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Vanterpool rejects claims he’s in politics for personal gains

Mark Vanterpool

People’s Leadership Movement (PLM) leader Mark Vanterpool has pushed back against claims that his political ambitions are driven by self-interest, insisting he is already personally accomplished and is now focused on leaving a legacy for the BVI.

The comments were recently made by outgoing NDP President Bishop John Cline, after Vanterpool dramatically split from the party in the aftermath of his failed chairmanship bid. The fallout drew public attention after Vanterpool reportedly reclaimed office space and distanced himself from the newly restructured NDP, fuelling accusations that his departure was motivated by a bruised ego and personal ambition.

Journalists last week asked Vanterpool to respond to Cline’s charge that he quit the NDP for personal reasons, forcing the former legislator to firmly reject the suggestions.

“My personal ends are well satisfied already. I am very well established. Those [comments about] personal ends are for people trying to probably build their own personal selves. I have been able to come from poverty to what I am. I don’t have any personal ends to strive for,” Vanterpool said at the PLM launch event.

He added that his motivation is now centred on national development rather than self-advancement. “I am about building a legacy in this country to help this country go in the right direction. That’s all, right now. It’s not about self at all. I am giving myself to have the country go forward,” he stated.

Vanterpool also acknowledged concerns about how the NDP delegates were selected, hinting at unresolved grievances, but declined to elaborate. “The delegates that were there, however they were formed, which I have issues with, but I am not going to talk about that. It happened. They selected the leader for the party. I decided that I would prefer to go outside of that, and form a movement.”

Respect for Bishop Cline

In the meantime, the journalists tried to get Vanterpool to respond to Cline’s other criticisms, but the former legislator said he wouldn’t out of respect for the outgoing NDP president, whom he described as his bishop.

“I have no response to John Cline. John Cline is my bishop, and I would never speak ill about him,” Vanterpool said.

When another journalist asked whether Cline had been disrespectful, Vanterpool again shut down the line of questioning: “I have no response. That’s what I said… I’m not responding to his comments.”

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9 Comments

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  1. Black Trump says:

    Let this guy back into government and he will start giving contracts to his own businesses, family members and 10% of every contract he issues..

    Like 24
    Dislike 3
    • True statesman says:

      2things . Mark is a genuine statesman, he stayed direct and focused on issues rather than slipping into ad hominem attacks against the Bishop. I can hope that the oppenants could have such discipline. Second, when someone rises from poverty to success the way Mark has, it tends to create a different perspective — an understanding of what ordinary working people actually deal with because he lived it himself. That kind of experience often shows up in policies aimed at helping people move forward. People often say politicians of earlier generations were more connected to the public, and there may be something to that, largely because many of them came from humble beginnings and understood those struggles firsthand. Mark comes from that tradition. Even his business carries that spirit as “the people’s supermarket.” He could very well be the People’s Premier.

      Like 8
      Dislike 15
  2. REAL says:

    NO TRUTH IN THEM AT ALL SET A THIEFS GUESS HE WANT PART OF THE GREEDY BILL TOO SMH

    Like 11
    Dislike 1
  3. ? says:

    Of course he is. They all are.

    Like 6
    Dislike 1
  4. sticky fingers says:

    I bet * Shipping has run out of plain white envelopes.

  5. BuzzBvi says:

    He people’s man when he want your vote.

    Then he throws it back in your face.

    He just want power and he keep the money for heself.

  6. MARK IS A PIECE OF WORK says:

    JUST BE QUIET. GIVE YOUR MOUTH A BREAK. A BLIND MAN CAN SEE RIGHT THROUGH YOUR LIES. BIGGEST CR**K EVER. IF YOU WERE SO INNOCENT. YOU WONT HAVE TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF TO ANYONE.

  7. Brad Boynes. says:

    Voting for Luce. Let Mark go to h**l.

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