Walwyn denies “breaking up the NDP”
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has dismissed claims that he caused the split in the National Democratic Party (NDP), insisting that he has always followed the party’s constitution and has remained loyal to its principles.
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview recently, Walwyn said: “I hear people saying that Myron broke up the National Democratic Party. I don’t understand how that accords with common sense because we had an election. We had a process based on the constitution. And I won. And other persons took up and left the party because I won.”
He argued that the contest was fair, and that those who lost should have “had the discipline to fall behind whoever wins and move the agenda of the country through the party vehicle forward.”
Walwyn recalled that in 2018, a convention was called for fresh party leadership elections. He said he sought the support of then-Premier Dr Orlando Smith, along with other senior NDP figures, before putting his name forward. He won the leadership contest against Ronnie Skelton. But he explained that soon after, some members broke away and later formed the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM).
“I tried three times after Honourable Skelton came back to meet with him to discuss the way forward,” Walwyn stated. “Looks like we have to have a competition, and so I went out with my campaigning… and then the election took place. I won the election.”
He added that he showed respect to party elders, offering Skelton the finance minister role if he wished to continue, but while waiting for decisions from senior figures, “[Skelton] was forming PVIM while I was there waiting for him.”
The fallout weakened the NDP in the 2019 general election, when the party suffered major losses. The split effectively left two opposition parties, a division that also affected the 2023 general election when both the NDP and PVIM won three seats each.
Despite accusations that he was the cause of the rift, Walwyn insisted that the blame lay elsewhere. “If you don’t want to have an election, don’t have one. If you want a coronation, have a coronation,” he said. “But if it’s a contest, properly done, fairly done, based on your constitution… anybody can put their names forward to run.”
He added that his loyalty remains to the Virgin Islands.
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I don’t like a liard at all. He suffering from Alzheimer’s or what? He took a group to rally against Skelton when he went on a trip to vote out Skelton. He know this is true.
More to come.
From what I see if Ronnie doesn’t have his way or is not in charge he has a problem. He lost the party elections and he ran off to form PVIM. He and his small group continue to make all kinds of untruthful excuses from Dr. Smith send him away to all kind of crap
He lost the opposition leader post and decide not to debate and abstain from a vote of no confidence that he tried to bring before.
I have seen enough to make my judgment on Ronnie. I am not interested in hearing another word he has to say. He had a chance to defend the people but chose to show his hatred from Myron instead.
@mongrel: observing the modus operandi of Ronnie and Marlon right now, during the last no confidence motion that Ronnie brought, Marlon didn’t want anyone ahead of him as leader so he went Australia go see the kangaroos murmuring that the king sent him as his loyal opposition, to do what chit chat and sip fine wine? Because nothing is there to show any benefits to the country.
Then come again this second motion of no confidence and there goes Marlon again, and Ronnie who brought the first no confidence motion scorned it, if there was a vicious lion that could attack and kill me and I am trying to kill it first to secure my safety and someone else caught it before me, wouldn’t I be glad and join in on eradicating that lion? But Ronnie didn’t, and he and Marlon also caused themselves not to form the government, that’s the reason Lorna leaved, and the third combatant who thought he was also entitled because of his experience is Fraser, after the 2023 election Myron was no way at the forefront of any position romanticization, these three guys with Marlon the least among them contending, I respect all of them you know, but they let a non experience person like natalio destroy their cohesiveness on that night in 2023, he spoke romantically to Lorna smith and she went over, thinking she has joined the league of her husband in to position as deputy premiere, and natalio defeated the experience Fraser and gave him cars and position to play with also, the political advisers of natalio are shrewd and us capable of leading natalio down the road of independence so that they themselves can wield and deal on the BVI lands in real estate.natalio See’s the vision of power at the end of the tunnel, riches for his family and friends , the great lavity stout did not plunder the BVI money and resources as how this guy is planning, the Vybz Kartel quarter million USD is a case in point and the no $5 million USD to bank of Asia.
Back to Ronnie who along with his other two accomplices baited breath romanticizing power on the night of 2023 has cause themselves to be out in the wilderness, and now Myron preach unity or cohesiveness of coming together they refused and cause those that catch the vision to for an alliance that they scuffed at. It is a brilliant idea that out done John cline and Claude. Ronnie is such a beating post for natalio that he argue on the side of Ronnie constantly where he would be safe to do as he like with no consequences because Ronnie and Marlon so lazy and experience Fraser just want a taste of power.
@Eldread
History Lesson
The late Hon. Paul Watley is the founder of the National Democratic Party aka NDP. He started that party back in 1995 to contest the upcoming general election of 1995. He ran at large but did not win. I don’t know how old you are but do you remember channel 2 or 3 that was own by Mr. Dave Douglas. It was on a Sunday ( can remember the date) he launch in that channel. He invited others to join him.
