The Virgin Islands’ next general election is still about two years away, but politics are already in the air.
Legislators’ speeches are becoming more vitriolic, many talk shows are taking on an increasingly political slant, and party officials are gearing up behind the scenes.
Though we could do without the associated grandstanding, it is actually good news that stakeholders appear to be thinking ahead to the next election.
There is much to be done before it arrives. For one thing, the two parties that have dominated VI politics over the past two decades both face daunting challenges.
The ruling National Democratic Party, which has been led by Premier Dr. Orlando Smith since its inception in the late 1990s, seems likely to face an unprecedented leadership shakeup.
And by all appearances, the Virgin Islands Party is still recovering from the 2015 retirement of its long-time leader Ralph O’Neal, which was followed by power struggles and public acrimony.
In both cases, significant rebuilding could be necessary. The parties, then, would be wise to plan ahead and address any potential challenges soon so that when the campaign season arrives they will have a full slate of strong candidates who are free to concentrate on substantive issues.
Meanwhile, any independents or new parties that wish to challenge the status quo might have an unusually large window in the coming election, but for a realistic chance of competing in the big leagues they would need to start fundraising and organising straightaway if they have not already done so.
For their part, voters should be paying careful attention. Much can be learned well in advance of the actual campaign season since potential candidates’ behaviour now is a good indicator of their fitness for office.
If they are in office already, are they doing their job diligently without getting distracted by mudslinging as the campaigns approach?
If they are not in office, have they shown a commitment to the community over the long-term, or does their “service” seem to be cranking up primarily with election season in mind?
Many major challenges will face the next government: shoring up financial services and tourism while working to diversify the economy; bolstering social services and infrastructure while tackling social ills such as crime; and learning to navigate in a post-Brexit world as the VI works toward eventual independence, to name a few.
The next two years will tell a lot. Voters, we trust, will be watching closely.
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