What is the political pulse of the territory about two and a half years before another general election season begins?
Freedom and democracy are alive and well in the Virgin Islands. That fact is clearly evidenced by an electorate that is quick to pull the plug on any government it feels is not meeting the mark. To date, both main political parties have tasted the anger and swift justice of the VI voter.
The VI voter is focused on his or her own bottom line. It is the same the world over. And any government that does not meet the “What’s-in-it-for-me” test is quickly disliked and discarded. Allusions to patriotism and national unity appear low on the list of factors when deciding who gets that mighty vote. Hence, the paradigm of the white cash-filled envelope.
The VI clearly possesses an electorate made up of swing voters: A majority of voters will not blindly vote for any one party based on allegiance and loyalty. Though the opposition does possess a core of loyal supporters who will vote for the party come what may, that may be simply because it has been in power for much longer than the present incumbents. Thus, perhaps, it has been able to do more for Joe Taxpayer in terms of Joe’s immediate needs: That retaining wall and paved road to the front door means a lot to West Indians. This is not going to change.
In other words, the opposition party has a strong base of support, and this is why after a dismal four years ending in electoral defeat in November 2011, there are still four members in the House of Assembly who should very comfortably see re-election in 2015, including an aging leader, should he decide to run.
Ruling party
On the other side of the spectrum, the ruling party has more national appeal, but that is a very fragile affair indeed, and can shatter at the drop of a hat.
So what is the temperature on the political high street this April 2013? It is this one: A great number of the people of the VI, for whatever reason, are discontented. That malcontent is clearly being fed by elements within the national media. Do bear in mind that voter discontent at this milestone along the road to 2015 is nothing unusual: In fact, it is very normal. A government’s popularity is usually very high after an election. After that, it is all downhill.
But why does it appear that some people are so upset? Well, this political observer can only attempt to ascertain. And he hopes both political parties will read the tea leaves. It appears one side in the political equation may be allowing the other side to paint it into a corner. How? Well, for example, by preaching a divisive politics and allowing the voter, especially the native Virgin Islander, to believe that the ruling party does not care about belongers, while catering more to the interests of expatriates. That is clearly a false notion. However, in politics, perception is everything. And this song and dance of expatriate versus belonger versus Virgin Islander is being kept alive by certain elements in the national press for clear political gain.
In another political vein, yours truly remains a firm believer that at this stage in the territory’s political and constitutional narrative it is nearly impossible to break the two-party system of government.
Now one vociferous VI commentator and radio show host made allusions to the rotten party system recently. Whether the system is rotten or not is a matter of opinion. However, and historically, once a two-party system is set in place, it is very difficult to change that dynamic.
And in that assertion, the United States and British political party models are well worth studying. Independent candidates in the VI face climbing up a daunting mountain if they wish to achieve political power and office in an entrenched party system.
Thus, any new political party, if there is any hope of it achieving power, will have to organise immediately and field strong candidates in all districts. It will also have to field strong candidates for all the at-large seats in the HOA. That is a very tall order indeed for a tiny territory — especially when one considers that at the last election, a third party barely got off the ground before bickering and backbiting began within its walls.
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