People voted against VIP, but we should move on — Walwyn
Newly elected Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn has argued that the absence of an outright majority victory at the polls for the incumbent Virgin Islands Party (VIP) was a clear indication that the people voted against them.
“We’re all adults. What has happened, in my view, is water under the bridge. It is now time… to move on,” Walwyn said recently at a joint opposition press conference. “I personally believe that when you look at the results — even though you don’t have the statistics yet from the election office — the people voted against the Virgin Islands Party.”
Opposition members have contended that the proverbial rug was pulled from beneath them when Walwyn’s National Democratic Party (NDP) colleague and Territorial At-Large Representative, Lorna Smith, OBE, pulled a surprise defection which allowed the VIP to be able to successfully form a government.
According to Walwyn, the parties that now make up the opposition — NDP, Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) and Progressives United (PU) — had an obligation to ensure that voters got the government that they wanted by fully working through the machinations and resolving any issues that arose during negotiations between the three parties.
In the meantime, Walwyn pointed out that his extensive house-to-house visits during the elections campaign suggested that people were unwilling to vote in the elections because of an apparent mistrust of politicians.
“People kept saying we’re not voting, particularly young people,” Walwyn commented. “Because the psyche of the public has been damaged by politicians. And when things like this (Lorna Smith’s immediate, post-election defection) happen again, you further erode and further damage the psyche.”
He added: “If the negotiations [with the NDP, PVIM, and PU] broke down and somebody had to make a move, [then] I understand. But I think we had an obligation and the people of the BVI expected us to do that.”
Walwyn apologised to the electorate for not being able to deliver the results that he felt they voted for, but said he felt there is now a formidable Opposition in place in the House of Assembly (HOA) and urged that the country should move forward.
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He was the most mature and sensible contributor to the recent press conference. Good to have you back Hon. Walwyn.
Spoken like a true leader Honourable Walwyn. Thank you District 6 for making your X count. We desperately needed Hon Walwyn in the house. DESPERATELY! You are the type of leader that people WANT to listen to because you make a lot of sense. I love the opposition team!!!
I agree completely with what Myron has said.
Hmmm did they thought? From where I’m standing they voted for them even with a low voting turnout. Y’all delusional bad! Retire for us please bye!
Like really?? people were waiting on you to say something after the election and this is what you have? lol! If people so wanted what you say how come VIP still have more seats than any other party??? voters didn’t vote against VIP. They didnt turn out to vote for NDP and PVIM. those who turn out voted for VIP.
It’s not cool sailing for you, try work on your defense regarding that case.
This voice is reasoning and intelligence has been missing. Welcome back Sir.
The devil himself is back. Heaven help us from this man.
To the VIP, when you all sending your paid bloggers to this platform, please can you at minimum ask them if they know how to write a sentence and spell? I mean, not even that you can get right. Just shameful man.
You and Lorna dismantle NDP in 2019 election because she wanted you to be Premier and you so power hungry you listen to her before you
wait your turn …..That’s why you lost the last election……I like both you and her but you two are power hungry…….so the woman in the Corner now had the chance of getting rid of NDP completely so
she did just that….No no Dr. Smith had nothing to do with her decision……but I agree with you Sir, it’s water under the bridge.
Hope we do not have a bielection in d6 after he goes to jail
@ PVIM SUPPORTER
ONE DEVIL KNOWS ? THE OTHER..
People also voted against NDP and PVIM. Each of those parties only got 3 persons elected. Please stop trying to insult our intelligence. The real reason you all are not in power today is because your heads are too big. There is no way you all would have been able to form the government.
I wanted a change so I decided to vote for fresh candidates. No recycles who are/were part of the problem.
No, you are the delusional one and clearly do not understand how politics and voting goes. VIP had the most district representatives so of course they will win the most seats when we compare to who the other parties had. Look at the at-large voting! VIP at large got ONE! That spoke in volume, the people DID NOT want a VIP Government!
