The National Democratic Party government continued to splinter over the past week as three elected members left the party, including a minister and junior minister who were fired from their posts.
Premier Dr. Orlando Smith formally announced on Tuesday that after reading a Beacon article published last week — which confirmed that Health and Social Development Minister Ronnie Skelton plans to lead a new political party into the upcoming general elections — he had “no choice” but to ask Governor Gus Jaspert to revoke Mr. Skelton’s appointment as a minister and member of Cabinet.
“It was untenable for him to sit in an NDP administration, make decisions as a member of Cabinet, and form his own party at the same time,” Dr. Smith said. “This constituted a clear conflict of interest.”
The premier appointed Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn, the junior minister for trade, investment promotion and consumer affairs, to serve as health minister.
Later, Dr. Smith announced that he had advised the governor that Sixth District Representative Alvera Maduro-Caines should be appointed to Mr. Penn’s previous role as junior minister for trade.
Resignations
Meanwhile, both Archie Christian, the junior minister of tourism, and NDP backbencher Mitch Turnbull resigned from the party last week.
The premier wrote in Tuesday’s statement that he also advised the governor to revoke Mr. Christian’s junior minister position, to which Mr. Jaspert agreed. Ninth District Representative Hubert O’Neal will now serve in that position, Dr. Smith said.
Mr. O’Neal told the Beacon that he is pleased to have been appointed junior minister of tourism and will serve “to the best of [his] ability.”
“Tourism is also vitally important to the district of Virgin Gorda and Anegada, which I represent,” he wrote in an e-mail. “I am pleased to now to be in a position where I would be a key component in the decision-making process of both overseeing the recovery and the enhancement of this industry.”
General elections
The news of government’s high-profile resignations and new appointments comes days after the governor announced on Nov. 15 that general elections will be held by April 16.
Though the constitutionally mandated deadline is Aug. 23, Mr. Jaspert decided to push up that date after the premier advised against holding a separate by-election for the Fifth District seat that was vacated when Deputy Speaker Delores Christopher died last month.
“I have received legal advice that the holding of a general election within a period of six months from the date of the death of the member of the Fifth District may be a compromise date between foregoing a by-election and holding a general election,” Mr. Jaspert wrote in a statement. “After careful consideration of this advice, I consider the holding [of] a general election by [April 16] as a reasonable timeframe.”
The governor also mentioned that the Elections Act 1994 and later amendments do not explicitly prescribe set timeframes for by-elections.
“This is something I hope we can address in future amendments to the Elections Act,” he said.
Mr. Jaspert added that the premier will advise “in due course” when the House of Assembly will dissolve. According to the VI Constitution, a general election must be held within two months and no sooner than 21 days after the dissolution of the House.
The premier has not announced when that might come, but he said Tuesday that he hopes his government can accomplish “much more” and implied that he might not call elections until the April deadline.
“Let us make the next six months count, and together put our hands and hearts to the wheel of taking our country forward,” he wrote in his statement.
VIP response
Natalio “Sowande Uhuru” Wheatley, president of the opposition VI Party, told the Beacon that moving up the general election date was the “right decision.”
“I don’t think having a by-election followed by a general election would have made much sense,” he said, agreeing that the Elections Act should be amended to address such situations.
As for rising tensions within the NDP, Mr. Wheatley said that elections should be held “sooner rather than later” to establish “stable leadership” in the territory.
“Given the destruction that we’ve experienced with the hurricanes, and the significance and importance of leadership at this particular time — especially with passing regulation — I think some of the squabbles that exist in the NDP are somewhat damaging to the territory right now,” he said.
During a press conference on Friday, Opposition Leader Andrew Fahie urged residents to “get involved on all levels” in the next few months.
“Please remember that those who failed you and put you where you are cannot be relied upon to take you out,” he said.
Two new parties
Along with the NDP and the Virgin Islands Party, the two new political parties entering the fray this election could herald the end of the two-party system that has dominated VI politics for almost 20 years.
Mr. Skelton’s party, the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement, will feature a mix of political newcomers and experienced government lawmakers.
Mr. Skelton, a long-time NDP stalwart, lost a close election for the party chairmanship to Education and Culture Minister Myron Walwyn in June. That outcome positioned Mr. Walwyn — who has been with the party for about seven years, compared to Mr. Skelton’s nearly two decades — to succeed Dr. Smith if the party pulls a majority in the next election. Mr. Walwyn could not be reached for comment on the NDP’s series of defections.
