As the sun sets over the Virgin Islands (VI) tonight, January 5, 2019, the National Democratic Party (NDP) will be turning on the lights to reveal their slate of candidates for the upcoming 2019 General Election in Virgin Island (VI). Photo: NDP

In clockwise order: Hon Myron V. Walwyn, Mr Henry O. Creque, Mr Trefor A. Grant and Ms Sandy M. Underhill. Photo: VINO/File/Facebook

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - As the sun sets over the Virgin Islands (VI) tonight, January 5, 2019, the National Democratic Party (NDP) will be turning on the lights to reveal their slate of candidates for the upcoming 2019 General Election in the Virgin Island (VI).

While no statement was released detailing the event, according to information online, the party has been issuing selected invitations, with the aims of having a bigger public launch in the future.

Sources told our newsroom, “Half the party members, not even sure who the candidates are, so we all going [to] see tonight.”

At-Large Team

Without the official reveal, political pundits are certain that the At-Large candidates included NDP Leader, Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL) and Henry O. Creque, who waited at the 9th hour to retire from his position as Deputy Managing Director of the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation (BVIEC).

Others include Sandy M. Underhill—who resigned from her position as Principal of the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHC) leaving them in shambles—and Trefor A. Grant, who was recently appointed as Chairman of the BVI Ports Authority.

Within the Districts, it is expected that Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) will be contesting District 4, Hon Alvera Maduro-Caines (R6) for District 6, Elvis J. Harrigan aka 'Juggy' for District 5, Hipolito D. Penn for District 7, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) for District 8 and Hon Hubert R. O’Neal (R9) for District 9. 

New Generation

In the past, Mr Walwyn had repeatedly stated that his slate includes a new generation of leaders who maintain the ideals of the NDP while bringing modernisation to the party.

According to a well placed source inside the NDP, “What the BVI got to understand, this particular group is very strategic, has a lot of togetherness with family and relatives and will win this election on a party vote and not best for [the] country thing.”

The source continued, “If my predictions are correct, we [are] walking straight into a big political war in this country and a lot of people will get hurt, not physically, but a lot a people will get hurt.”