@MW
There was a fair election, where Myron and Marlon won. If you are fair and truthful you would state who mash NDP in 2029..Wicked set of people aryo be.
When Head Coach was the man dealing with the devil, witches and demons the Christian counsil and the churches accepted him whole heartedly and telling us to pray for him and his family.
Well, I like Myron but this is rubbish! The Virgin Islands Party faced more issues than any other incumbent Government in the history of the Virgin Islands and in the shortest time, yet they were able to amass 6 seats, only needing 7 to form the majority. This is in spite of their leader being locked up in the USA on drug charges, COI, COVID mishandling and many other things that went against them. All parties and candidates that were not VIP, attacked the VIP for 6 weeks nonstop and yet, as we wake up this morning the VIP are the Government. People did not vote against VIP, people voted the lesser of all evils hence the make up we see today.
To most with sense, the VIP received the most votes of any political party with 6 clear seats despite all the opposition during the elections. NDP only got three but loss one to the VIP. PVIM only got three. PU only got one. So, the people voted for VIP more than any other political party.
100 percent true. Lets get it on.
Baldy is right. The VIP got just 33.4% of the vote across district and at-large seats. That means over two-thirds of voters wanted a change of government. I am not sure that the country’s voters were well served by the NDP and PVIM splitting the vote for change and handing the victory to the VIP.
Keep talking bout pull rug. Must be Aladdin lol
like really, no one stop the other parties from running 13 candidates, now you want to blame VIP for finding 13 candidate. lame excuse. NDP had candidate in all districts in the past so what happen now?? where are they now?? where are their backbone supporters?? why they could not find a good person from each district be chosen to represent NDP or PVIM?? what they could not find a good candidate among their die hard supporters in each district??
You completely lost. Please get facts before you embarrass yourself. It is Ronnie and Mitch who mashed up the party after losing the internal elections. Stop talking without research. You make yourself look real stupid whoever you are.
You right there with the Devils Mitch and his brother Mikey in your party and don’t know. Go siddung! Ask Ronnie how the devil fire from Mitch burn he backside when was trying to come back to lead the party. Ole fool you.
The VIP was clearly the popular party amongst the districts.
The REAL problem here is WHY WAS THAT?
Let’s start with the fact that almost every viable independent candidate was somehow convinced that in order to be elected, they had to throw their lot in with a party led by some long-term, same-old-same-old politician. Many people did not vote because they felt there was nothing to vote FOR and everything to vote against. That’s not good enough.
The ONLY party not led by a political personality that has claimed to be ‘taking care of the people’ while everything around us fell apart for decades is, in fact, the VIP.
Enough voters recognized that as head of a coalition government, our now duly elected Premier worked hard to keep the territory together, working with his government to bolster our infrastructure and economy while attempting to comply with the UK orders and hold that particular wolf at bay. Look around at improvements made to your district and the tourism that is still with us (in May!). In just over one year, that coalition achieved much FOR US.
And yes, everyone including the Premier, got a little crazy once the party and money machines geared up. Things were said and done that were clearly party directives from all parties. But that is over now. Now it is time to get to work.
Our job as citizens does not end with the vote. We must continue to participate and hold our politicians and ourselves accountable. We must continue to demand transparency.
It is also time to begin questioning whether the current and intentionally devisive political Westminster system so kindly ‘gifted’ us by mama UK, serves us and our future as a nation.
I see no lie in what Myron said. VIP was the only party with 13 candidates but still did not end up with enough to form a government. The other parties got more votes combined that they did. That is very telling. The public did not want them to be the government and they would not have been if Lorna Smith wasn’t a greedy, power hungry and deceptive w**ch. This is the cold hard truth.
Two parties working together put two candidates in the same district and splits their vote and still expects to win. That is where you guys shortchanged the electorates. very silly. If you guys do the same thing next election you will lose again and I for one will not be voting for any of you. Stop blaming Lorna you guys have no strategy to win the election. By just putting one candidate in district 4 and 9 you would have 8 seats and possibly 9 comfortably. Very educated but very silly.
