No decision yet on contesting upcoming elections, says Walwyn
Former Education Minister Myron Walwyn said he has made no decision yet on whether he will run for political office at the upcoming general elections that are constitutionally due by May 2023.
The former legislator appeared on the Talking Points show on ZBVI radio recently and shared his views on some of the topical issues affecting the Virgin Islands, including the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report’s recommendations and the state of politics in the territory.
Walwyn, who served two consecutive terms in office and was made Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP) during the last election, resigned shortly after his party suffered a massive defeat at the 2019 polls.
But Walwyn, who, after the last elections, admitted that quitting politics was not entirely off the table, has remained vocal on issues affecting the people of the BVI since his loss at the 2019 polls, largely through his social media platform.
In the meantime, the former minister, argued that the the BVI’s state of politics needs to improve and suggested that there needs to be more maturity in how decisions are made.
According to the former legislator, the state of politics in the BVI appeared to be much too partisan; with concessions seemingly being made for bad behaviour depending on which party is favoured at any given time. “Bad is bad regardless of who does it,” Walwyn offered.
“We don’t have that philosophical identification like what you have with the republicans and democrats [in the United States], but we’re getting there,” the former legislator argued. “At some point, it will deepen and will widen, but you can still support a party and still call them out when they are wrong and that is something that I need to see us do a little more.”
“It is time that we stop being NDP and VIP and be BVI,” Walwyn stated while arguing that he wanted to see the public play a greater role in holding the government accountable.
Editor’s Note:
Thirteen electoral seats were up for grabs during the 2019 General Elections and the Walwyn-led NDP fielded 11 contenders. Of that lot, Mark Vanterpool, Alvera Maduro-Caines and NDP Deputy Chairman Marlon Penn were the only ones to get re-elected to their respective Fourth, Sixth, and Eighth district seats. Maduro-Caines later crossed the political aisle to join forces with the VIP shortly after the elections.
Of the 16 candidates who contested for one of the four available At-Large seats, Walwyn earned the fifth highest number of votes immediately behind the VIP legislators Sharie de Castro, Shereen Flax-Charles, Carvin Malone, and Neville Smith.
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I want to see you back. I have told you this in person plenty times. You are a good man and you were good representative. You were the best one of you ask me.
Education gone to hell since you left that ministry. It was bad with Hon. Wheatley and now it is worse with Hon. Dr Castro.
If it was not for you my special needs son would not have a future. The interest you showed personally in him and making sure he got to Florida to attend Vanguard school can’t be repaid. You have my vote and I encourage you to come back because you were one who truly cared about people.
One thing I appreciate is that you stayed engaged even after you lost the election. You spoke out on issues that were affecting the community from time to time. I look at things like this. The others who lost have said nothing about anything but will come back looking votes from us. When you stay silent it makes me feel like you don’t care. It was all about the power and when that went your lives went to. I want to see you run again. You will win bevause you are needed.
Myron don’t run. These people don’t deserve somebody like you. I watched you for 8 years work so hard for people and then the things that I hear some of them say about you after you did so much for some of them it hurt me. Stay in your business and look for you. Leave them with andrew, Sowande, Claude, willock, Carvin and vincent.
Still under criminal investigation for a +$1mil school way, lets not forget that.
“Don’t mind he”
Waste ah time, he so could never win again.
Come through Walwyn. I know we wouldn’t have been in this mess if you were there. Look at where we are
I want to see him back in government. He did a good job.
I would vote for you again. You were the most helpful and caring one when you were there. You felt like you had somebody you could call on when you needed help. Now you call these set we have and they don’t answer or return the calls.
I still don’t understand how you lose. But when I read about the obeah on credit I understand. That obeah was strong mehson
Walwyn please consider running. You were a very good rep and minister. We need a savior. I think you can be that person. Please help us!!
Where are the youths for wallwind?
I have faith in you. You showed that you could do the job and do it well. Education was moving in the right direction. You made excellent contributions on topics in the House. Always well prepared. Very articulate and clear. You are someone that I would be proud to have representing us on the international stage. Run again
Anyone who cannot hold a ministry should never run
The BVI needs help right now. It needs intelligent, experienced people with good leadership ability. People who are assertive and who have the skills to represent us well in any forum. And who are charismatic and easy to talk you. You fit this description better than most.
The COI interviews provided a good gauge for the public to see how our past and present leaders would handle themselves under pressure and in a professional setting. You stood head and shoulders above everybody else that came. I paid keen attention to the interviews on the wall and I was impressed with your responses and the information that you were able to provide to the commissioner. You have my vote again. Please come and help your country.
I ain’t going to the polls if you ain’t running.
Stop l**ng. We all know you will run unless you can’t.
