‘VIP still has a crisis of leadership’- Hon Walwyn
The leadership of the VIP has been the focus of the NDP during the campaign trail as they sought to paint Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) as an ‘undesirable’ leader. Their chants have been that a vote for any of the VIP candidates is a vote for Hon Fraser as Premier of the Virgin Islands.
Staunch NDP supporter and former legislator, Eileene L. Parsons even went as far as to say that to have Hon Fraser as Premier would be a “nightmare”.
“The other side had a crisis of leadership they still have a crisis of leadership because they had a choice to make between two persons one who they didn’t like and one who they didn’t trust, so they take the one that they didn’t like but thank God that we can say that we have a leader that we like and a leader we trust,” Hon Walwyn blared in his usual tone at the rally held at the Road Town Market Square.
Constant attacks on Hon Fraser
The constant attack on Hon Fraser and the criticism that he does not possess the temperament to lead the territory, according to Virgin Islands Party members, are a well schemed plan to create a doubt in the minds of voters to not vote for Hon Fraser and to also discourage the electorate from splitting their votes.
The NDP members, in particular Hon Walwyn and Minister for Communications and Works and Fourth District Representative, Hon Mark H. Vanterpool, have constantly and loudly praised Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith as a good leader. This is even as reports are that the two candidates in particular are poised to take up the premiership should Dr Smith demit office due to health reasons even if NDP is returned to power. The party has publicly dismissed such reports, however.
Added to that, political buffs have said that certain candidates are only loudly touting Dr Smith as a good leader because they have been getting their way and have their own personal interests in the forefront.
They have further criticised Dr Smith for allowing himself to be bullied and not having control over some of his ministers and party members, who he has failed to keep in check even when they have publicly embarrassed the party. In fact, recently Dr Smith defended one of his party members' use of expletives towards a member of the Opposition.
This, political pundits said, was further proof of the “culture of disrespect” that the NDP has constantly been accused of cultivating and evidence that Dr Smith lacks the resolve to address issues of disrespect by party members and to the satisfaction of the already impatient public who has labelled the actions and comments of some members, especially in the House of Assembly, as distasteful, petty and undemocratic.
Hon Fraser defended
Meanwhile, Hon Fraser has not spent much effort on addressing the NDP’s rants about his leadership but has been defended by his party’s candidates and more forcefully by the man he succeeded as VIP Chairman, Hon Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, who is regarded as one of the most successful, wise, humble, tolerant and respected legislator in the Caribbean region.
Hon O’Neal has said he worked with Honourable Fraser for many years and he is a man who is prepared to listen, and to discuss a matter and he is prepared to help especially those people who may be in difficulties.
He had made the point that the very people criticising Honourable Fraser are displaying behaviour that is not only disrespectful and uncalled for but also is an affront to the people who elected them.
In his final address to the territory as a member of the House of Assembly on Thursday June 4, 2015 on ZBVI 780AM, Hon O’Neal said the first Chief Minister of the Virgin Islands came from Long Bay, the second from East End and the third from West End. The first Premier and fourth leader of the Virgin Islands, who happened to be Hon O’Neal, came from Virgin Gorda, and the fifth from Road Town.
“Why can’t the sixth one (leader) come from Sea Cows Bay?” Hon O’Neal repeatedly asked.
“To call down people, to degrade them, and to dig in to their past to see what they have done wrong…hmm, not good,” he continued.
The veteran legislator further said one must be careful because when we cast a stone at someone that stone might come back and hit us.
He then quoted a phrase from one of William Shakespeare’s plays, King Richard II, which says “Forget, forgive; conclude and be agreed; Our doctors say this is no month to bleed.”
He is no 'Hitler'
Speaking at a VIP rally in North Sound, Virgin Gorda on Monday May 25, 2015 Honourable O’Neal had said there is an effort being made on the part of the ruling NDP administration to make the Chairman of the VIP appear to be a ‘Hitler’.
“They are trying to get the people’s mind turned against him. But let me tell you this, Mr Fraser did not take members of Council out to Beef Island to ask the Governor to get rid of me. He did not do that…and I know the whole story of what they did,” said Honourable O’Neal.
At almost all of their campaign meetings, the NDP has been bashing Honourable Fraser, using a number of derogatory names in an effort to vilify the man many see as the next Premier of the Virgin Islands.
