Penn, Skelton wanted to split Premiership?
Fresh details are emerging about the sharp disagreements that unfolded among members of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) in the immediate aftermath of the 2023 general election — divisions that many observers believe gave the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) a clear path to form the government.
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has now confirmed that one reason for the rift is a proposal that was put forward regarding how the territory’s leadership would be split over the course of the four-year term.
“I came back as [Sixth District] Representative, Honourable Penn was the acting chairman (of NDP), so I let him do what he wanted to do. I was there with him and Honourable Skelton in a meeting. I didn’t agree with everything because part of what they wanted to do was one be Premier for two years, and one be Premier for the other two years, and I wasn’t in this musical chairs thing with the country,” Walwyn said.
The revelation adds new context to the stalemate between the two opposition factions, which attempted but ultimately failed to form a coalition government after the 2023 polls.
That failure left the VIP, despite winning fewer seats outright, in a strong position to retain power. For years, residents have expressed frustration at the public infighting and lack of unity among elected leaders.
Those cries are even louder, with clear divisions in the Opposition ranks, which many argue have weakened oversight of government and distracted leaders from addressing the cost of living, public service reform, infrastructure, and other pressing issues facing the territory.
With the next election cycle already in sight, political analysts say the opposition’s credibility may depend on whether the NDP and PVIM can overcome old wounds and demonstrate a willingness to put the territory’s interests above personal or party ambition.
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Two jokers. They are the power hungry ones and trying to play it off on others. Two premiers in one term? What foolishness.
What we suspected and now been confirmed, but the most SHOCKING revelations is that obviously they have not learned. Why is it that after 6 months there is no clear leader of the re united NDP? Well now we have the answer.
I don’t want to see nothing called NDP. I hear the party led members are coming back together. Dead on arrival!
I believe walwyn, because you can see Penn eye them open wide for a piece of the power coming from the expression on Ronnie face the entitled repository of power to give.
They had a chance to sweep VIP clean after fahie debacle.
Of course you do
I heard about this being planned if PVIM and NDP had won. Marlon is not ready for leadership and Ronnie has demonstrated as leader of the opposition that he doesn’t have the energy and know how to lead at this point. Natalio ran circles around him.
THEY WERE ALL BLAMING FRASER BUT NOW WE ALL KNOW IT WAS MARLON, RONNIE AND MYRON WERE THE PROBLEMS,
WE ARE SO GLAD THAT HON FRASER CAME OUT FROM AMONGST THEM
@VIP
Me too my boi! Especially since sn@kes always return to their dens…..
You all can stay there with your menopausal men drama and hot flashes.
I agree with your comment. All of them is acting like they are on the pad or going through men menopause. When will this cycle of madness stop. I am to the point where Politics in the BVI is one big SCAM, GASLIGHTING AND TRICKERY.
I am glad that Walwyn finally spoke because they had people out there secretly telling lies on him to make him out as a bad person. Expose them! Cindy’s interview with Walwyn was telling. I watched it 3 times already lol
So he should expose them but when anyone talks about him it’s not true. So he is the owner of truth? Because he said it that makes it true? You have clearly picked a side on this which is fine but the people will have their say.
Let us hear the NDP response
We all know that the Opposition could not form the last Government and it had nothing to do with Hon. Skelton nor Hon. Penn.
Carvin and Mark had already broker that deal from before the election as Hon. Smith only went under the NDP banner to garner more votes. She had no intention of forming a Government with NDP/PVIM and is the lone reason why those negotiations failed. She didn’t like her chances of not being Deputy Premier or a big time Minister and we all know she had to get Financial Services and Banking Ministry after the fiasco now with BOA. So Hon. Walwyn need to give me a break. His hatred for Hon. Skelton and Hon. Penn is showing and he can’t call a spade a spade. Hon. Smith wanted to call the shots for big position so went to VIP. Talk dat.
The Alliance are hell bent on destroying their chances of winning this election with all this foolishness because as much as they try and knock down other members of the Opposition they can very well win and who will they form a Government with? Silly. Power corrupts, buddy. Their brains turning to water now. This shows you Penn and Skelton are willing to work together, not fighting for power.
It is time for qualified Women in the Territory to form a Political Party. Sick of these tightee whitee underwear wearing jokers
Myron moving like a little girl now man, I really lost a lot of respect for this guy! He will be a District Rep for the rest of his political career and it’s just sad.
Myron and Mitch have this plan. They trying to throw it off them. What a set
Get rid of every one of them. Government Opposition, every last one.
Mischief Making. Confusion maker. These guys! Power at any cost.
Two SELL-OUTS point blank period. Marlon wants to be like his “cuz” Natalie with ALL the power, perks and authority to answer to no one.
The wider electorate has seen the real SKELLY for who and what he really is – an entitled old BRAT. Both these guys had their chances and have failed miserably at adding any tangible value for their GREEDY BILL PAYOLAS!!! What would be their performance evaluations by the PUBLIC?
