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NDP leadership would rather lose than let BVI win

Political commentator Claude Skelton Cline has launched a blistering attack on the leadership of the National Democratic Party (NDP), claiming its current leaders would rather see the party lose the next election than make way for the political reunification he believes could benefit the territory.

Speaking on his Honestly Speaking programme, Skelton Cline argued that reconciliation among key NDP figures is no longer possible under the party’s current leadership.

“What I am sure of is that it is impossible for them to reunite under the current leadership,” he said. “But you know what the current leadership is saying? We’d rather lose than allow the country to win. This is in essence, what the current NDP leadership is saying.”

Skelton Cline argued that the divisions within the NDP are ultimately benefiting Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley and the governing Virgin Islands Party.

He described the Wheatley administration as “the most unpopular government of the day,” but said it still manages to appear as “the best government of the day” because of the Opposition’s “sloppiness,” “disunity” and “blind ambition.”

He singled out Lorna Smith, Mark Vanterpool and Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn, arguing that all three have NDP roots but are now politically “out of place.”

“You wonder why there’s so much disorder in the NDP? Because some of its key members are out of place,” Skelton Cline argued.

Vanterpool unsuccessfully challenged Marlon Penn for the NDP leadership earlier this year before forming the People’s Leadership Movement (PLM). Walwyn also contested the leadership and, while remaining an NDP member, has been noticeably absent from recent party activities. Several sections of the community have heavily criticised Smith for aligning with the VIP and helping them to secure the majority of members needed to form the government after the 2023 elections.

The NDP recently suffered another setback when former candidate Coy Levons announced his departure.

Penn, however, has maintained that the NDP remains strong and functional and has said the party has already selected a full slate of candidates for the upcoming election.

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17 Comments

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  1. King charles says:

    Once no island man is premier we good…. keep mark and myron far far from that seat

    Like 5
    Dislike 22
    • @King Charles says:

      This is why they going lose and nobody studying them because the same island man them ain’t there

      Like 13
      Dislike 3
    • The Poli.Farmer says:

      I seriously think Marlon would have made the Best Deputy, then have the NDP find somebody entirely NEW to be Chairman. and when I say new I mean NEW – none out of the pool of those to whom have already had a seat in the House!

      and then come up with a strong proposed executive council that may replace the current VIP Cabinet. Until this is attempted, they will not be successful in forming the Government!

      Like 3
      Dislike 1
    • Care says:

      That’s why r u gone suffer too much hatred God dont like ugly

  2. Believer says:

    Mr knows it all if you’re occupying your time trying to spread the word of God like you claims to be a pastor you would be better off whoever gave you that title pastor have to be worse than you you wolf in sheep clothing try taking a walk down the road of repentance and ask God for forgiveness.

    Like 6
    Dislike 1
  3. Selfish says:

    He just want his dead uncle Ronnie to be the leader and everybody else must do the work

  4. SmH says:

    This ain’t the same man who say that if your family isn’t from here you should not be Premier? So why he don’t leave the island people alone and go win the election? So the island people can’t be Premier but they must work to help the indigenous become it. Wow

    Like 7
    Dislike 2
  5. Next says:

    He just his uncle not the leader

  6. captain obvious says:

    he is partially right but mark leaving was because he was upset about losing the vote, he did the same thing ronnie did. They all want to be in charge but someone has to sacrifice their ego for the good of the country, the people are suffering under the v.i.p and if they don’t unite v.i.p will easily win again

    Like 4
    Dislike 2
    • i dont think so says:

      Iam not trying to be a contrarian but I feel as though Vanterpool has C-suite experience and can execute , has vision was hands down the person who could unite the party and move them forward but realzed that there was bias that would never allow him to lead so he had no choice but to start his own. PLM will be what NDP was in 1998 the upstart that no one saw coming.

      Like 1
      Dislike 2
  7. Hypocrites says:

    How come he didn’t call out his uncle Ronnie and his cousin Mitch back in 2019 when they formed PVIM because they had lose the NDP election to Myron and Marlon? But he ready to call out Mark for doing the same thing. This is why I don’t study these people mehson. Everybody got their own selfish agenda.

    Like 14
  8. I from here says:

    No island man should be premier so happy all locals gone to London to negotiate no Myron no Lorna no mark no Mather clap clap

    Like 3
    Dislike 11
    • Dozer says:

      @ I from here – yup all the brain power not o that trip! Your form here and still cannot comprehend the gravity the situation at hand. Send amateurs to do the work of seasoned professionals and expect the same results – what a moron!

      Like 10
      Dislike 1
  9. Child of God says:

    Some of our own people are so ignorant, illiterate small minded and the list goes on and on last time inteligente ones check these beautiful bvi are all islands that’s why these beautiful will never get better because some of us are always thinking we are better than others remember at the end of our journey we have only two places we will end up in the good or bad place think about it.

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  10. Set of Power hungry Egos. says:

    Once Ronnie get it as deputy and minister of finance the rest of them can kill each other for the sake of power but I know they won’t and can’t touch Ronnie or influence him in wrong doings…

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  11. WELL CSC HAS FORKED TONGUES says:

    AND NOTHING HE SAYS SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY , UNLESS YOU LOVE DRAMA , JUST LIKE THE WIGGED CANARY (AKA~ WIGGIE) HAS BLOGGER UNDER ANOTHER NEW NAME “KING CHARLES” AND WHATS SO FUNNY , IS , HE AIN’T EVEN A FULL BLOWN BVISLANDER , BUT HE LIKE A BROKEN RECORD ON “ISLAND MAN ” THKNK ANOUT MEETING THIS DUDE IN DARK ALLEY WITH HIS WIG ON ALL YOU GOING TO SEE IS THE WHITE OF HIS 2 EYES – HIS TEETH & HIS PRECIOUS WIG THAT GOT TO BE SCARY .

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