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VIP Congress internal elections set for May 28, 2014!
On May 28, 2014 the party will elect a Chairman, President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Public Relations Officer.
At the meeting which took place in a packed Road Town conference room that lasted until almost 12:00 midnight and was closed to the media the party faithfuls discussed many issues and had a time to review why they lost the last general elections of 2011.
It is this news site’s understanding that many VIP members spoke openly about the issues that contributed to the loss at the polls, why after two years there were no meetings and went through the party constitution to ensure going forward the party is in line with its rules.
According to a meeting agenda sent to all media houses by the Party’s Secretary Mrs. Wandamae Malone there were expected to be remarks by the VIP Chairman Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE and the other two VIP Members of the House of Assembly, Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) and Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1).
Their remarks were not made available to the media, however a source close to the party told this news site that they all spoke about the challenges in the past and what needs to be done to move the party forward.
The current Chairman Hon. O’Neal did not indicate whether or not he will be a candidate for the Party’s Chairmanship, as the Chairman is the Leader of the party and if the party wins outright at the next polls that person is expected to become the Premier.
Following the 80-year old Leader’s announcement last month of the Congress meeting for an internal election of an executive (which he later changed to an Extraordinary General Meeting), two of the party’s senior members Hons. Fraser and Fahie announced via the media that they will be competing for the post of Chairman.
They will both get a chance to see if they have the support of party delegates at the internal elections for a new Executive on May 28, 2014, or whether the veteran Hon. O’Neal, who has been the Party’s Chairman since 1995 following the death of party founder late Chief Minister H. Lavity Stoutt, will retain the title if he is nominated and accepts the nomination.
At the party General Meeting speakers also condemned the current National Democratic Party administration and highlighted their reported corruption over the controversial Ports Development Project and slammed the education system saying that the students of the Virgin Islands are not better off than they were two and a half years ago.
Media shut out?
While the meeting was closed to the media it is this news site’s understanding that two online news sites were outside the meeting hoping to get interviews. However, while some senior party officials did speak with selected media houses Party Chairman Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal OBE was not taking questions from the press.
Hons Fraser and Fahie spoke willingly to the media house of their choice according to a source on site, as well as many other VIP supporters and former candidates. There was no attempt to limited press freedom by anyone as reported in some parts of the media.
It appears that the party came out the meeting energized knowing what needs to be done in order to compete in the next general elections. Also two adhoc committees were formed coming out of the meeting which included a 3 member credentials committee and a 9 member nominations committee made up of members from each of the 9 districts.
The public and party supporters of the VIP now look forward to the May 28, 2014 internal elections for a new Executive Committee.
Thus far there will be three Political Parties that will contest the 2015/16 polls. The ruling National Democratic Party of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, The People’s Empowerment Party of Second District Representative Honourable J. Alvin Christopher and the Opposition Virgin Islands Party, which will decide on its Leader next month.
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23 Responses to “VIP Congress internal elections set for May 28, 2014!”
The only solution is at Daniel 2:44 please read.