I give Skeletor a C-
Marlon you get a E
..continue to hold your head high and stay above this fray. Them trying to get you to stoop to their level but they are not succeeding. Keep your dignity because they have all lost theirs.
wa kinda circus dis be… straight up clown show
The merger is between NDP and PVIM; not Alliance and is it even a party? Has the member for the 6th resigned from the NDP. Has he Rosan?
So if Ronnie Skelton wanted to be Premier for Two Years and He is the Leader of PVIM. and Marlon wanted to be Premier for the next two Years Because He is Leader of the NDP, Then that would leave Myron as the Representative for District 6 only as a Rep. So Myron is not Dumb. He looked at that and would Never be content because He too wants to be Premier. Thus the formation of the Alliance. Thus choosing the lesser of the three evil by courting Mitch and Mather to come along with Him as Fraser would Never agree to such a switch. BAM!!!! Puzzle Solved…You see, sometimes Mouth open and Tory jump out Not thinking that a week has 7 days and Not 5.
Just like with the vote of no confidence, Myron is a one man band. He is talking talking and nobody finds him worthy of a response. Marlon, Ronnie, NDP, nobody has responded to Myron. I know he feels bad. I wonder if anyone can confirm whether Myron has resigned from NDP? If not, why not?
No he has not
All three of them want to lead but none of them want to give way
Marlon will work
Both of them but Marlon supporters wants him to lead
Myron and Ronnie does not work under rach othet
None of them wants to give way
VIP is smiling all the way to election
The country do not have confidence in the people in government.
Too many corruption of integrity, principles
It is clearer everyday we are no more mature in our politics today than 1950.
And still we think Independence is a thing.
Maybe another 48 years without Self Governance and the next time we would be ready to take it more seriously and stop stop playing politics like children.
I wonder who else sick of Hon. Walwyn and this ugly smear campaign against Hon. Skelton and Hon. Penn. Sorry, Sir. We are not falling for it. It seems the only way for you and the Alliance to win is to discredit, and damage Hon. Penn and Skelton. Well, just wanted to let you know that we see you and understand your game. Play on. And Hon. Turnbull and Hon. Mather and yourself blogging as well. You all continue. Don’t believe you can win fair and square obviously. But God is not sleeping. I plead the blood of Jesus over this next election process. Your evil plans will be cancelled in the Mighty Name of Jesus.
Often times the masses won’t see the vision unless it is in hindsight. Perhaps Penn and Skelton, being a duo based on age, were being transparent with this proposal. Perhaps they saw it as on the job training with support for each other and using an out of the box approach to leadership. Perhaps it would have been an opportunity to see leadership by a seasoned politician on his way out and by a younger politician with years ahead in a partnership to focus on solutions based on their actual experience in different government roles. We are letting 3 opportunists, whose egos cause them to be left out of the opportunity to experience premiership sabotage the change we want to see because the strange bedfellow politicians are more loyal to their egos than solving problems in the country.
All we really get from politicians every election are people ‘saying’ that they are better than what we have. However, when it comes to doing whatever it takes, they can’t because of their hidden loyalties.
IT’S OBVIOUS THAT WALWYN HAX TOUCHED YOUR SOUL – JU- ANN ( AKA ) WIGGIE , HIDING BEHIND YOUR FANCY NAMES DOESN’T HIDE YOUR TRADE MARK / KEEP IN FOOLING YOURSELF .
Can we get transparency on what is being done in terms of the infrastructure, finances,development, and concerns of our citizens instead of this blabbering about political party voes. People didn’t vote for this shit. These politicians needs to get their prioritization in order. Stop collecting tax payers monies while focusing on personal preferences. When election comes around these individuals needs to be removed permanently. Enough is Enough!
A plan for Ronnie Skelton, leader of the PVIM, to serve as Premier for two years and then hand over the position to the younger NDP leader, Marlon Penn, for the remaining two years appeared to be a strategy of progressive leadership — transitioning experience with renewal.
Nothing was inherently wrong with the arrangement. In fact, Marlon had been the only elected member consistently active in the NDP during the four years prior. Neither Myron Walwyn nor Ronnie Skelton was elected in the last election before 2023. Ronnie remained the leader of the PVIM, raising the obvious question: where was Myron?
Myron wanted no part of the arrangement because he wanted to be Premier himself. He had been the leader of the NDP, the voters rejected him at the polls. He then shifted tactics, setting his sights on winning as a district representative, with the longer-term goal of positioning himself to head “an alliance” and, ultimately, to secure another shot at becoming Premier.
He seems to believe that because he is a lawyer, he can present his case to us — the Jury (the people). and be found “not guilty” of the very tactics of trickery, deception, and division that he himself has practiced.
I’ll take Ronnie over Marlon anytime.
Give Ronnie a chance people