Baron Samedi will be in jail soon enough
@Not2Sure Yours is the most sensible comment in here.
People cannot seems to do the math. Of course they got the majority of seats in any one particular party, because, they had a full slate. Had the NDP and the PVIM been one party, this would be an entirely different conversation, because from the state of mind of the voters, they would have won because despite the VIP gaining six seats, the other almost 70% of the voters, did not want them in power.
The change would have come and the math would have math for them as a joint government, including Frazer, if the Judas in their midst did not decide that 30 pieces of silver was worth enternal salvation.
“combined” just let me tell you again VIP was alone not combined. if there was going to be combination then those other parties should have combined before election not splitting up forming 3 different parties and want to throw out one party that stand up by itself and won 6 seats fair and square.
VIP had 13 and they one mostly district seats. so it is okay to say the least that the turn out was low but VIP supporters turned out as to ensure there district candidate was secured.
Yes, because the people of the 3rd are idiots! Fraser only beat Aaron because OJ was there to split votes. The people of the 9th are also idiots and did not want change! Vincent won by 87, that Vanterpool man from Anegada was also there to split votes, I won’t be surprised if the VIP did not pay him. and last but not least, Luce on the Loose was allegedly long bush delivering envelopes! Heard it from someone that was there! Sandy would have whooped her had it not been for $$$$$. So please go and have several seats!
Yellow just aint bright.
Combine total votes for each district that were not for VIP…majority of the ENTIRE TERRITORY did not vote for VIP.
the VIP won 6 seats frog man.
Jesus but we all know the entire opposition had more seat together than VIP lordy someone have to read and spell for you. Ain’t that’s why the needed the one more seat??
We keep forgetting that NDP and PVIM are two separate parties.
Myron, I agree with you ? % but timing is everything….you guys are too slow..
WHY in the h**l is this man allowed to hold legislative office and is charged for BREACH OF TRUST?????!!!!!
WHY WHY WHY????
You cannot do that in other countries so WHY HERE???
Enquirering minds want to know MR GOVERNOR!
@Why???
God mind you get high blood pressure, a stroke or blow some damn fuse???
Alvera pay you to post this then. The people of the 6th vote him in that’s why.
Alvera pay you to post this nuh. Guilty until proven innocent.
Told you that in nine days people will forget this even happened. Glad to hear the Honorable is asking to move on early.
Political Science ,oh my what a reflection, a class I did hate but it give some sure suggestions of reality. 1.01 Get all you “ducks in a row” it simple means plan everything , there is no delay, the mission is crucial, if any opponent change their mind move them out. Ensuring you lock theduck in a cage, but if not and the duck moving about it can fly to the neighbor greener pasture.
Next time note to self planning everything ,right down to the point to have all the winning candidates to sign and move to the governor informing him you got the party. No waiting , complaining,or negotiating. Move with a purpose. Some people will get left behind if they are slow.
Stop with the name calling,it waste time, use it to convince the public of you intent. Stop ordering billboard to post someone else mistake this is not 1977. Engage the people with decisions making. Public feel valued when they are included. Stop airing dirty laundry, even if you don’t have none, it show class. Well! Congrats on your winning.
Tou soynd so bitter yiu do not make any sense
Not we..they!! They keep saying that opposition have more votes and they not saying is three different parties lol
Like he pay you and to be cloned too lol
Aww! You are really hurting bad. No one’s name is stamped on none of the districts. District 6 doesn’t belong to either Alvera nor Myron. As long as you are from the 6 District, you can run for office if you choose to. Stop the nonsense now, man.
Get rid of Smurf from the chairmanship and NDP will be better off. We all know why them keep voting that Andrew number 2 back in the eight district. Good girl Lorna knows best.