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38 Responses to “‘VIP still has a crisis of leadership’- Hon Walwyn”
If you look at the slate on VIP, they are definitely more inclusive than years past.
Walywn stop chatting rat poopoo for God sake. The VIP have a leader in the person of Julian Fraser and there are many more aspiring leaders under him but the NDP have Dr. Smith as its leader just for a front. The whole BVI knows the infighting within the NDP for position. You guys have Dr. Smith like a poppet on a string. You need to tell the people who was really behind the move to desolve the HOA and the calling of the election. I feel for the Doc because **U, Ac** man, Ms. P**** and LS is the ones calling the shots and the same ones forced his hands with the calling of this election. Tell us why you all want to see the back of Dr. Pico so bad but yet you all come out in the public's domain pretending that you all are so much together. Remember what happen behind closed doors always have a way of coming to light. Who is the MR. Kickback king?
The only crisis of leadership is evident amongst the NDP candidates. M****** will turn on Dr. Smith and Dr. Pickering and those original candidates who built the NDP. The signs are there. M****** has a ‘lean and hungry look’ for power (Shakespeare). Dr. Smith and his core supporters MUST vote wisely on Monday. M**** is already behaving as though he were the Premier.
Every thing M***** does, it is all about M******. Does anyone notice how many ads an candidate has on the blogs and extended air time on the radio and tv? Some NDP candidates clearly have next to no budget for campaigning. Is this a one-man show? Just about every day for the past three weeks M***** has a new initiative or some grandiose pronouncement in the media. Is this a one-man show?
The young people are caught up in the hype. However, one should hope that the more mature voters can see through the me-ism.
Those that live in glass house some wise soul say should not throw stones. Who made Walwyn the judge on effective leadership. People that work closely with ****** see him as a bully, opportunist, non-compromising, arrogant, divisive....etc. Walwyn is saying that VIP is in a leadership crisis in that delegates had a hard time deciding between Andrew and Julian. Would not the learned attorney agree that the difficulty in deciding was that they were two highly qualified candidates?
Let's keep it real. Walwyn is flinging rocks at VIP's glass house but what about NDP's glass house? It is rumored allegedly that Doc intends to give up the leadership role soon. Does the NDP have a clear succession plan? Will it be Kedrick, Ronnie, Mark, Walwyn? Are there alliances forming in the caucus? Cannot independently confirm the undermining of the current Deputy in the 7th so will leave that.
In any event, Walwyn sure spends a lot of time attacking Fraser and Fahie instead of talking about NDP plans on education, health, infrastructure, education, environment ...etc for the next four years. Seem as if he wrote off Alvin. Does not Walwyn have a record to run or was it all flash. Ah, the politics of personal destruction.
i worked with a certain ndp candidate one time and it was hell, we slaved to meet unrealistic deadlines so he could get a photo op
Fraser and members of the VIP Party, Fear not for they that be for you all are more than they than be with them. He has to have some to fear why he is behaving like a lunatic. He should not have been allowed in our politics.
It's said that a picture is worth a thousand words.... TWO THOUSAND PLUS, Greed, hunger, power, anger, arrogance, hatred, evil, and the list goes on...though I have nothing against you MISTER *** for you have done remarkably well in your short term...but oh my...this pic....I just have to LOL...
He is not a true son of the soil. Where did he grow up? Ok. He was born hereby chance...The man who help to make him what he is, he is so against him. We need not look any further.only fowls behave that way.
Vote out this Antigua fellow.His conduct has brought the House of Assembly to shame. It is a disgrace to us Virgin Islanders and others the way this man for education and the one for works behave in the .house. They should both be sent home to learn manners.. Bashing the leader of VIP is terrible.He should be thanking him. He and Kishmet seem to have the same type of mentality. Do not bite the hand that feed you.
Ronald Reagan, former US president, was not very bright or a well liked individual. As a matter of fact he was downright rude and a racist at that. History attests to the fact that he was also arrogant and, at times, ruthless.
As governor of California he showed his true colors by publicly making racist remarks toward Mexican Americans.
As President of the US he had the good sense to surround himself with brilliant cabinet members whose advice he had the common-sense to follow. I am sure that Fraser has the common-sense to follow those people on the VIP team as well as others who have sound, rational advice to give.
