Who is in & who is out for the next general elections?!
Thus far both political parties have new Leaders, with Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL) the Minister for Education and Culture, heading the NDP, and former Minister of the same portfolio Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) heading the VIP.
There are reports, and to some extent speculations, that Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) the Communications and Works Minister will not contest his seat in the fourth district, as well as two At-Large Representatives- Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton, the Minister for Health and Social Development, and Archibald C. Christian, the Junior Minister for Tourism.
Are they running?
However, the three Legislators have not made their intentions public. There are also reports that Hon Deloris Christopher will not seek re-election in district five, and Hon Kedrick D. Pickering, the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, who last week announced that he is running again in the seventh district, has not stated if he will run with the NDP.
That leaves the NDP with only five confirmed candidates- Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL), Hons Malone A. Penn (R8), Alvera Maduro-Caines (R6), Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) and Dr the Hon Hubert R. O’Neal (R9).
There are mixed signals from the former Leader and outgoing Premier Dr the Hon D. Orlando Smith (AL) as to his political future. He announced that while he was voted out as party leader, he may still contest his At-Large seat, but recent polling shows both his own party and the public thinks he should retire. He is now 74-years-old and if he runs again in a 2019 elections and wins, he will be almost 79 years old at the end of another four-year term.
VIP new faces
On the VIP side, Third District Representative Hon Julian Fraser RA has confirmed that he is starting his own political party and will not be under the VIP banner. It means Hon Fahie, the lone elected VIP, will have to find 12 new candidates.
Mr. Fahie last week announced that he will be running in his district along with some five new faces, from districts 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9. Director of Culture, Luce Hodge-Smith is to run in district 4; Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, Kye M. Rymer will run in district 5, while former Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works and former Director of the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry, John Samuel will run in district 6.
In addition, VIP President and College Lecturer, Dr Natalio D. Wheatley aka ‘Sowande Uhuru’ will contest in district 7, while Sister Island's Coordinator Vincent O. Wheatley, who became a hero following Hurricanes Irma and Maria for his works on Virgin Gorda and Anegada, will be the party’s standard bearer in district 9, according to Hon Fahie in a press statement.
What’s next?
It is unclear who will be for the VIP in districts 2,3, and 8 along with the VIP At Large scale. One person, former Permanent Secretary, and businessman Julian Willock announced he will be going to the VIP congress for one of four At Large seats.
What is sure, is the next House of Assembly (HoA) will have at least seven new faces as new candidates coming on board and current ones might decide not to seek reelections.
20 Responses to “Who is in & who is out for the next general elections?!”
C'mon biker now!
This man is a vicious tax payer thief.
It will catch up to him though.