As for the current members the majority were members of the Virgin Island Party(VIP) before the fall out. After our late chief Minuster Hon. H. Lavity Stoutt past the party leadership went to the late Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal. It is allege that he told them he was in charge and not them. So of course you know some feeling got caught. Allegedly they had many arguments until he got tired of them and they power hungry trips and told them they could leave, which they did. They joined the NDP and still to this day having a power trip battle. As for Hon. Myron Walwyn, he was always expected to represent the sixth district. As a member of the VIP he was suppose to replace the late Hon. Omar Hodge when he retired but he took to long to do so. He got entice by the NDP and the promise of future leadership so he left and joined them.
My opinion is they all power hungry and will therefore broke up any party they join if they not the leader. That politics for you.
So I guess he is also responsible for the inability to IDENTIFY WHO IS LEADING THE PARTY after almost 6 Months. The most basis of functions they are unable to execute and they are supposed to lead a Territory??
I believe Myron!! Were you there for all the events that led up to Myron’s rallying for the position. He was clear and articulate without a hem or haw when he recounted what transpired, so I believe him.
Have you been a delegate in the room?
I was one who voted in the internal election for Ronnie.
However, we often have been asking and begging, Ronnie are you running, just to hear him repeatedly saying “Bossman, I will see.”
He is never ready to run. This election I would not be asking him or begging again. It’s time for all 13 to go home. Send fresh people who are not mixed with the clubs.
I am glad that Walwyn cleared the air last night. We need to be more truthful as a people. There was an internal election and Walwyn won. Ronnie lost and then went to form his own party because of that. He took up proverbial basketball and left the court because the other team was winning. Who broke up the game? The person who left with their ball or the person who remained on the court.
Ronnie break up the NDP because he lost the election. And he run back to NDP because he lost the leader of the opposition. Ronnie is the problem. Plain and simple. He is ENTITLED
So there was party election for leadership. The election was held fairly. People voted. Myron won the election. Ronnie lost. Ronnie then left the party to form his own party after losing. How is the winner responsible for breaking up the party? Is he responsible because he was not supposed to win but lose instead?
I have heard this story being peddled by some and had to do a double take to see if they crazy or if I was the crazy one. Ronnie mash up party because he lose. That’s what happened. Stop lying
Ronnie left after he lost.He will always lose the leadership race. Truth be told, he and his minions were responsible then and even now for killing NDP.
I like how he relies on the adjective there was a ‘fair’ election…was there?
Also just take responsibility for the part you played in the breakup. Every effect has a cause. Lack of accountability is a poor trait for an aspiring leader.
And finally he did the same to the Royal Opposition. He didn’t follow the leader etc etc so there is no moral ground for him.
He likes confusion and that is it.
man just loves confusion and drama.
drama and commess interviewed drama and commess
I am of the opinion that the split within the NDP after the party’s election was due to some members having a malignant sense of entilement that they were heir to the party’s leadership.
Despite the party’s election havent not gone their way, there were some who were unhappy with the results, and decided not to play so to speak. Rather they decided to pick up their marbles and leave.
They not only left, but did so with the mindset to undermine the newly elected leader going forward. In my view, it was poor form wrapped in jealousy and probably some degree of hatred which showed who these people are.
Its was either their way or the highway.
That same mindset of lack of support was recently on full disply yet again during the recently held no-confidence vote brought by the Opposition Leader.
After all those intervening years since that party election these same characters from the former NDP either shamefully abstained, or failed to show to support the recent no confidence motion brought by the Oppositon Leader.
IMO, they did not support the no-confidence vote because they had no intent to support it, because they remain bitter despite all those intervening years.
I don’t think they will ever support the Opposition Leader no matter what he does, because their self centered bitterness, jealously, and political imaturity is too strong. He should see them for who they are because they are showing him.
Before I go further, let me just state that my observation is not tied to any opinion I may have on the no-confidence vote recently held pro or con.
Now, an equally important issue was the heritage of the Oppositon Leader that some were and still are questioning relative to the future leadership of the country.
To hear some tell the tale, the Opposition Leader is an “island man” implying inocrrectly that he is from elsewhere and as such unqualified to lead the country overlooking his abilities. To my knowledge the Oppositon Leader was born in the BVI.
In my view, it’s a silly conversation to begin and just another talking point to undermind the Oppositon Leader’s efforts, and appeal to the xenophoboes who buy into that way of thinking hoping to weaken any support he may have.
