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‘The At-Large System has failed the people, I hate it’-Hon. O’Neal
The Ninth District Representative told Virgin Islands News Online in an exclusive interview from his home in MacNamara, Road Town, on the main Island of Tortola, that “it was orchestrated to get rid of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government and the late Chief Minister H. Lavity Stoutt”.
Hon. O’Neal and his views on the At-Large System
Hon. O’Neal, who also served as Clerk of the Legislative Council now House of Assembly as part of his civil service career, said the At-Large Electoral System was used before between 1950-1954 and it did not work then, even when the population was smaller.
He said today, with the At-Large System and with three out of four being Ministers of Government under the National Democratic Party (NDP), nothing much has changed in terms of proper representation by having such a system.
“Look at the many complaints and people cannot see these At-Large Ministers especially, residents of Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda and even the greater reaches of Tortola communities,” Hon. O’Neal told this news site.
At-Large system reintroduced to get rid of Lavity Stoutt & the VIP Government
The At-Large Electoral System was re-introduced in the Virgin Islands in the election of 1995. Hon. O’Neal said at the time he served as the Deputy Chief Minister to then Chief Minister H. Lavity Stoutt, the then leader of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP).
“I was there and I know firsthand it was a scheme to get rid of the VIP as they were jealous of Mr. Stoutt and how he was winning every election.” It got heated over the debate of the system leading up to the 1995 election and “I witnessed there was almost a fist fight at the airport one time between Mr. Soutt and the then Governor Peter A. Penfold”. ….Penfold had said at the time “he had it up to his throat with Stoutt.”
However, Hon. Stoutt went on to win the 1995 elections. Before the elections, according to Hon. O’Neal, "Stoutt was advised to take it easy, and know who are your safe seats and get at least two of the At-Large, which he did”.
Hon. O’Neal, the veteran legislator, recalled that after the 1995 election Mr. Stoutt had wanted to be sworn in that afternoon after the elections, however, Penfold allegedly didn't want to do it and Stoutt insisted. “He was so against Mr. Stoutt, I am not afraid to say it, I was there.”
Mr. O’Neal said “I know the history of how the At-Large System came about, I hate it, it has failed us as the intention was bad.”
At-Large going into district without consultation
Hon. O’Neal told this news site that the At-Large or Territorial members “must respect all the nine (9) District Representatives and should consult them before they go into their districts to do work”. He said it’s the right thing to do. It “should be a must,” he stressed.
He said he continues to hear of At-Large Members going into districts to do work and not having the courtesy to alert the District Representative while claiming that they represent that district too. He said also “it’s critical that both the At-Large and District Reps work together if the system is to achieve more in helping the people.”
When asked how the At -Large Members have been treating him, Hon. O’Neal said both Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr. Kedrick D. Pickering and Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool usually advise him when they are going into his district [they are both district representatives].
Hon. O’Neal also said recently he has been invited to meetings in the Ninth District by Premier Smith and Minister for Health and Social Development Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton,
He said the people are better served through the district system.
Hon. O’Neal became Chief Minister in 1995 following the death of H. Lavity Soutt. He also became the Virgin Islands First Premier when the VIP won the general elections in 2007.
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54 Responses to “ ‘The At-Large System has failed the people, I hate it’-Hon. O’Neal”
They can't fix it because all of them VIP & NDP broke it really bad. They are clueless how to fix it NOW,but knew very well how to fix it years ago. Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?? I rest my case. And to ccc, UNCLEH??? Oh Yeah, you one of them living good from envelopes passed under the table. THIS GETS ME SICK. The at large party has been stealing and selling out our country forever. When are ayo going to get your heads out of the sand. I cannot believe how gullible you are.
I CANNOT believe the nerve of this man, he REALLY has some guts to be talking about the At-Large system, being a Virgin Gordian I will keep my comments to myself, but ugh, he NEEDS to take several seats and a few rides on the humility train.
Folks check the behavior and actions of that governor pennfold in the 1990's, it’s the very same path the current is on today
Mr. O'neal that is what we want to hear you talk about as the At large system going no where soon
What is the honorable O'Neal thinking? The at-large representatives are representatives od the 9 districts as well and have a responsibility to them. Why should be giving the district representative political milage when they may not be on the same team? Let these lazy district reps get creative and woo their constituents rather than trying to hold on to the coat tails of the at-large reps. This is politics - who say that you have to help your political oponent?
Meanwhile HE is there talking about how the At-Large system has failed, I'd like to point out that while he is the the first Premier, elected by the 9th district, for without whom he would never be able to have been Premier...Dr. Smith is the FIRST DEMOCRATICALLY elected Premier as HE was voted in by the PEOPLE of the BVI and not just a small district like the 9th! If you ask me that is how a TRUE democracy works! If people sat down and thought about how the electoral process should truly work, I believe that anyone holding the leadership position of any party should run AT LARGE, let the PEOPLE vote them in and not a single district! GO SIT DOWN!
Can someone in their right mind say India who has a district system does not have a true democracy? Can someone say the same of Trinidad and Tobago, or United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa? Let’s be for real and have mature reasoning and FACTS
The At-Large system is wrong and robs us of our true democracy and the intention was evil. I must agree with Uncle Ralph on this one but what starts wrong will end wrong!
So now we have our very own Wild Wild Westputting up with these governors
Uncle Ralph you are still in a state of denial....you need to pass the baton to a younger generation of Virgin Islanders committed to the growth of the Virgin Islands. Hating the at large system is not going to help! More proportionate representation is what the BVI need! Not some tyrannical district rep with backwards ideas. Finally...may I suggest that you listen to the Calypso King and preserve what is left of your Legacy!