Youth parliamentarians to debate if coalition gov’t is best for BVI
The Virgin Islands Youth Parliament (VIYP) is scheduled to reconvene in the next few weeks.
This follows their first official sitting back in March when the 23-member youth parliament had spirited debate on whether BVI should move to self-determination.
This second sitting will take place on Tuesday, November 30 at 6 pm.
“The topic will be: ‘Is a Coalition Government the best choice for the Virgin Islands?’ The Virgin Islands Youth Parliament Government side will debate against the motion and the VIYP Opposition will support the question. I look forward to hearing from our young parliamentarians as they debate this topic,” House of Assembly Speaker, Julian Willock stated.
This upcoming debate is telling of the BVI’s current political atmosphere where the territory moves further away from the traditional two-party politics.
Back in 2019, the BVI saw at least four political parties contesting the general elections.
There were the well-established Virgin Islands Party and National Democratic Party as well as the newly-established Progressive Virgin Islands Movement and Progressives United.
Each party had well experienced political leaders — all of who had varying views about forming a coalition government.
At the time, constitutional attorney Gerard Farara explained to our news centre that, in a sense, the BVI has had coalitions before.
“For example, Willard Wheatley became Chief Minister (premier) where he associated with members of another party to form the government and likewise did Cyril Romney who I think, at that time, was an independent candidate. So that is a kind of coalition,” the attorney said.
And while weighing in on the feasibility of a modern-day coalition in the Virgin Islands, Farara said it was difficult to predict. However, he noted that “coalition governments can work”.
“There are certainly inherent potential issues that could arise when members of two or more parties come together to form a coalition government but that is not that unusual.”
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Under Willock the youth parliament is doing well f***y man ran it to the group playing politics
these people too old
This might be a good debating exercise for the youth. But the truth be known we the people don’t want no coalition government. What we need is a change in government. To have a coalition we might be tempted to bring some of these jokers in the coalition. Not one of them should not be a part of any government ever again. If they even deflect to another party don’t vote that party. They are tainted. There is nothing not one of them can say or do to redeem themselves. They are forever relegated to the heap of forgetfulness. When the political history of the bvi is written narry a mention of this lot should be included. These are dark days that we would rather forget.
The lady in red didn’t get the memo! But she did brighten up the picture haha.
Good to see the YP convening soon. Big things !
Good topic I will tune in
They did not compete to earn a place in the youth parliament. There countless other youths who are interested and capable to be apart of the youth parliament but the cronies and crooks hand picked these. Many other intelligent and capable youths were not afforded this grand oppurtunity to be be mentored and groomed to be our future leaders. This is not the way forward ! Utter nonsense!!