I am sure you agree that the VIP is aware that they would be keenly watched and held accountable by more than a few member of the public.
The NDP seems not to care much about public perception. The most outspoken ones (namely, Walwyn, Vanterpool and sometimes OJ Smith) seem to be more interested in telling the people what to think and who to hate. Give me the VIP and some Independents such as Hon. Dancia Penn-Sala any day. I can live with them!
To have the NDP back in power is like sleeping with someone you just can't trust.
Walwyn please tell us about the asention inside the NDP, WHERE THERE IS FIGHTING FOR THE PREMIERSHIP. THEN TELL US THE PEOPLE WHO IS THE NEXT LEADER OF THE NDP. PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION NDP TOP LEADERS ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT FOR ANTHER 4 years. BE TRUTHFULL AND TELL US ABOUT THE REAL PLANS YOU HAVE FOR OUR PEOPLE? FRASER CHARACTER IS KNOWN BUT YOU WE DO NOT KNOW. WALWYN YOU ARE NO DIFFERENT YOU ARE A (POORLITICIAN ) AND NOT A STATESMAN. I DO NOT LIKE FRAZER WAYS EITHER BUT FRAZER AND PICKERING IS EXACTLY THE SAME TWO PEOPLE. A STATESMAN WILL NEVER DO THE THINGS YOU GUYS ARE DOING, SELLING US OUT TO YOUR RICH FRIENDS. NDP THIS IS THE LOWEST I HAVE SEEN THE DECORUM OF MINISTERS, YOU NEED TO STOP NOW MYRON, THE LORD HAS ALREADY DECIDED WHO WILL LEAD THIS COUNTRY.
MAY THE LORD PRESIDE OVER THESE VIRGIN ISLANDS PEOPLE BE QUIET AND LET THE LORD FIGHT FOR YOU!
so power hungry that them talking pi$$ please keep um out of our politics. if a man bad talking the Cuban to get his position just like how they is power hungry the entire party is going to leave those youths hungry just wait we all will see the result in the future.
Exactly what are you campaigning about?!!.
Your attacks on Honorable Fraser is a disservice to the people of the BVI, to your party, as well as those people who, in 2011, voted the NDP into office. Your recent bulldog-like behavior would lead one to believe that the NDP is indeed getting desperate.
Stop acting like a thug! You need to stop attcking Fraser and attend to the credibility crisis in the NDP!
Your proposal to establish a Jr High School is the most absurd thing relating to education that I recently heard!
What!!? Why Jr.High School... HAHA, in the BVI or are we in the USVI? Stop talking BS... What have you, in the past 3 1/2 years done to improve the crisis in the educational system. Never mind how many certificates are dished out, the question is how competitive most of the recipients are/can be? Exactly what caliber of students coming out of Secondary/High School can they compete with?
In the New Testament it is written that the FOOLISH MAN BUILT HIS HOUSE ON SAND. A Jr High is not going to solve the problems in the educational system. As a matter of fact, it could very well create MORE PROBLEMS. Where exactly did you come up with that splendid idea? Where is the evidence from research? HA HA HA JOKER JOKER. How much do you really care about the youth?
I do not recall that you have mentioned excellence in education. If you have, what concrete plans do you have for bringing that back??!!!
And as Minister of Culture what have you done/are doing about the disintegration of the culture of the BVI?
What passes for culture here is surely not BVI and there is no evidence that there is much Caribbean culture is here.
Too bad that people who are supposed to know better are the very ones who seem to be introducing all manner of things from abroad, mainly the US, and not the best to boot. Many of the things that seem to be accepted are strictly GHETTO-like the idea of Jr High. You should know that in most middle, upper middle and upper class neighborhoods in the US they don't have Jr High and all this Hip Hop that is blasted all over the place, strictly from the Hood y'all!
All the BS that goes down here, including what is happening with the election campaign is quite uncivilized, nothing that your grandchildren should feel proud about.
Dr Smith! It will be the one of the worse mistake you make, if the NDP is voted back in officer, to leave either Walwyn or Vanterpool a head of the party. Hon Skelton would be far more desirable. Christian or Ms Shania Smith are also more desirable than Walwyn or Vanterpool.