Look, I don’t endorse anyone. I am not a card carrying member of any party. I have no political allegence to anyone or party.
I look at the issues we are facing as a country and vote accordingly based on which party or person are best suited to take up the charge. Consider me an independent if you will.
I like being of independent mind so that when I express my opinions I can do so without fear or favor.
For me, country first over person or party.
However, permit me to say this: thinking forward to the next election and beyond, and looking at the current choices among Oppositon members, I am of the opinion that the current Opoositon Leader is best suited and capable to lead the country forward if it’s the will of the voters.
You know, jealousy is a bad thing. Same with hatred. Such people should never be trusted. I could never be among those who are determined to stab me in my back.
I would rather not be among them, or if I have to, feed them with a very very long spoon, and never ever let my guard down.
Myron has no loyalty to anyone but self. he will throw who ever far up under the bus till you become the muffler pipe.
i a east man knows Myron went on a campaign through out east end talking Marlon about personal stuff. the same man you claim is your daughters GodFather and whom you have no bad blood with. Colleague, yousa worm Myron.
When the country fired Myron for doing wrong onto us Virgin islanders, it was the same Marlon that give you a spot back on the team. The same Mark who financially supported you, you turned your back on and stabbed him and his family in the back.
Myron is a na**y person and would tear this country apart to be premier which will NEVER HAPPEN.
Time for us VI people to stand up and stop allowing any and anyone to tear us from one another.
I think you got the wrong person. Your assumption that I am somehow related to the Oppositon Leader in some way is incorrect.
I have no relationship personal or otherwise with the Opposition Leader. I doubt he knows me.
Truth be told, I ran into him once in my life years back at the Noel Lyod park during a cultural gathering where people were selling food.
He was walking thru the crowd and shaking hands including mines. I was busy trying to get me some salt fish and dumplings. The man was the last thing on my mind at that moment. My focus was on that saltfish and dumplings.
I recall him being a very tall fella…taller than me by comparison.
He is not the “godfather” of my daughters because I have none.
Anywho, let me say this here: You are entiled to your views of him, and vote for whomever you wish. Use your singular vote as you see fit and carefully.
As such, my thoughts as expressed were not based on any personal experience or relationship with him. It’s just as I said what I see when I consider it all.
Boss stop look talk. Nobody talking bout you.
Well, write with clarity then. You responded to my post and mentioned the things you did. I just responded to it and said what I said.
If it was not your intent to reference anyone, then don’t write anything to suggest otherwise. Your entire post was confusing to me, but I responded nevertheless.
Anyone reading your response would have drawn the same conclusion I did.
Maybe it’s your style of speaking/writing, but that’s what I got from what you wrote. No offense.
At any rate as I mentioned in my response to yours, you are entitled to your views on the Opposition Leader. You have yours and I respect them. I have mine. We all are free to vote for whomever we wish.
When you write: “Myron is a na**y person and would tear this country apart to be premier which will NEVER HAPPEN.”, know that you are speaking for yourself and not everyone will agree with you.
I have no dog in this fight. Just my observations. Who wins the next election wins. No sleep will be lost on my part regardless of the winner. Whatever it is it will be.
How does this make sense. Did Skelton go on a trip during the campaigning time for the party elections. If he did could Myron be blamed for his silly decision to do so? Or will you now say that Myron put him on the plane? Ronnie could not have beaten Myron in that election. Stop making excuses. He got a whipping and he couldn’t take it.
Where this may not be all true, 2024 till present Myron has been trying to break up NDP and i know the facts based on questions i have asked. He was on a campaign behind Marlons back from last year trying to get every candidate affiliated with NDP to join him on this Alliance thing unknown to Marlon.
Myron takes no accountability and not a man to be trusted. Run with him and watch your life go down while he focuses on him to your detriment.
Mitch, Mather like little children were forced to do a press conference while Myron bad eyed both of you like school children. Brenda and the rest of you candidates that bit his propaganda, yall all up for the ride of your lives
Jump high jump
Low we are not having island man as our premier
a lot of women are afraid of accountability good thing walyn ain one
HEY WIGGIE THATS A NEW NAME FOR 2025 , DID YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR FIRST ❓️ BOI IT SURE FITS YOU / A PITBULL IS A HOOD RESEMBLANCE BUT SINCE YOU CHOOSE MONGREL , THEN MORE POWER TO YOU • ( MORE YO COME ? REALLY ? DID HE HE PUT A GUN TO THEIR HEAGX IN THAT SO CALLED RALLY ” OH ‘ ALZHEIMERS IS WRITTRN ALL OVER YOUR FACE , JUST PUT ON YOUR GLASSES AND LOOK IN THE MIRROR
So are we going to conveniently forget that Mitch was a driving force with the split and formation of PVIM because of his distrust for Myron and now 6yrs later, Ronnie is the worst and Myron is the best? We keep letting these people play in our faces and just going along like sheep!
