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2nd House of Assembly to meet on December 8

Names for speaker short listed, no challenge expected to Christian, Walwyn & Vanterpool
A name that was considered on the list for possible speaker but there is allegedly some opponents inside and outside the NDP to Claude Skelton-Cline becoming the speaker
Pastor Turnbull is on the short list and has expressed an interest however no decision has been made if he is to become the speaker
Pastor Turnbull is on the short list and has expressed an interest however no decision has been made if he is to become the speaker
Douglas Wheatley is a wild card whose name came up, however, sources inside the party told VINO he is unlikely to receive the support of newly elected members of the NDP.
Douglas Wheatley is a wild card whose name came up, however, sources inside the party told VINO he is unlikely to receive the support of newly elected members of the NDP.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Following the 2011 General Elections that saw the National Democratic Party (NDP) of Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith returned to power in the Virgin Islands (VI), the first sitting of the second House of Assembly (HOA) is expected to be held on December 8, 2011 in Road Town, the VI’s capital city.

According to Virgin Islands News Online's team of reporters around the VI, the Multipurpose Sports Complex is under consideration as a possible venue.

New and old faces in the 2nd HOA

The second HOA will see some new and old faces. The new faces of the freshmen class include Marlon Penn representing the 8th district, Alvera Maduro-Caines from the 6th, and Archibald Christian and Myron V. Walwyn, Territorial At- Large.

The HOA will also see the return of Delores Christopher representing the 5th district. She previously served one term from 2003-2007. Mark Vanterpool has also returned after his lost in 2007 when he ran At-Large. He served in the HOA from 1999-2007. Territorial At-Large representative Ronnie W. Skelton has also returned after a four- year sabbatical between 2007- 2011. Mr. Skelton was first elected in 1999.

In the second House of Assembly, four veterans who were first elected in 1999 will also return showcasing their fourth consecutive terms. They are 1st district representative Andrew A. Fahie, 3rd district representative Julian Fraser RA, 7th district representative Dr. Kedrick Pickering and Territorial At-Large representative Dr. D. Orlando Smith.

The HOA will not sit without 2nd district stalwart J. Alvin Christopher now going on his 5th consecutive term. Mr. Christopher was first elected in 1995.

The father of the HOA

The father of the HOA is former Premier and now Leader of the Opposition Ralph Telford O’Neal OBE. Mr. O’Neal has been in the legislative council since 1975, giving him the undisputed record of the longest severing legislator, not only in the Virgin Islands, but in the English Speaking Caribbean. At the end of the 2015 term, Mr. O’Neal would have served for 40 years consecutively, 1975-2015. Only Cuba’s Fidel Castro has served longer in the region.

Mr. O’Neal is expected, if his health remains good, to run again in 2015, but continues to wait on God to tell him what to do.

New Speaker of the HOA

The NDP, with their 9 to 4 majority in Parliament, is expected to nominate a new Speaker replacing Roy Harrigan who served the First House of Assembly between 2007 -2011. Former Virgin Islands Party (VIP) At-Large Representative Keith L. Flax served as Deputy Speaker.

According to Virgin Islands News Online sources within the new administration, no decision has been made about a new Speaker, however, there are three front runners.

They are preacher and community activist Melvin Turnbull and NDP defeated 2nd district candidate Claude Skelton-Cline. Another wild card is talk show host Douglas Wheatley. However, according to the same source, the NDP will make a decision on Monday November 28, 2011 at their caucus meeting since Party Boss Dr. Smith is away on official business.

As for the Deputy Speaker of the House, the NDP source told Virgin Islands News Online it is expected to be between Delores Christopher and Archibald Christian but the final decision will be confirmed on Monday.

No challenge will be made against Walwyn, Vanterpool & Christian

Despite reporting by other media houses of challenges to be mounted, Virgin Islands News Online can confirm that no challenge will be made by the Virgin Islands Party or any other private groups against the eligibility of the three (Walwyn, Vanterpool & Christian) members’ ability to sit in the 2nd HOA, following the new 2007 Constitutional Order.

Virgin Islands News sources inside the VIP has confirm this and the private group that had plan to make a challenge took a decision last week not to move forward with such a case before the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.

