emerge in the coming months.
“The tree has not stopped shaking yet. There are still some more mangoes to fall from the tree,” he remarked.
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