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After snubbing him, NDP to honour political giant Ralph T. O’Neal OBE!

- Leader of Government Business Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith to move motion for special title of ‘Member Emeritus’
At the Second sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly to be held on Monday, July 6, 2015 Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (left) and Leader of Government Business will bring a motion to bestow upon Hon Ralph T. O’Neal OBE the title of Member Emeritus for his most distinguished, devoted, dedicated and selfless service to the territory of the Virgin Islands and its people, and for his role in the development of the territory. Photo: VINO/File
During the campaign of 2011, controversial Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn insulted Mr O’Neal by calling him an 'emperor without clothes'. In May this year, during the just concluded general election campaign, the same Hon Walwyn told the VIP and the people that they should keep Mr O’Neal at home and 'stop dragging him out in the middle of the fore-day morning to come campaign for you all'. Many residents and the VIP took this as an insult and disrespect of the political stalwart for Mr Walwyn to suggest that the former veteran legislator was a child not capable of making his own decisions in campaigning for the party he led for 20 of his 40 years in office. Photo: VINO/File
During the campaign of 2011, controversial Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn insulted Mr O’Neal by calling him an 'emperor without clothes'. In May this year, during the just concluded general election campaign, the same Hon Walwyn told the VIP and the people that they should keep Mr O’Neal at home and 'stop dragging him out in the middle of the fore-day morning to come campaign for you all'. Many residents and the VIP took this as an insult and disrespect of the political stalwart for Mr Walwyn to suggest that the former veteran legislator was a child not capable of making his own decisions in campaigning for the party he led for 20 of his 40 years in office. Photo: VINO/File
Way back in April 2009, it was former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, the esteemed Julian Willock, who called on the Government to name something in honour of the political giant Hon O’Neal. Mr Willock was at the time chairing a ceremony to name the racetrack at Sea Cows Bay in honour of Ellis Thomas. Photo: VINO/File
Way back in April 2009, it was former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, the esteemed Julian Willock, who called on the Government to name something in honour of the political giant Hon O’Neal. Mr Willock was at the time chairing a ceremony to name the racetrack at Sea Cows Bay in honour of Ellis Thomas. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- After abruptly dissolving the House of Assembly (HoA) on May 1, 2015 without allowing political giant and first Premier of the Virgin Islands Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE to say farewell while a sitting member, the National Democratic Party (NDP) has come to the people with a motion to give the former Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Chairman the title of ‘Member Emeritus’.

Many residents, civil society, the media and talk show hosts saw the abrupt dissolution of the House of Assembly (HoA) without allowing the then retiring Leader of the Opposition to give an address after forty years of service was yet another insult to Mr O’Neal’s legacy.

Insults & disrespect to Mr O’Neal by NDP

During the campaign of 2011, controversial Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn insulted Mr O’Neal by calling him an “emperor without clothes”.

In May this year, during the just concluded general election campaign, the same Hon Walwyn told the VIP and the people that they should keep Mr O’Neal at home and “stop dragging him out in the middle of the fore-day morning to come campaign for you all”.

Many residents and the VIP took this as an insult and disrespect to the political stalwart for Mr Walwyn to suggest that the former veteran legislator was a child not capable of making his own decisions in campaigning for the party he led for 20 of his 40 years in office.

To top it all off, the NDP spent its three and half years, from 2011 to 2015, telling the people that Hon Ralph T. O’Neal while Minister of Finance from 2007-2011 left the country broke. Late in the 2015 campaign Mr O’Neal took to the airwaves in a national broadcast to debunk the claim. His message was confirmed by Premier Smith after his administration’s answers to questions in the House of Assembly contradicted the allegations of VIP leaving the country broke. Figures presented by Dr Smith to the HoA demonstrated that the NDP was lying to the people.  

The new title

At the Second Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly to be held on Monday, July 6, 2015 Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith and Leader of Government Business will bring a motion to bestow upon Hon Ralph T. O’Neal OBE the title of Member Emeritus for his most distinguished, devoted, dedicated and selfless service to the territory of the Virgin Islands and its people, and for his role in the development of the territory.

The motion will include the HoA placing on record its sincere gratitude and appreciation to Hon O’Neal as it wishes him a happy and peaceful retirement.

The benefits of the new title are not immediately known. Way back in April 2009, it was former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, the esteemed Julian Willock, who called on the Government to name something in honour of the political giant Hon O’Neal. Mr Willock was at the time chairing a ceremony to name the racetrack at Sea Cows Bay in honour of Ellis Thomas.

