Penn and Skelton deny ‘power-grab’ claims

Opposition legislator Marlon Penn has dismissed claims that the reunification of the National Democratic Party (NDP) was driven by a personal power quest, insisting that the move is rooted in respect, collaboration and the needs of the people of the Virgin Islands.

Speaking during the May 5 relaunch of NDP Radio alongside former PVIM leader Ronnie Skelton, Penn addressed public rumours about the motives behind the recent merger of the NDP and the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM).

“All the notions out there… it’s not true. We’ve been working on this,” Penn said. “It’s not rooted in our trust or our love or our desire for power or empowering ourselves. It’s about the people of this country.”

“Totally inaccurate,” he responded when asked directly whether the decision to reunify the two parties was due to an unwillingness to relinquish control. “If you see the history of both Honourable Skelton and myself, that’s not the case in terms of our sojourn through politics over the years.”

Skelton echoed the sentiment, arguing, “Anyone who knows me… this is not about power. I just want to be part of a team that is constructive, that wants to help our country… You have to put aside your differences and work and find common goals to move forward. And that’s what we did.”

The NDP and PVIM, which split in 2019, announced a reunification effort earlier this year, noting that the fragmentation had weakened the opposition’s electoral prospects.
“The numbers clearly state that if we continue along that path… the possibility is there that we will sit in the opposition,” Skelton said.

The renewed alliance has pledged to follow a democratic process in selecting new officers and leadership. “The next step is to have a democratic process to ensure that the officers within the organisations are elected democratically, which we’ve committed to,” Penn stated.

When asked to dispel rumours that a leadership convention was being stalled due to internal power struggles, Penn responded, “The path is going to be to restructure in a structured way, to get to a convention. The organisation will then choose its leadership. And once that is done, we move forward.”

He also rejected claims that the NDP has never been for “the small man”, pointing to social support programmes and opportunities created under previous NDP administrations. “No government has given young contractors more opportunities than under the NDP. The evidence is there to prove this,” he said.

Skelton, who previously served as Finance Minister, added: “Wherever you are, you’re for everybody – small, big, medium.”

The NDP leadership said it will continue to engage the public through its district committees and has already started developing its national vision. The party expects to hold its convention later this year.

“We’re moving in a structure,” Penn said. “But we’re bringing the people along with us, and not just us dictating what should happen.”