No principles in spate of NDP resignations, fallout – Carvin Malone. Photo: VINO/File

The NDP has seen a number of resignations with the latest being founding Member, Honourable Archibald C. Christian. Photo: VINO/File

Former NDP Vice President, Dr Michael A. Turnbull, who tendered his resignation with immediate effect recently. Photo: VINO/File

Ms Shaina M. Smith, who also served as Chairperson of the party’s Women’s Association, has also in recent days tendered their resignations from the party. Photo: VINO/File

The Virgin Islands (VI) businessman raised his concerns during the November 13, 2018, episode of ’Honestly Speaking’ on ZBVI 780am, where host Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline, in agreeing, quoted the bible in saying, “a house divided against itself cannot stand.”

Deeply saddened

 “We spoke off the air and I am quite saddened by the train of events because fallouts will happen, disagreements will happen but you have to have a principle on how it is dealt with,” Mr Malone said during the radio interview.

Over the past weeks, the NDP has seen a number of resignations with the latest being founding Member, Honourable Archibald C. Christian (AL), who was later fired from his post as Junior Minister for Tourism.

Vice President, Dr Michael A. Turnbull and Ms Shaina M. Smith, who also served as Chairperson of the party’s Women’s Association, have also in recent days tendered their resignations from the party.

The party’s Vice President tendered his resignation on Monday, November 12, 2018, with immediate effect.

Mr Malone, however, pointed out that although the resignations lack principle, NDP members have a duty to leave if the party’s policies cannot align with their own.

“At the end of the day if members… whether it’s a church, whether it’s a political group, whether it’s an organisation of any kind, if you have the level of fallout… the fact is this, those who [are] resigning after finding that they cannot be a part of an administration that does not fit their ideals of transparency, accountability, integrity then it is their duty to not be a part of it anymore,” he said.

Against the grain

The VI Businessman further remarked that if something in the party goes against the grain of what is right, then the members have to make a decision, “It is not their duty to stay inside and form other affiliations simultaneously… at the end of the day, you have to be able to stick to your principles,” he said.

Issues were also raised about NDP members who are forming new political parties and affiliation, yet continue to remain in the government.

“If you are going to try to save the country… I am not taking away anybody’s right to form new alliances… you cannot do it sitting in the National Democratic Party,” Mr Malone said.

“At the end of the day, if the people of the VI are prepared to sit back and allow such to happen [two party affiliation], I have deep questions because it is morally wrong.”

 “If we are going to have any chance of restoring [order]… you cannot and you must not sit in a government and form an official party, it boggles one’s mind to know that such a thing would be happening,” Malone uttered while saying that something must be done.