There are neither friends nor enemies in politics, only changing alliances.
Myron and Mitch are divas. Mather is just tagging along and easily mislead. No back bone or Gaul as a man. Big man like him got These two power hungry cl**ns have him looking like a bow rope guy. It was the same Ronnie and his team that got Mather elected. The same Mitch going on his 4th term on 3 different parties.
The Alliance is a party and has been that. Myron, and few more all used NDP machine to become elected then turned their backs on the party and people. They trying to make themselves seem like everyone else but them were issues.
Sick people
Well the SIMP(s) – yeah you piggy wiggy aka bullfrog bit a bomb – I see you!
No one reads your biased rag-tag tabloid yella site apart for gossip. Natalie and his @$$ clown$ brigade have FAILED this territory miserably with you Mr. WIGlock grafting and grifting in the background.
This lame-duck government has lost the confidence of the majority of the population due to their ineptness, incompetence and child like behavior. The old-guard fear losing the little power that they are struggling daily to keep a grasp on; while the country slides deeper into rinsing cost of living, rising criminal activity, lack of inward investments, lack of development and social inequalities rampant.
So, talk about da deh before you playin’ keyboard gangster wid yuh bull shiggidy – keep da energy and lies for yuh yung bullaman dem…
Lest we forget, Paul Wattley was the founding Deputy Political Leader of the National Democratic Party. Yet when the NDP first ascended to government in 2003, Wattley was conspicuously sidelined. Instead, Ronnie Skelton was elevated to the “super posts” of Deputy Chief Minister, Minister of Finance, Health, and Social Development.
This thirst for power and the calculated displacement of members without ancestral BVI roots is not new to the Skeltons. Myron Walwyn is merely an extension of that same mindset.
They sidelined Wattley not because he lacked vision, but because he lacked ancestral leverage. The playbook hasn’t changed.
Ronnie has no reason to worry about nor walk behind Myron Walwyn. Yes. He speaks like a Harvard scholar and like the Premier can talk himself out of a bottle, but heart, heart for this country and the people of this country, well, that you cannot pretend for long. Also, when it comes to management, business management skills, well, somebody can tell Hon. Walwyn go put some chili on his burgers at his business places for something different or put in a salad bar because they are all dead or dying. He is such a good talker, you would have expected him to excel at his other business, the one where you talk for a living. Not leading there either. But his eyes are set firmly on the prize of the biggest seat in the land, but he said that he cannot make laws for BVIslanders. So we better vote carefully come next election. I believe, that with prayer and works, the Alliance will be dead in the water because God knows our hearts and his heart seems to have a hatred for a certain person just because of something he continues to build with his own hands. Jesus take the wheel of this country. Give it to whom you may. I plead the blood over this Territory. No more wasting of Government funds on party and nonsense and no more desperate people who can work with no one but is a one man gang like PU. When it comes to our Government, we have to be serious or we will be back to pit toilets and dirt roads. Our country is already hanging by a thread. Basic maintenance on what was met is not being done. This foolish fighting when you were already a part of a group is nonsense. Walwyn now left NDP because he felt he should be leader so the blame he is putting On Hon. Skelton is quite funny. Yea without sin! I will say no more. Tired. Tired. Slow news day? Then give us some good news. This election banter is way too early for me.
It is amazing how some persons can eloquently speak and get persons to believe them. Such is the case with MW. Those who were in the hierarchy of NDP at the time when he postered himself to be leader knew the underhand work he did to get the chairmanship. Poor Orlando did not have a clue about it. He has now turned his back on some of the very persons who helped him with his underhand work. He is loyal to no one but himself and will do whatever he has to do to get what he wants. HE USES PEROPLE! He destroyed the NDP then for he began with attacking the one for the 7th and after that went on to attack Ronnie. He got his wish but lost the election. A clear message was sent!
Now, he has sought to destroy NDP because on his comeback he could not get the leadership; then he went on to attack Ronnie again by infiltrating the PVIM. HE IS HUNGRY FOR POWER1 BUT JUST AS THE PEOPLE SENT HIM A MESSAGE BEFORE, THEY WILL DO IT AGAIN. GOD IS IN THE MIDST AND HIS WILL SHALL PREVAIL! VIRGIN ISLANDERS BE ON YOUR GUARD AND LOOK OUT FOR THIS COUNTRY. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LET IT FALL DOWN ANY FURTHER. A GOOD LEADER IS ONE WITH A STEADY HEAD AND HAND; ONE WHO HAS PROVEN LEADERSHIP IN RUNNING SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES. MW LOST THE MOORINGS AS SOON AS HE LOST ELECTION SOME YEARS AGO. HE HAS LOST HIS RESTAURANT AT THE PIER PARK. CAN YOU TRUST THIS COUNTRY INTO THE HANDS OF SOMEONE WHO CANNOT RUN A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS? BE CAREFUL AND TAKE HEED!
