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Hon Lorna G. Smith 'rejected' the political alliance- Bishop John I. Cline
Speaking on JTV’s The Big Story with host Cathy O. Richards on January 31, 2025, Bishop Cline revealed that Hon Smith has explicitly refused to support what she views as an unnecessary political division.
"Let me give you a little inside information because I can't say all I know; There was a meeting on Tuesday with the opposition and the independent candidate, Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE. In that meeting, she said to them, she heard this entity being formed, but she's not in agreement and in favour of any further division. She will not be a part of it. She wants them to reiterate: ‘I'm an Independent candidate and I'm not lending my voice to a third entity.’"
Opposition rifts
Bishop Cline’s revelations further expose deepening divisions among the opposition as he recounted that during the Tuesday meeting, Opposition Leader Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) made it clear he favoured uniting the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) and the National Democratic Party (NDP) but within an existing framework.
"I too am interested in seeing the conflation of the PVIM and NDP," Bishop Cline quoted Skelton as saying, "Because leaving it the way it is, we already know what that won’t turn out like; So, let us come together."
Adding another layer of complexity, Bishop Cline said that while Hon Deputy Speaker Stacy R. Mather (AL) remained neutral, committing only to ensuring a process where all stakeholders had a say, Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6) and Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) did not make their positions explicitly known in the meeting.
"Hon Walwyn did not say anything. Hon Mitch was not in that meeting. But he didn’t say anything because they already had their plan for Thursday," Bishop Cline remarked, implying that the alliance announcement had been predetermined behind closed doors.
Deception & Defiance
Bishop Cline was particularly scathing in his criticism of Hon Mather, Walwyn, and Hon Turnbull—the trio—who ultimately proceeded with the alliance, labelling their move a "betrayal" of their party leaders, asserting that their actions disregarded ongoing discussions about opposition unity.
"You’re trying to say to the people, ‘We want to be transparent, we hear your voice.’ That was not transparency—not when the Leader of the Opposition and the present leader of the NDP don’t know what you're doing," he stated.
Bishop Cline further revealed that both Hon Skelton and Hon Penn had been approached regarding the alliance and asserted that neither had approved the formation of a third entity.
"There was dialogue. There was blessing. Honourable Skelton said it at the press conference. But when pressed about a third entity being formed, he clearly stated, "I'm not aware of that, and it would not receive my blessing," Bishop Cline disclosed.
Despite this, Hons Mather, Walwyn, and Turnbull moved forward with the alliance, raising questions about internal cohesion within the opposition.
Political fallout & uncertain future
In his condemnation of the trio’s actions, calling their decision "deception, plain and simple” he was adamant, "...you can’t tell the people you’re about transparency when your own leaders are in the dark about your moves.”
With Lorna G. Smith’s outright rejection of the alliance and the opposition’s leadership seemingly blindsided, the political landscape now remains uncertain as to whether the alliance can withstand internal and external scrutiny, or whether it will deepen the fractures within the opposition ranks in the House of Assembly.
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13 Responses to “Hon Lorna G. Smith 'rejected' the political alliance- Bishop John I. Cline”
Only god knows what she receive but she'll have to answer to him when the time comes
Eventhough this scripoture refers to the Spiritual, it also does not overlooks the physical, the domocratic political is not excluded. There is greater strenth in unity, not so in division. Personal ambitious that cause division is wickedness to the core.
First of all, I applaud the efforts of these three representatives from two different parties agreeing to work closer together. Bi-partisanship is always a good thing and it is very encouraging to see it happening here. The BVI people say they want people to work together and when they do we start to curse them out. We really special in this place.
The two main opposition party leaders are a waste of time and everybody know it. Ronnie, has made his contribution to the BVI but he way beyond his Best Buy date. You could see him just going through the motions in the HOA with no enthusiasm. The opposition could be far more effective if it had better leadership. Ronnie is not what this country needs now. Anyway I heard he is not running again I think that’s a good thing. Make way for younger blood that wants to be there and make a contribution to the country.
Marlon is a younger version of the present Ronnie. He is lazy and gets nothing done. Talk to the staff at Ministry of Health and they will tell you. He has been the last man standing in the NDP after the 2019 election and he seized hold of the NDP and called himself the leader without having any sort of internal elections over the last 7 years. The party is in complete disarray and if a snap election is called now it is bound to lose. Under Marlon, Ingrid Moses left the NDP. Lorna Smith left the NDP. Alvera Maduro left the NDP. A now one of the key members Myron Walwyn has formed an alliance with others from a different party. What does that tell you? Everyone in the NDP top brass knows that the party cannot go anywhere with Marlon but they don’t want to tell him.
Now Lorna. Lorna is for Lorna. That’s all I will say on that part. Who don’t understand that then them real slow.
We have to start calling things as we see them in the BVI. Let’s just be honest. If the these three said they spoke with the other legislators and they didn’t come along then they are well within their right to make a move. Should they sit and idle with the others who can’t make a decision? I say No. Good for you guys. Push forward