UPDATE: 42 nominated; record 12 women!
There have been a record 12 women nominated, with 8 for District and 4 as Territorial At Large candidates.
Some six candidates are contesting for the Ninth District seat to be vacated by Regional political icon and former Premier Hon Ralph T. O'Neal OBE.
According to Supervisor of Elections Mrs Juliette Penn, no nomination was rejected.
The nomination stations opened from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, then from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm today May 22, 2015.
The leaders of the two main political parties in the Virgin Islands, Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith of the National Democratic Party and Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) of the Virgin Islands Party were among those who were nominated during the first session of the day.
Election Day in the Virgin Islands is June 8, 2015.
See previous story published May 22, 2015
‘People getting the message’- Hon Julian Fraser RA
Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) and Representative for the Third District Honourable Julian Fraser RA today May 22, 2015 completed his nomination process, officially landing him on the ballot for the June 8, 2015 elections and he expressed confidence in the party’s chances since people are grasping their message.
Asked how he felt following the completion of the nomination process, he said he felt relieved and he was sure that the other 12 members of his team felt the same way.
“On the campaign trail from here on end it is a different cry, a different song, they know we are on the march,” he said at the Valerie O. Thomas Community Centre in Sea Cows Bay, Tortola.
Positive feedback
Hon Fraser said he believes the feedback coming from the public is positive. “On the campaign I could see our team members, growing and maturing and they are more confident in the message that they are delivering and that makes me happy,” he said.
Asked why people should choose the VIP over the incumbent National Democratic Party (NDP), Honourable Fraser said that the two parties have different philosophies altogether. “I think that we are the party of the people, the small people in particular, because once the small people are taken care of the economy will be better off because that money will be circulated back into the economy,” he said.
Honourable Fraser added the party always believed in stimulating the economy and it was only in the last three weeks that the NDP Government has been trying to get monies spent. “We know it is not sustainable and we just had to let the public know that this is just a flash in the pan,” he said.
Further, he accused the NDP Government of operating in secrecy and this is something the VIP would not be a part of. “That is not the way to run a Government and the public has been saying that all along,” he said.
According to Honourable Fraser, the level of victimisation has to stop as it is causing people undue suffering.
Honourable Fraser spoke about a possible challenge to one of the VIP’s candidates’ nomination. He said, however, that good sense prevailed and the issue has been put to rest. He said that he knows that all of his candidates satisfy the requirements for becoming nominated and contesting the upcoming polls.
It is about what I can do for the people – Irene F. Penn O’Neal
Signing up her nomination forms at the Rupert Briercliffe Hall in Road Town, Tortola, member of the VIP and At Large candidate Irene F. Penn-O’Neal was among the first to arrive at the hall earlier today.
“I am thankful this morning and grateful to God just to be alive and to be able to meet this process,” said Penn-O’Neal. “This is the official signature and now I am officially a candidate for the 2015 general elections as an At Large candidate with the Virgin Islands Party.”
She said that she is grateful to the people as it is not about her but about them and what she can to do make their lives better with better prospects for the future.
High optimism
Optimism was high among the many At large candidates and District candidates who turned up to be nominated at the various nomination stations across the territory.
This news site also caught up with Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool who did his nomination at the House of Assembly in Road Town where he said to this news site, “It’s now official. All those noise you heard me making on the rostrum, it’s now official. If it wasn’t for today I wouldn’t be running but I am happy to be running in the Fourth District. My constituents are looking forward to me serving so I am ready to serve them for another four years.”
Across at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall, the many At Large candidates expressed the same level of optimism, some of whom commented on record.
Mrs Dancia Penn said she had her required amount of nominators and the one witness. “I thought it was important to have a broad based sponsorship and broad based representation.”
She said the level of support so far has been tremendous. “I have an abiding commitment to this country. I have a long and proud record of service in the private sector and public sector, it’s a record of honesty and integrity, it is well known and I will be saying more about it as we go along. And the people know that everybody doesn’t want to acknowledge it but the record is there.”
Mrs Penn acknowledged the campaign process as being a very important one. “I will continue to advocate by going door to door as I have been doing all along and hopefully I will get my message out there. I am really optimistic about this process.”
Speaking to this news site following her completion of the nomination process, VIP At Large candidate Sharie B. de Castro said she was excited.
“Today is a very important day and it changes the course of my life no matter how this turns out,” she said.
De Castro added that she has dedicated herself to serving her country in this new capacity that she finds herself in and looks forward to championing the different causes of her party, such as youth development and education in the territory.
See previous story published May 22, 2015
It's Nomination Day in the VI!
ROAD TOWN, Tortola,VI- The nominating of candidates for the June 8, 2015 General Election in the Virgin Islands has begun at various locations across the territory and the public will this evening know exactly who will be contesting and who may have dropped out of the race.
The nomination stations opened from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, then from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm today May 22, 2015.
The leaders of the two main political parties in the Virgin Islands, Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith of the National Democratic Party and Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) of the Virgin Islands Party have already been nominated.
Several At Large candidates and District candidates have also secured their spots in the race to the June 8, 2015 election which has become very interesting with the many Independent candidates as well as the large amount of female candidates who will be contesting.
Nomination Day is the day on which candidates are nominated for candidacy and the public will know who will contest the 2015 General Elections. A prospective candidate must be 21 years of age, a registered voter and a BVIslander to be eligible for nomination.
Supervisor of Elections, Mrs Juliette Penn had explained the process at the close of Nomination Day at the district level in a recent press release. “If at 4 o’clock, only one person was nominated, that one person would be declared elected for that particular district,” she said, adding, “If there were more than one person, then the returning office prepares for election in that particular district.”
Each prospective candidate has to be nominated by two registered voters in the particular district. The candidate must also be accompanied by one witness and pay the nomination fee of $500.
Ms Penn had further stated that if only four persons were nominated at the Territorial-at-Large level, then those four persons would be elected automatically, while if there were more than four persons, then the returning office will prepare for election on the territorial level.
Some 43 candidates were nominated for the 2011 General Election.
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37 Responses to “UPDATE: 42 nominated; record 12 women!”
I agree with you, she is our next Premier trust me.
The UK don't have time to waste to listen to people like you. The UK will not come here becuz stupid people with stupid comments and minds they will say what you sew is what you reap and bear it for another 4 years. The UK people is not stupid as you think.
One very surprised senior member of the NDP will lose his seat and one long standing member of the opposition will find himself out in the cold as well.
It's not what I wish for & I still hold out hope that I will be proven wrong, but at least the opposition will be stronger than it has been for the past 3 and a half years.
I can only hope that the voters will prove me wrong. I am basing this prediction on what I have calculated based on my own personal observations and gut feelings. Please prove me wrong!
In the event that either Ms. Caines-Maduro or Ms. Christopher were to cross the floor, you are assuming the PEP and independent candidate would also cross the floor to join forces with the VIP. I honestly don't see that happening. One of them might but not the other. At least I think it is highly doubtful ... unless of course the VIP leader were to step aside as leader, and I REALLY can't see that happening anytime soon.
http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/update-42-nominated-record-12-women