“DONT MIND HE”
Poor Hon. Walwyn, he is so hungry for power he is losing it. He needs to give us a break. Talk is cheap. Flowery speeches do not a good leader make, especially one who doesn’t know that there is power in numbers. Today being Friday, I always look forward to the brilliant wisdom of the Sage. Last week Kipling was quoted and Walwyn should take heed. “The strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack. He couldn’t even get his 3 Alliance debate and votes for the vote of no confidence even though he debated, I guess, for the whole Opposition as it went on for hours. The voting public has to understand something, BVIslanders are smart and kind and quite quietly cunning when pushed in a corner. We are tired of this pushing. Hon. Walwyn, we are tired of this pushing.
I could never respect Myron and Mitch ever again. What I witnessed them trying to do as it regards to Ronnie and Mrs. Parsons relationship tells of their character. They will cross any line and try any nasty trick to make them look good but we BVISLANDERS that ain’t living hand to mouth know different.
People saying they break up NDP, I say I am glad none of them affiliated with NDP. That party is better off ran by men that are MEN.
I would never tell any of my children Myron, Mitch, Mather, Fraser, Natalio are great examples of leaders.
Boi WIGGIE YOU REALLY GOT A TOUVMCH OF THE ” WHITE LADY ” OR ALZHEIMERS ” MITCH WAS BREATHING TOO MUCH ODOR FROM SKELLIE’S ARM PIT , AND WHEN HE GOT A BREATH OF FRESH AIR HIS HEAD GOT CLEARED UP AND HE CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW AND SEE AND THINK FOR HIMSELF AGAIN / THAT SKELIE WAS ONLY AFTER POWER AND THE PEOPLE’S INTEREST WASN’T IN HIS MIND AND WE SAW FROM THE LAST ELECTION HE REVEALED IT TO US / WERE YOUR WIG BLOCKING YOU VIEW ?
Anyone elected in the house can join me in a conversation about integrity anytime. Be impeccable with your word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the little power that you think that you might have with your words in the direction of truth and love.[mar]. All of us here in the Virgin Islands owe it to our collective selves to be truth tellers. Be Brave.
@ my take. The long and the short, we the majority nar vote for Ronnie so all of you can say arl kinda manner of evil about Wally arl ahyo want…We ain’t changing.
Every election cycle Ronnie say he is not going to run and when ayo get in his head he throw his hat in the ring. Please think and make your decision sir.
I don’t think that he would admit that but he was a part of it. All because of power and status.
Nobody can say who will win or lose, that’s why the Alliance needs two years to campaign. But my opinion, and that’s all it can be at this point, if Ronnie throws his hat in the ring again, he might certainly win. I will vote for him, win or lose. Why? Well, he already has power and he is not hungry. Can’t say the same about others.
Careful what you wish for you might just get it. Ronnie is also a gentleman in comparison and he’s good. Not jumping up and down as if his life depends on this coming election. Can you others who are brow beating him every chance you get say the same? Reputation is also important when running for leadership. This is a small place and we know and see things. We’re tired of this jockeying for power. Let the people decide and campaign when it is campaigning time. Yo fraid????
All NDP/ PVIM are power hungry liars. Some little worst than others
Ronnie needs to go
Myron be leader- Articulate and experience
Marlon Deputy
Mitch and Mater candidates
Ronnie is a traitor
VIP is laughing at the division Alliance and NDP
Separate
Hi Ho they can never shake up the present government even though the are diong sh****
I do not subscribe to the VIP either
Why is Hon. Skelon considered a traitor? Hon. Walwyn left NDP and took two PVIM members with him and formed the Alliance. The NDP was two strong in the Opposition while the PVIM was three strong. So he didn’t break up the NDP? He didn’t break up the PVIM? He left one member on each team, the leaders. Why? He wanted leadership. What he got was a leaky ship. But I digress, what does traitor mean exactly?
Seems to me the Opposition members were trying to strengthen their overall alliance by joining the two parties. Discussions were being had. What is a traitor really? We need to stop throwing daggers.
Never takes any accountability for anything! He is always the victim and always the benevolent one who does everything right! What a great leader. (Sarcasm)