Mr O’Neal made history by becoming the longest serving legislator in the VI and the English speaking Caribbean. He served as an elected Member of Parliament for 40 consecutive years (1975-2015).

30 Responses to “After snubbing him, NDP to honour political giant Ralph T. O’Neal OBE!”

  • Turtle Dove (05/07/2015, 11:43) Like (8) Dislike (30) Reply
    That is why i like vino they always report the truth no fluff our feel good messages like others
  • ccc (05/07/2015, 11:51) Like (10) Dislike (9) Reply
    Tell um the ndp and funny man fony
  • political snitch (05/07/2015, 11:53) Like (10) Dislike (14) Reply
    This is what you call speaking with 2 tongues. Others may call it crookery.
    • Chick (05/07/2015, 12:10) Like (29) Dislike (15) Reply
      A set of No Good People.Traitors, Hypocrites, just a few chosen words to describe these NDP.
  • Boo (05/07/2015, 12:43) Like (11) Dislike (5) Reply
    They fool the people during the elections they back at it again only using uncle
  • Ms P (05/07/2015, 13:10) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    Hope when the others start asking for their title too they give um
  • voter (05/07/2015, 13:11) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Much deserved, but this from the same fellas who said he was an "emperor with no clothes"? You think they have a conscience? No "Sir" for him so he will have to settle for "emeritus status"?
  • just saying.. (05/07/2015, 14:24) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    I just love this story now i will listen to myron speech full of coca may may
  • Eyes. (05/07/2015, 14:37) Like (8) Dislike (6) Reply
    I personally don`t think he is or was a good leader--but he should be honored--years and service do count.
  • Huh! (05/07/2015, 15:31) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    some people like to be in thing sah!
  • krooks (05/07/2015, 15:32) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
    Them bigging he up now because he is gone and out dem way.
  • yellow (05/07/2015, 15:53) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    Ralph should put some bad word under dem
  • Iatollah (05/07/2015, 18:50) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Never heard ofmemberemeritus of any Parliament. This is a serious joke. They would be wise to have that motion withdrawn tomorrow
    • Precedents (05/07/2015, 21:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      There are a few instances where the title has been conferred on legislators/parliamentarians, for example:

      Re Alan Frumin (United States): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Frumin

      Re Mr Goh Chok Tong (Singapore): http://www.parliament.gov.sg/mp/goh-chok-tong?viewcv=Goh%20Chok%20Tong
    • Informer (06/07/2015, 12:25) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Did you do any research as to the definition of emeritus? The word emeritus, pronounced "eh-MER-ih-tus," is Latin, originally meaning "veteran soldier." The honorary adjective is most often used with professor, but it applies to other professions whose retirees continue to hold their title, like ministers.
  • zoe (05/07/2015, 20:09) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ndp out of order
  • tretretrete (05/07/2015, 21:12) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    Set of devils!
  • Fakes (05/07/2015, 21:24) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    It would have make more sense to let Ralph come to the house to do his farewell in the proper way and with some respect. Set of phonies. Look 'em run quick. Ready, Set Gooooo
  • Diver (05/07/2015, 22:29) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    what a nice title that means nothing...I guess he gets to share the white Limo
  • facts man (05/07/2015, 23:18) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    i will turn off my radio listening to all the nice things they will say about ralph.... thoes wicked NDPs
  • Wes (06/07/2015, 00:42) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    They think he still have no clothes?
    • Hmm (06/07/2015, 07:55) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      They trying to dress him back but he was always dressed and they are now confirming it. He always had his clothes on but they had to be disrespectful for political gain.
  • Nancy (06/07/2015, 07:44) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    After the NDP said Mr Oneal left the country broke they even had their financial secretary came and give a report that the country was left broke now report is out proving that the country was not left broke as they claim now they want to honour Mr Oneal what a thing
    • wize up (06/07/2015, 11:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ Nancy: I will continue to say we as a Virgin Islands People need to change the level of our conversation: Hon.O'Neal is being honoured simply for his outstanding and for his many years of service to his territory; WTF does it have to do with leaving the country broke....
  • wize up (06/07/2015, 07:50) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    how does Hon.O'Neal fell about this: some of us appears to be overly upset; lets hear from Mr O'Neal; I know that he is fully capable of speaking for himself......
  • Hmm (06/07/2015, 10:49) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    All I have to say is "POLITRICKS" ...That's the name of the game they playing.
  • in the night (06/07/2015, 23:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The ndp thief the elections


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