Hon Julian Fraser 'completely overplayed his hands'– Skelton-Cline
Hon Fraser overplayed hand in 2023 Elections - Skelton-Cline
With the VIP winning 6 seats, the NDP 3 seats, PVIM 3 seats and PU with 1 seat there was a perfect opportunity for the opposition parties to take the government.
“Julian Fraser completely overplayed his hand, Completely [and] selfishly, but in his own mind, I suspect he thought he was doing the right thing, not sure for who, but overplayed this hand,” Skelton-Cline said on the April 24, 2023, edition of his talk show, Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM.
He reminded that both the PVIM and PU had endorsed each other with a commitment that at the end of the elections they would be together.
What went wrong?
Theoretically, Mr Fraser- a former Chairman of the VIP- could have given the incumbent VIP a majority in the House by rejoining the party or could have joined with the NDP and PVIM as the 7th seat to form a coalition government.
According to Skelton-Cline, “Clearly, Julian, the member of the 3rd District, overplayed, overreached his hand and they were unable to form a government that could have been formed shortly after the election [result] was called,” he said.
He added that Hon Fraser reportedly took up a position of choosing and wanting to be a premier in the coalition or nothing at all, after sitting in the Opposition for several years.
The Opposition would fight- Premier Wheatley predicted
Ahead of the elections, second-term Premier Dr Natalio D. Whatley (R7) had warned that even with the endorsements from PVIM and PU, both Chairman were sharing plans with the public of becoming premier.
“The PVIM endorsed Honorable Julian Fraser. Julian Fraser endorsed PVIM. I had a debate with them [and] Ronnie was going left [and] Hon Julian Fraser was going right. Honourable Skelton said when I'm the Premier, this is what I'll do, Julian Fraser said when I'm the Premier, this is what I'll do."
He added, “Well, which one of you is going to be Premier buddy? You didn't work that out before the endorsement? So the first thing that's going to happen if you elect a coalition government, it's going to have a big fight,” Hon Wheatley had righty predicted.
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45 Responses to “Hon Julian Fraser 'completely overplayed his hands'– Skelton-Cline”
The man say you Christians better don’t come for me then proceeded to use bad words unbecoming of a servant of Christ.
Also, can we stop calling Fraser a party leader/chairman? You can't have a one-man party. If Fraser wanted to be Premier or in government he should have fielded a full slate of candidates or at least enough to form a government if they all win. But it takes money to run an election and I suspect the "party" wouldn't be able to fund an election.
Ronnie, Marlon, Fraser the three stooges of these Virgin Islands.
I’m so happy you all are the opposition!
may have overplayed his hand, attempting to use his leverage. Seeing his opportunity to becoming Premier waining quickly, he adopted an all or nothing strategy. Undoubtedly, he was employing a leveraging strategy used successfully by former Chief Ministers Willard Wheatley and Cyril B. Romney to successfully elevate to Chief Minister; Willard Wheatley successfully employ the leveraging strategy twice. Clearly, the high stake play didn’t work in Fraser’s favor; it fell flat, gaining no traction. Fraser was involved in an aggressive chess match and got checkmated. The liberator beaming with confidence probably forgot that in chess one has to not only be concerned with one’s own moves but also the opponent’s moves. A costly over oversight. The word on the street is that Fraser tried to make some adjustments, altering his moves but the opponent was already in checkmate position. To use a combat analogy, in combat a unit has to protect its front, rear, left flank and right flank. Fraser may have left the rear exposed. Has the Liberator’s dream of becoming Premier just that a dream? Is it time to call it a day, passing the baton? Selfishness, greed, disunity resulted in the NDP, PVIM, and PU looking a gift horse in mouth? A bird in the hand is more valuable than 2 in the bush. Would it have been better as Minister of Communication and Works than languishing in the Opposition? Fraser would have done well to take a page from Kye Rymer, who give up Deputy Premier to stay in Cabinet. One has to feel sorry for Ronnie. Premiership was so close yet so far. Greed and selfishness is a curse for too many of us, putting us in bad shameful and embarrassing situations. Life goes on though.
Then again Ronnie laid dormant for three and a half years and then in the last six months want to roar like a lion. I don't think that it works that way. .
cussing out lorna but the same fraser during the campaign was endorsed by NDP 2 but when the right time came fraser turned off running full speed(he should have formed the administration)
Claude needs to form his own church
Should we be surprised at what she did ? I think not.
The end of this story is yet to be told.
What it does show is the great maturity of the VIP party and especially Hon Kye Rymer, who stepped asside as deputy premier in order to enable the VIP to form a government. no squabbling, no arguments,...." if this is what it takes, then this is what it takes".
While NDP and Pvim were trying to get their "House" in order, Hon Lorna realized that she was being eased asside and took the best path forward to put her in a position to make a difference.
Who would you want running our government, a group of individuals who argue amongst themselves for power, or a group who are willing to sacrifice position over country.
Very mature VIP, very pragmatic.
Well done to all, and that does include Lorna, who i didnt vote for but im so happy she's on board with VIP.a wealth of experience.
respectfully submitted.
Sorry but a party of one is not a party.