The gala event for former legislator Mr Ralph T. O'Neal OBE has been postponed. A new date of October 17, 2015 has been announced. Photo: VINO/File

Virgin Islands Party (VIP) President Carvin Malone has made it clear that the recent decision to postpone the gala dinner in tribute to former legislator Ralph T. O’Neal OBE has absolutely nothing to do with the party being unsuccessful at the June 8, 2015 general elections. Photo: VINO/File

“Hon Ralph T. O’Neal was bigger than VIP winning the elections and not winning the elections,” said Mr Malone.

The event was one that has been well anticipated and it was well advertised for quite some time now. However, this news site learnt of the postponement of the event over the past weekend and this was confirmed yesterday June 22, 2015 by a press release circulated by the organising committee.

The release reads, “Friends and well-wishers are advised that the Gala Dinner in Tribute to former legislator Ralph T. O’Neal OBE that was scheduled for Saturday June 27th 2015 has been postponed to Saturday October 17th 2015 to allow for comprehensive planning in light of the recently concluded General Elections. We appreciate your patience and understanding as the organizing committee work tirelessly to ensure an event befitting of the honoree.”

With regards to reports that the VIP had anticipated taking up the seat of government which would have given then much leverage to make the event to the magnitude they wanted, Mr Malone said this was far from the truth.

“The Virgin Islands Party from time to time was paying tribute to a number of its stalwarts and this gala was a tribute to Hon Ralph T. O’Neal. So it was in fact a Virgin Islands Party function in tribute to Hon Ralph T. O’Neal and the committee members, included family, friends and well-wishers,” said Malone.

“Then it was postponed because one thing led to another… then it was put to July, put back to June because there was this thing that elections might go to November, might be in July… so the postponement had nothing to do with losing elections, it had to do with not getting enough time to plan it the way that is fitting for what we have planned.”

Malone also noted other challenges that have since arisen that left them with no choice but to postpone, including the refitting of the Multi-Purpose Sport Complex for the House of Assembly event today and the long line of activities that are slated for this weekend, including the launch of Emancipation Festival 2015.