Hon Julian Fraser launches new party: ‘Progressives United’
Also at the meeting—venued at the Icis Villas in Brewers Bay, Tortola—were other individuals who contested previous elections unsuccessfully, persons from Virgin Gorda and some persons from Hon Fraser’s Third District Committee.
It is unclear if any of the former legislators formally signed their membership to ‘Progressives United.’
There was also no formal announcements of Candidates for the party at the upcoming elections.
Billboard
According to reports, during the course of the meeting, many persons committed their support for the new party and for Hon Fraser—who is expected to be the Leader of the new group, ‘Progressive United.’ The grouping, ‘Progressives United,’ is also responsible for the ‘Trust’ Billboard at the Wickhams Cay Service Station, round-about, one source confirmed.
The move by Hon Fraser signals a formal departure from the Opposition Virgin Islands Party (VIP), the group he was first elected with in 1999.
According to reports coming out of the meeting, persons are to be nominated via phone for Executive positions in the new political party which is expected to contest the 2019 General elections.
Thus far, only two political parties—the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) and the VIP—have formally indicated they will contest the next General Election, and both parties have since begun transitioning into elections mode
The NDP from all indications plan to hold on to power until summer of 2019, even as sections of the public and civil society, and some in the United Kingdom (UK) are calling for fresh elections.
Numerous Parties This Time
With Hon Fraser’s party now in the race, some say there could be as much as five political parties contesting the next Virgin Islands General Elections.
They include the United Party, Sun Flower (a new Party), People’s Patriotic Alliance (PPA) now headed by Elton Callwood trying to make a comeback, and a number of Independent candidates.
The People’s Empowerment Party (PEP)—a party started in 2014 by J. Alvin Christopher, a former Minister and Second District Representative—appears to be now defunct.
There are also reports that some breakaway elected members of the NDP who do not want to be led by the new Co- Leader, Honourable Myron V. Walwyn (AL), are flirting with the idea of a new party.
Virgin Islands News Online has reached out, to no avail, to Hon Fraser for an official statement or position on the meeting and new party.
Correspondences to Hon Fraser from Virgin Islands News Online went unanswered up to publication time.
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36 Responses to “Hon Julian Fraser launches new party: ‘Progressives United’”
I debated long and hard to give my vote to my district rep as well as to an at large candidate last election.
This time around, they won’t be getting my vote.
However, the electorate must listen keenly to the qualntiry, volume and variety of proposals that will be fling around. It must adroitly evaluate the information and then decide on which party or individual position can advance the needs of BVI. It must decide who can deliver on the desired outcomes. Attaining the desired outcome may not rest with one party; it may take a coalition government. In the the last 12 years, the BVI has had 3 lopsided governments (11-2, 9-4, and 11-2) and the outcomes have been less than impressive.
Let’s take a close look at the Progressive United Party (PUP). The jokes are already coming from this PUP abbreviation. The Hon Fraser, along with other organizers, may be wedded to PUP; perhaps, they need to take a close look at the name. The focus should be on what the party is offering, what it is bringing to the table, not its name. There was strong listing of seasoned, current and former legislators/ Boomers at the Icis Villa gathering at Brewers Bay. Nevertheless, where are the millennials..........etc. It is a general rule in mgt. that those who will affected by a decision generally should be at the table with inputs when decisions are being made. Ah, well this was just the rollout. First impressions are important so the rollout should have been more hard hitting. There was much anticipation of the roll out of PUP; it was open secret that it was coming. However, the launch was probably a yawn; it didn’t captivate our attention or wild imagination. A missed opportunity, for the territory is eager and hungry for real and substantive change. Comments are not intended to dissed the new party, PUP. They are just the observations of a no dog in the fight observer, keeping it real. At the end of the day, a majority of the electorate will determine if PUP will rise or crash.
If you want Andrew Fahie to be the next premier thumbs up.
Fraser is hated. Anybody run with he them some as$es.
This won’t give you the opportunity to be Premier.
U- Unprepared
P- Puppets
And the beat goes on.