Therefore, the three members will sit without controversy. Virgin Islands News Online’s legal desk had already said that the three are eligible to sit as per the 2007 Constitutional Order. Walwyn and Christian are both born in the VI according to birth certificates obtained by this new site and Vanterpool was eligible to run before the 2007 New Constitution.

Both Walwyn and Vanterpool have already been appointed Ministers of Government in the new Cabinet.

23 Responses to “2nd House of Assembly to meet on December 8 ”

  • billy b (25/11/2011, 13:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Any speaker but Elihu Rhymer, Claude Skelton and Inez Archibald. As for she, she need to do the same thing Uncle Ralph need to do. He need to go home and be a full time family man in his last days and she (the beanstalk) need to go home and shade Jack (the dwarf), while she await the hopefully pending lawsuit of the former C&W Secretary.
  • Mmh (25/11/2011, 14:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dr.turnbull would be a good choice, fair, honest and unbiased
    • holy water (25/11/2011, 15:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      i agree the best thus far is Turnbull...we aint able to see Ms. Inez bias backside for another four years...she killed the civil service we aint able for her to kill the house
    • ..... (25/11/2011, 16:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You must be related to him.
      • eat that (25/11/2011, 23:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        I SAY GIVE THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE BACK TO ROY HARRIGAN...WE LOVE JOKES
  • Brad Boynes (25/11/2011, 14:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    "No challenge will be made against Walwyn, Vanterpool & Christian". What is there to challenge? I guess if they had lost you would not have been hearing smack about a challenge. Virgin Islanders need to understand that we have become a country of immigrants. People marry who they want, get children by who they want and they born their children where ever they want. These brothers were born here/resided here long and we have to deal with it. It's real.
  • we back here wondering (25/11/2011, 15:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    why dont they give elroy turnbull a chance?
  • Albion (25/11/2011, 15:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    "Mr. O’Neal is expected, if his health remains good, to run again in 2015, but continues to wait on God to tell him what to do." God is smart - I hope he will tell him to sit down, watch his grand kids and write his memoires! Cuba would be a florishing Tourist destination if it wasn't for Fidel. Why would Mr. O'Neal look at this (BAD!!) "example"?
    • Preacher man (25/11/2011, 18:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      But the man Uncloe Ralp keep winning so why should he retire?????? Huber tis the one that should retire…Uncle Ralph will be the premier again in 2015 then he will leave…that is what god told him..ha ha lol
    • Study Economics! (26/11/2011, 06:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Sweetheart Fidel HAS BUILT a very very strong Cuba. Now that Cuba is prepared, you would not like if he threw open the doors to Tourism. Trust you me, BVI would be hard hit to compete against Cuba right about now. At a minimum the people in Cuba are educated at ALL levels to service the tourism industry. You people are soooo ignorant it not funny. As for speaker, D Wheatley is the only suited name I have heard since Cane Garden Bay's Mr Dawson.
  • Crank Shaft (25/11/2011, 15:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    LOL!! Eat your heart out!! Challenge? LMAO LMAO LMAO!!!!
  • dog meat (25/11/2011, 15:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    vino hats off agin you are always first and have insoders from both parties...VIP are spinless i did not exoect any challenge from them weak cow birds
  • vex (25/11/2011, 16:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Douglas Wheatley LMAO!!!!! Lord meh belly!
  • big girls rules (25/11/2011, 16:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    another person who i do not want to see as speaker of the hosue is the chatter box Ellu Rymer. if you listen to his talk shows he is good at giving people advice, but you notice he never follow this advise!!!!! he almost killed the college when he was chairman just like he killed our national airline air bvi.
  • parrot talks too much (25/11/2011, 16:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    vino you got sources inside NDP, PPA and VIP well saw too many friends
  • Just Me (25/11/2011, 18:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The NDP seems to be making all the right moves so far. Dr. Turnbull as Speaker of the House is a great move. I wont mention the rest candidates cause they need not be mentioned in the same breath as Dr. Turnbull.
  • Talk Bring Talk (25/11/2011, 20:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If it is claude we having a bi- election! Talk about chaos in the house! Lord my belly rolling up with his tone of voice already! For God sake, NOT CLAUDE!
  • don Q (25/11/2011, 23:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    so you mean Myron and Archie got away and sit in our house of Parliament illegally? Damm
  • village matriach (25/11/2011, 23:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    VINO you always looking confusion. The blood of Jesus is against you. Dont let the churches pray and shut down your web site!


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