Bishop Cline predicts government will call early elections
Interim president of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Bishop John Cline, says the ruling Virgin Islands Party (VIP) is already positioning itself for a general election, pointing to what he described as hurried government spending and last-minute infrastructure works.
The next general election is constitutionally due in 2027 but the government can legally call it earlier. There are widespread speculations that the government will call snap elections before the end of this year.
Speaking last week on Morning Facts with host Cindy Rosan, Cline told listeners, “We know that the present government is gearing up for an election — with everything that we see going on — roads being patched and this and that and trying to spend $100 million within 11 months.”
He added, “They have to find something to do because they don’t have a plan.”
Cline said these developments have reinforced the need for the NDP to unify and prepare to offer what he described as a credible alternative to the current administration.
“I really believe that the NDP will be a viable alternative in the next election to govern this country and fix some of the issues that we have,” he said, stressing that the party’s focus is on “efficient government” and “effective government,” rather than “just plastering stuff to make people interested.”
A significant part of the discussion centred on defending the leader of the NDP Marlon Penn, amid long-standing claims that Penn cannot lead the party to electoral victory. Cline pushed back strongly against that narrative, saying Penn’s leadership must be viewed in context.
“During the last seven years, Honourable Penn has been the one leading the charge after the 2019 election, and we know what happened there,” Cline said. “He has been the one leading the charge. We honour his leadership and what he’s been able to do in terms of keeping the party going.”
Cline acknowledged internal challenges within the party, including the absence of a formal convention since 2019, but said this should not be used to diminish Penn’s contribution.
“The organisation has had such a fracture,” he said, explaining that recent months have been spent “bringing the party back together and readying ourselves for the next election.”
Responding to criticism that the party needs entirely new faces to move forward, Cline argued instead for continuity alongside transition. “What I believe in is continuity,” he said. “There is transition in process, and we are working diligently to train up the next generation, but continuity is important in understanding parliamentary procedures, constitutional issues, and how government works.”
Addressing sceptics who claim the NDP is politically finished, Cline dismissed those views as premature but said the party is eager to prove detractors wrong.
“We are together, and we are moving forward,” Cline said, “to give the people of the Virgin Islands a viable alternative to the present government.”
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Pompey for Premier. He is a card carrying, hard hat wearing, hard working, country loving doer, a work horse who can see where he wants to go and take this country into the future. Most importantly, he loves this country. Vote NDP.
VIP are travelling loafers who are enjoying the perks of being Honourable sans the hard work needed to keep this country running progressively. So it seems they are happy with working for us overseas and not at home. Go figure, since we are the ones that hired them. Except for, it seems, Sharie, not one of them work for their salary monthly.
This may be verbose , but bear with me for a moment. Many of the Territory’s leaders have traditionally emerged from the civil service, academia, or the medical profession. There is value in those backgrounds, to be sure, but perhaps the time has come for leadership drawn from the world of business — and not merely any business, but one with a demonstrated record of managing a successful multi-million-dollar enterprise, something that in its complexity begins to resemble what governing a Territory actually entails. Too often, those steeped in academic culture operate in a sphere of the theoretical ,where even questions are met with layers of qualification and hesitation and that filters over to the task of actual governing , leaving one with a feeling of indeterminacy at best. By contrast, a business leader responsible for a substantial operation does not have the luxury of such ambivalence. Decisions must be made, results must be measured, and each year the ledger — the profit and loss statement — offers a clear verdict. One must strategize, adjust course, and confront reality directly, or else face failure. That is the mindset required: disciplined, pragmatic, and grounded, coupled with a measure of fiscal restraint so that when inevitable challenges arise, the institution is prepared rather than exposed. Any leader who posseses the decisiveness of enterprise coupled with an understanding of how government functions is what this moment demands
Successful businessmen in general,are sophisticated crooks.
No where is it more evident than in these VI.
Do unto others before they do unto you is their motto.
Religion their cover and Jesus used as their mascot while flying under the protective wings of
The duly elected.
Why wouldn’t they call and early election? The opposition is non-existent! The incompetence and poor organization of a group of narcissistic and self-centered ego maniacs should have long since organized and galvanized a palatable plan and strategy for the country’s future — but no, it simply comes down to these clowns trying to argue who should be boss, and who gets what first, before that of our own country they have been sworn in to protect!
