Kevon S. Lettsome Out! Renard V. Estridge In! as NDP D7 candidate
Word reaching our newsroom is that Mr Kevon S. Lettsome, who was the front runner to secure the NDP nomination to contest the Seventh District seat, may be weighing his options and reportedly will not run with the NDP.
The NDP, which is a part of the coalition Government and is struggling for candidates, has moved quickly to replace Mr Lettsome. It is alleged that most of the candidates who had committed to the NDP have gone to the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) and others have backed out, leaving the NDP short of candidates.
Lettsome or Estridge?
However, Mr Lettsome is expected to be replaced by St Kitts-born Attorney Renard Vancito Estridge, who works at the law firm, Harneys.
Our newsroom has gotten calls to say that Mr Estridge, who came to the Virgin Islands when he was three years old, was making the rounds in the Seventh District, talking to residents about his interest in running in the 2023 elections. Mr Estridge is a belonger and there are already questions raised about whether he is eligible to run as per section 65 of the Virgin Islands Constitution.
"Yes, I am the NDP's candidate for the 7th District," Mr Estridge said.
Heating up in D7
If Mr Estridge runs, he will face incumbent Seventh District Representative Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), the Premier and Minister of Finance of the Virgin Islands Party; and Independent candidate Mrs Perline R. Scatliffe-Leonard, who launched her candidacy on Saturday, February 25, 2023.
It is unclear if PVIM or Progressives United (PU) will have a candidate in the Seventh District.
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54 Responses to “Kevon S. Lettsome Out! Renard V. Estridge In! as NDP D7 candidate”
Pushing P or Nat!
Estridge has been very vocal on social media overtime regarding political and social matters.
Signed,
Concerned VI Citizens
Do you know his heritage? DO NOT ASSUME.
The CONSTITUTION
Qualifications for Elected Membership
65.—(1) Subject to this section and section 66, a person shall be qualified to be elected as a member of the House of Assembly if, and shall not be qualified to be so elected unless, he or she—
(a) was so qualified immediately before the commencement of this Constitution; or
(b) is a person who—
(i) is a Virgin Islander of the age of twenty-one years or upwards; and (ii) is otherwise qualified as a voter under section 68.
(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), for the purposes of subsection (1)(b)(i) a “Virgin Islander” is a person who belongs to the Virgin Islands by birth or descent who was—
(a) born in the Virgin Islands of a father or mother who at the time of the birth was a British overseas territories citizen (or a British Dependent Territories citizen) by virtue of birth in the Virgin Islands or by virtue of descent from a father or mother who was born in the Virgin Islands;
(b) born in the Virgin Islands of a father or mother who at the time of the birth belonged to the Virgin Islands by birth or descent; or
(c) born outside the Virgin Islands of a father or mother who at the time of the birth belonged to the Virgin Islands by birth or descent.
(3) A person born outside the Virgin Islands who belongs to the Virgin Islands by descent shall not be qualified to be elected as a member of the House of Assembly unless one of his or her grandparents belonged to the Virgin Islands by birth.
(4) A person, whether born in or outside the Virgin Islands, who would otherwise be qualified to be elected as an elected member of the House of Assembly by virtue of subsection (1)(b) shall not be so qualified unless—
(a) where that person has never been domiciled in the Virgin Islands, he or she has resided in the Virgin Islands for at least five years immediately before the date of his or her nomination for election; or
(b) where that person was formerly domiciled in the Virgin Islands but has lived outside the Virgin Islands for a continuous period of at least ten years (excluding periods related to medical or educational purposes), he or she has resided in the Virgin Islands for at least three years immediately before the date of his or her nomination for election and is domiciled in the Virgin Islands at that date.
Obviously if he was accepted as a candidate he IS eligible having met the criteria so stop grasping at straws.
I don't think that he would be that foolish to attempt to run if he is not qualified.
Some of you people too racist against your own skin color.
That's why I will be so happy if England step in for 2 years and run this country so some of you wouldn't have nothing to say.
Do you know the chaos that can occur if he UK take over,it won’t be two years, and they will not fix things you may like. And when the time passed it will be another two years , or five years and some people can’t play connect the dot. Follow the pattern it will prove an outcome.
No party is going to join with Skelton unless he decides to take a back seat. Seeing that if he is not premier he would not join he would have to take a back seat Frazer is not worthy of mention as even if he wins 3rd he would never be opposition leader ever again
Slowman is power hungry he would join with the ndp and become possible minister of agriculture. Better to be a minister than to take a back seat. Myron the logical leader would be voted in as premier over marlon. Now Pickering could very well be holding a trump card. There is no doubt in my mind that he would be victorious. He could be the answer again depends on the closeness. Skelton may respect him to be premier if he joins up. Ndp would accept him. VIP may also accept him. Pickering might very well be the missing link to form a government. All the present party leaders is a no no. Pickering or Myron is my choice for premier.
https://bvinews.com/former-youth-parliamentarian-accused-of-forgery-declares-his-innocence/
Seems like even the very dog could run for office in this place.
Let me see if a rooster or a snake want to run also mah bouy!
The man just doesn't want to return to teaching under the circumstances he could not fix.
Stop letting people take us for fools! Cabinet agreed to give Claude Skelton Cline almost half of a billion dollars! He doesn't care about increments or what supplies can't be bought for our youths educational system. They didn't care then, they definitely don't care now!!
We just want the best to lead. He has shown to be incompetent!
I agree with Sowande
We are still worried about born here, etc. Shouldn't our focus be on who has the potential to get the job done. I will take qualifications over born here any day. For Christ's sake, this man was brought up in Long Look, went to school in Long Look and has only left our beautiful shores for an extended period to attend school. So we think all of a sudden, he will vie for office and then send everything to his 'home' country. This is his home. We have 100+ nationalities here in the BVI. Are we ever going to accept that or are we gonna conveniently 'send the expats' home when we feel like it?
bvislanders are the minority in the BVI what yo expect?
Too much dem versus us
Too much snakes
Too much media insinuating and instigating division
Let people see who the real culprits are in this country
You hate a man who has potential to do what is good for this country simple on the fact that he is not a third generation person
Look at Andrew 4 generations and look what he did to this country
Hate red of others is what will bring down this country
Ayo need to stop ????
area in Tortola? Is the the NDP saying before none any? Has the NDP lost its purpose, its vision, mission, its shine, etc? Who is the NDP chairperson?