Others have publicly pledged their support to PVIM, including, most recently, Mitch Turnbull and Archie Christian. Mr. Turnbull confirmed on Friday that he was aligning himself with the Skelton-led party.
“What we’re doing is trying to get back to basics, trying to take it back to the grassroots, where it’s the people and the country first,” he told 284 Media.
Mr. Christian could not be reached for comment on why he has chosen to support PVIM.
A party document obtained by the Beacon also lists Deputy Premier Dr. Kedrick Pickering as a candidate, but Dr. Pickering (R-D7) could not be reached for comment this week or last.
The NDP’s defectors aren’t limited to lawmakers: Both Dr. Michael Turnbull, the party’s former vice president, and Shaina Smith, the former chairwoman of the NDP’s Women’s Association, recently submitted letters of resignation.
They are also both serving roles within the new party: Ms. Smith confirmed that she plans to run for an at-large seat with the PVIM, and Dr. Turnbull is serving as a strategist for the new organisation.
Progressives United
Opposition member Julian Fraser (R-D3) has also announced more details about his own party: Progressives United.
A short Facebook video — cut with photos depicting Mr. Fraser helping out in the community and on a scooter — served to promote the party this week.
“Let’s make the change … and get ‘trust’ back in government,” Mr. Fraser wrote above the video.
Mr. Fraser has not announced which candidates will run with the party, but referenced the “delicate nature of certain individuals’ arrangements” in a written statement sent to the Beacon this week.
The statement also described the party’s general philosophy.
“Progressives United is the result of the search for a solution to a failed leadership which resulted into an economically challenged territory and a people in despair,” it reads. “Our goal is to build on intellect and wealth, develop our resources to the benefit of citizens, protect inhabitants from physical harm and diseases, and ensure our institutions produce people that encapsulate the pride to see themselves as equal among equals.”
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WITH NO COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, ANSWERS HARD TO GET On Monday, at least two online news outlets reported that Mr. Skelton had been fired after Premier Dr. Orlando Smith read a Beacon report about his new political party. The Beacon, however, did not receive any announcement, and attempts to confirm the report on Monday through four senior public officials were unsuccessful. Though information was eventually provided the next day, the delays come at a time when the government has lacked a communications director for three months, and officials are not saying when the position might be filled. Traditionally in the VI, the communications director would field questions directed to the premier. In the absence of the director, this newspaper has often posed questions to Chief Information Officer Desiree Smith or Premier’s Office Permanent Secretary Dawn Smith. On Monday, though, neither woman was able to provide any information. Arliene Penn, the ex-communications director who is now the executive private secretary in the Governor’s Office, also would not confirm on Monday that the premier had asked the governor to fire Mr. Skelton. “No member of our team has spoken to nor have we/did we make any announcements regarding appointments and revocations,” she wrote in an e-mail to the Beacon. Tuesday release On Tuesday morning, Angela Burns, the managing director of AUB Media House, sent the Beacon and other media outlets a statement on the firing from the premier. Asked Tuesday if she currently works with government or the Premier’s Office, Ms. Burns responded, “That is absolutely unnecessary and I refuse to comment. … You’re not going to get anything else out of Angela.” Ms. Burns, who has consulted for the Ministry of Communications and Works in recent months, added a few moments later: “Who I am is not important. What’s important is the story. A good journalist would realise that.” But based on Dr. Smith’s original statement, it remained unclear if Marlon Penn, who was appointed the new health minister, would keep his previous position as junior minister for trade. In response to a follow-up e-mail regarding Mr. Penn’s current role, Ms. Burns wrote, “I am appalled that you would be asking me yet another question and one of such a nature. I am furthermore appalled that you would receive a press release being sent on behalf of the premier of the Virgin Islands and you would choose to come back to me (after I told you I am not the one) to verify or get further information. … You will not get any answers of this nature from Angela.” The same question regarding Mr. Penn’s current duties was sent via e-mail to Permanent Secretary Ms. Smith; Chief Information Officer Desiree Smith; Governor’s Office Policy Head Maria Mays; and Ms. Penn. “There is a process where instruments have to be prepared to allow for the effective appointment of persons,” Ms. Penn wrote as part of her response, adding that Desiree Smith, who was copied in the original e-mail, would be able to better answer questions. Ms. Smith did not respond, nor did Dawn Smith or Ms. Mays. On Tuesday afternoon, the premier directly told some news outlets, including this one, that he had advised the governor that Sixth District Representative Alvera Maduro-Caines be appointed junior minister for trade — Mr. Penn’s previous role. Government released an official announcement with the information shortly after 6 p.m. |