The future does not look bright for a country that desperately needs direction and hope. As of now, and likely right up until the early election is called, there seems very little light at the end of this tunnel for our people, our country, or our future!
I hope and pray for a group to come forwards that actually puts the future of our country first!
We need a group and a set of people to present us with plans and some hope for our infrastructure, our education, our health, our financial services, our tourism products, our elderly, the outer islands, our environment, there is so much that can easily be addressed and presented to us, the people.
Promise us transparency, open tendering, storm water management planning, urban planning and strategies for future development, and solutions how the Government serves the people it is paid by – not to be held hostage by the very civil service that is in place to make our way of life better, our economy stronger, and our safety paramount!
Anyway, you get the point ….. we need help, because the hollow words and snake oil of the good Bishop are most certainly NOT the answer!
Cline tell the truth. We all hear the stories. The party is fighting. Marlon as usual wants to lead and nobody including you Cline have any confidence in him. Y’all trying to tell him he cannot lead and it has caused big fights. The people who left NDP left because of Marlon and how he grab hold of the party like it’s his personal property while not moving the party forward one bit. Time to bell that cat.
The NDP has a curse on it. From what they did in 2019 by not respecting their own constitution and breaking up their party because some did not like the outcome of their elections that has left a bitter taste in the mouths of a lot of people. How could a party that can’t even respect itself be trusted to govern?
Elections will be called Early October. 45 days after Emancipation Festival is over.
They already paid for and booked a bunch of big named artists. Festival committee already forcing booth owners to pay for their booths from now 6 months before Festival, in anticipation of the big traylaylay. Premier wont let PL son’s wife look bad and has given her the green light to spend on the very top artists.
So the Party Premier will give us a big old grand party and then call election while we still in the partying mood and forgot all the issues we faced the past 7-8 years.
And we are all so dumb that we will fall for the trap.
VIP fighting in their camp as well
People are too hateful and jealous aginst each other. We boast about our christian society.
The 13 must go group afraid to come out . Hiding behind videos
The malgamation of nationalities
The interracial unions
The intermingling of marriages
This is a losing fight. There is not an indigenous heads of family who has not had a international mixed breed child , couisin , inlaw
We are too evil in this place. Work for the good of the country
Outsiders cannot grab lands like that .What you are stating is hogwash
Does not matter what or when it is called, we will get the same boot lickers bum bum smelling corrupt seelf serving Kleptocrats.
Our people are equally as corrupt minded as the ones we elect.
White people blogging again.
WELL ACCORDING TO YOU, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT , AND ONLY THE RICH WOULD SURVIVE , UNTILL THEIR KIDS GROW UP AND GIVE THEM A TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE , OF HOW THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF INNOCENT PEOPLE TO GET RICH / AS THE SAYING , THE FRUITS DON’T FALL TOO FAR FROM THE TREE • OR SIMPLY – (KARMA) / @ TOO MUCH FIGHTING – YOU SAID IT , THESE JOKERS SEEMS FORGET THAT ” WE CAME WITH TWO EMPTY HANDS AND WE ALL WILL LEAVE WITH EMPTY HANDS ” DO EHEY WILL GRAB & GRAB UNTILL THEY GRAB A CASKET ■ HOPE THEY TAKE THEIR GREEDINESS WITH THEM / THE TERRITORY NEEDS A TOTAL CLEANSING OF THE MINDS OF THOSE WHO THINKS THEY GOT THE MOST ” BRAINS ” / MORE POWER YA’AL SETS OF WANNABE ARISTOCRATS (KARMA WILL CATCH UP WITH YA’AL • (EXAMPLE ~ THEY TOOK OUT A MEXICAN DRUG LORD LAST SUNDAY , THOSE WHO ARE SPOILING THE TERRITORY WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING NEED TO S T O P , YOU CANNOT PROSPER WITH ” BLOOD MOMEY ” ALL EMPIRES THAT IS BUILT WITH ” BLOOD MONEY ” ALWAYS ” CRUMBLE ” PLUS YOU BLIGHTING THE TERRITORY .THIS IS NOT OUR CULTURE ,IT WAS INTRODUCED BY THE DUDE WHO USED TO GO DOWN ON HIS KNEES HOLLERING NOUT JESUS NAME ■ AND JESUS ANSWERED
I am joining the all 13 must go party LOL
Where they going to? money cannot buy everything. we have had enough
WHY DON’T YOU RUN !?