Political leaders debate: A new age of BVI politics
In what might very well be a first in Virgin Islands history, leaders of the main political parties in the territory participated in a political debate ahead of the upcoming general election.
The Virgin Islands Party’s (VIP) Dr Natalio Wheatley, the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement’s (PVIM) Ronnie Skelton, the National Democratic Party’s (NDP) Marlon Penn, and Julian Fraser of Progressives United — all chairmen of their parties — gathered inside the auditorium at H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) last evening and shared their political ideologies for the territory.
Organised by HLSCC’s Virgin Islands Studies Institute, the debate gave voters a chance to watch in real-time as leaders faced off on multiple issues such as fiscal policy, social welfare, and healthcare. They were even made to answer to decisions they’ve made during their time as a political representative.
Perhaps most importantly, though, yesterday’s successfully staged debate signalled a development of Virgin Islands politics. The value of political debates cannot be understated as they are important for voters to see their political leaders on the same stage responding to the same questions or addressing the same topics.
They not only allow voters an opportunity to learn more about a leader’s brand of politics before going to the polls, but debates also allow voters to see how well these leaders are able to think on their feet beyond scripted campaign messages. During yesterday’s debate, the four political chairmen had an opportunity to deliver a short opening and closing address, and respond to questions in front of a live audience of supporters and HLSCC students, among others.
The 2023 general election is scheduled to happen on April 24 and has been described in several spaces as the most important election so far in the territory’s history. If this is true, the political leaders’ collective willingness to participate in these debates this time ’round — after neglecting to do so in previous years — may not have come at a better time.
BVI News will report on the issues arising from yesterday’s chairman debates in subsequent publications.
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THEY ARE ALL WINNERS IN CERTAIN SUBJECTS
All have been proven useless in government. And strong corruption allegations hang around most of them.
We need a clean start with new people led by a highly experienced person who has not been elected before.
Of the candidates we have for Premier Lorna Smith is easily the best. The True Iron Lady of today.
Technically she has been elected, trust me. When her husband talks, it is she who is speaking.
You obviously dont know them.
Lorna was against more than a few things the NDP government did.
Yes rubber duck is right, if Dr.Smith listened to Lorna and most of his other advisors we would not have gotten into that BVI airways deal as she was vehemently against it.
How much money did she make via Asia house and the asia bank she set up in tortola that was helped by her husband being premier? Her hands are as dirty as thr rest of them,
I really wanted Wheatley to have a another chance. But he needs to humble. I don’t Ronnie at all. Not to let back Claude in power no way
if you know anything about Ronnie, you know Claude will not be in power.
You better believe that. Ronnie will not take the people’s money to give claude, and that is a fact. That’s why Claude was so against him in the last elections. He knows that Ronnie believes in teaching one how to fish.
Oh please! If you are in the societal elite circle.
But you want Wheatley and the corrupt VIP back in power?
That was a debate?!
if these 4 co**upt gentlemen are potential future leaders of the BVI then we are doomed. Please round up all these corrupt/wannabe politicians, put them in Balsam Ghut for the rest of April and bring in the UK Marines to take over for the next 8 months of 2023.
Debates benefits parties that are behind by public opinion. The only party that would benefit is the vip. Skelo we all know would not be able to recite the abc without blunders. Marlon is neither decisive or charismatic, pu don’t gave a team, and sl**man looking to score points. I would love to see a rep from each party representing.
You are correct and Sowande definitely scored big last night. The guy is intelligent and deserves a second chance to lead the Territory with his own mandate and 4 years.
Hon. Natalio Wheatley was by far the best at the debate.
He was by far the best speaker. However, by his standards he is the only one who learned from his mistakes and can fix the things his government messed up. He said that those involved in the NHI scheme cannot fix it because they were involved in its implementation, so how come he can fix all the mess his party made in the last 4 years. Sometimes, we have to also pay keen attention to what is being said and not how it is being said.
We don’t need a talker in District 7 we need a worker. Enough with the talking. Talking can’t fix the problems in District 7. Natalio Wheatley must go.
This was NOT the first! I remember attending a previous debate, also dubbed the first, in 2011, at the College. Orlando was there, but I don’t think Ralph was….maybe Dancia or Fraser represented the VIP. The Wheatley who had been sent to jail for financial crimes ( and who is currently running !) was there. Natalio Wheatley (“Sowande Uhuru”) was there as part of a small socialistic party. There may have been others, I don’t remember. It wasn’t simply the leaders of the major parties, but it was a debate and it was interesting. Predictably, Sowande was the best spoken, but it did not get him elected, that time or the next. And his platform, while well articulated, was pretty shaky. He spoke well, but that was about it.
He was by far the best speaker. However, by his standards he is the only one who learned from his mistakes and can fix the things his government messed up. He said that those involved in the NHI scheme cannot fix it because they were involved in its implementation, so how come he can fix all the mess his party made in the last 4 years. Sometimes, we have to also pay keen attention to what is being said and not how it is being said.
Not true, He sounded very agree in his tone. He also was not truthful in what he was saying concerning the greedy bill, wanted to give the impression that all the legislators were in favour of the bill
All persons present voted yes for the bill. So what further impression did he need to make? You people will say anything at this point.
Every single one of them is part of tbe misuse of our Government monies. Even the latest Ptemier os doing it. Need new people.