It is time that we take our country much more serious than we are. We have to vote for people who are competent and could represent us well. We had a popularity contest last election and look at what we ended with for a government. Nobody who truly loves the BVI could say that they are happy with the way in which the country is being run. We have no plans for anything. We have a premier who clueless on everything. The whole government is filled with amateurs who have no experience and leadership ability. We need serious people because these are serious times. Myron you have my support. I have seen your work. I have seen you work. I have seen your commitment to the people of the BVI and you have been a good leader.
Run in the 6Th we need pressense
As long as he is not trying to be the next Premier, MARLON PENN IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT PREMIER IF A WOMAN DON’T STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND RUN AGAINST MARLON. FOR REAL, MARLON IS THE BEST FIT. THIS IS MY, AND MY OPINION ONLY, IF YOU DISAGREE WITH MY OPINION,YOU STILL HAVE TO RESPECT MY OPINION. #MARLONPENNFORPREMIER.
Testing the waters aren’t you ole boi! Seems like the usual tactics at play all over again. You were party to the same problems that plagued us and were not as vocal when your party was in power. My issue is once in government you guys and gals forget and suddenly seemingly inherit wisdom beyond the masses.
Why don’t you advise those seeking elected positions in this next election as opposed to wanting to be in the drivers seat? Is mentoring beyond us as a population and you all as politicians? The creative arts has been stifled for many years now and not one person has taken that up! Our elderly are locked away in the home that is surrounded by pollutions (noise, dust etc) and not one elected person fighting for them! Just the same old typical blame game with limited sustainable solutions for growth coming from any of the current regime of politicians.
Lord send HELP!
@Daddy Friday
Thanks for the chuckle!
Ironically, October 4 is the day which Daddy Friday passed on…
After hurricane Irma I just saw this man show up at my door with assistance to help me buy windows and doors so I could sleep in my house. I never met him before but I was touched by the level of care he showed. We became good friends after that first time. The BVI need assertive leaders like this. I hope that you decide to run and that you are successful.
When he lost, he pouted like a little girl and left all those that fought alongside him. A true leader, a true testament to character would have been a man that got his team together after a loss and rallied them to stay together and formulate a plan of action the day after your losses!
But nooooo, you cried, and wallowed in self-pity, fractured an entire party, and walked away from all those that fought by his side.
That is what that man showed when things were at their worst. A stick man that breaks when the weight is really put on his back!
I do not know many that will rally to his side when he left them all in a daze. But do your thing, you have valid points you bring, but those that know you have had their fill.
Good talker – yes! Leader – NO!
You will lose. You won the most votes in two elections because you and NDP got most your votes from belongers who you all turn your back on during Hurricane Irma. People got laid off left right and center unjustly, oppressed and victimised they get no representation. Go sit down..Think of your failure..
I believe he can get back but not as premier
If Myron under investigation then Fraser under investigation, Vincent under investigation and every member of the HOA is under investigation to for the Covid assistance grants. Willcock campaigning and he went jail. So anybody could run
Stop telling lies on Myron. Dr. Pickering was responsible for Labour so you have the chance to vote or not to vote for him. Myron was in charge of education and he and his team worked. Myron was the only one of the at large that was all over trying to help people. I got help from him to buy windows and doors and sealant fro my roof. Stop lying. Myron was helpful all throughout the time he was there.
You too damn l**. Get away from here. The l**s and obeah ain’t working on us this time.
This is the new lie you all make it up now. That last time is that he going jail so why vote for him. We voting for Myron.
Keep off the esteemed he is one of the few running who has my vote. The man is a fighter
Divisive!
I will take his place!
Anyone who agrees say I!
yall vip’s still end up with a vincy first lady
One word – productive
The VIP was going around saying don’t vote for Myron because he going jail. Look who end up in the jail. Not no local jail but an international jail. The VIP was saying that they don’t want no Vincy First Lady. Look they end up with one now. The vip was waiting for people to get in trouble for the wall and look it’s one of their own supporters who got charged.
If the VIP can’t learn from what is happening then they head really hard for true
You are needed back Myron. These set we got will kill us. You are a good man. That is why those haters are at you like this. They know people like you and you are a people’s person. You run again. We got you.
Hold up, there is no thing as First Lady in the BVI as yet. One of the requirements of a First Lady is having a platform. They are to darn dumb to know this.
No doubt he is competent but the issue is his character. If change his ways he has potential.
It is amazing in the BVI how we say things about people we don’t even know. I worked with Hon. Walwyn. What character are you talking about. I found him to be hardworking, honest and upfront. When people are upfront a lot of us can’t deal with it. You prefer to hear lies than tell the truth. It was a joy working with Walwyn because you saw progress and you had leadership. What we have had since 2019 is a nightmare.
You are lying again. Out of all those who lost election Myron has been the most vocal on local issues and the most visible period. It is disgusting that you would take the time to write such a long list filled with lies. Why do some of us lie so much. Andrew trained everybody this good? The BVI needs a lot of help. Lying seems to have become embedded in our DNA. Stop lying.
The comment was in response to @ok but.. who brought up the “Esteemed” one. The comment about character was NOTabout Myron.