Gov Duncan gives VIP 1 month & a day to come up with Opposition Leader
This is as a result of both elected members of the VIP, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3), the Virgin Islands Party Chairman, and Hon Andrew A. Fahie, expressing a desire to hold the post of Opposition Leader, a story first and accurately broken by this news site on June 18, 2015.
"It is my decision that the appointment of Leader of the Opposition will be deferred for one month and one day to allow for further consultations between the Members of the Opposition and as they deem appropriate, with other interested parties. I am satisfied that this brief delay will not adversely impair the conduct of business in the House of Assembly or Government.
At the expiry of this time period I expect the Members of the Opposition to make a recommendation as envisaged under section 70 (2) (a). If this is not the case, I will make an independent decision as envisaged under the discretionary powers granted to the Governor under the Constitution," Governor Duncan said in the statement.
According to the Virgin Islands Constitution, the majority party in the Opposition must decide who will be the Leader and that must be conveyed in writing to the Governor.
The Constitution, according to Governor Duncan, does not envisage a situation where members of a single party are unable to reach agreement, therefore he took further legal advice and considered the case law on the use of the Governors’ powers, including views expressed by the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.
He stated, however, that none of the criteria suggested to him by various parties, namely precedent in the VI, the experience of the two candidates, or the expectations of political parties prior to an election, provide a conclusive solution.
"As I have stated on a number of occasions, it is the responsibility of all persons elected or appointed to public office (including the Governor) to give the highest priority to the interests of the Territory above all else. In this context I have during my tenure drawn on the Governor’s discretionary powers to decide matters in the interests of the Territory. I am prepared to do so in this matter.
"However, I consider it would be a retrograde step in the development of democracy in the Virgin Islands for the Governor to be required to impose a solution in this matter without allowing the people of the Virgin Islands and their elected representatives a further window of reflection to agree a solution," Governor Duncan concluded in his statement.
The decision by the Governor to give the party more time to settle its internal differences means that for the first time ever in the history of the Virgin Islands, a new sitting of parliament will begin without an Opposition Leader.
The Third House of Assembly is expected to meet on Tuesday June 23, 2015 at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Road Town.
Meanwhile, Virgin Islands Party (VIP) President Carvin Malone could not be reached for a comment.
Attempts to oust Hon Fraser as VIP chairman
In another unprecedented move that many party insiders said could be the beginning of the end of the 42 year old VIP, some of the losing candidates joined with Hon Fahie and signed a letter to the governor supporting Hon Fahie to become the Opposition Leader.
Many of the candidates have blamed Hon Fraser for their loss as it is alleged that they were told on the campaign trail by voters that people could not vote for them because Hon Fraser was the Party Leader. It is this news site’s understanding that this concern was one of the main reasons behind the signing of the letter.
According to information obtained, the former candidates who signed the letter of endorsement for Fahie to be Opposition Leader are At-Large candidates Irene F. Penn-O’Neal and Sharie B. de Castro, and District candidates Elton L. Sprauve, Oleanvine Pickering-Maynard, Elvis J. Harrigan (Mervin ‘Lucky’ Charles signed for and on behalf of Harrigan), Andrew A. Fahie, and Zoe J. Walcott-McMillan.
It is also believed that the attempt to throw Hon Fraser under the bus does not stop with the attempt to deny him the post of Opposition Leader. Our newsroom understands that losing Fifth District candidate Zoe J. Walcott-McMillan is expected to spearhead a petition to force a meeting of the VIP governing body, its Congress, to have a vote to remove Hon Fraser as Chairman of the Party.
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36 Responses to “Gov Duncan gives VIP 1 month & a day to come up with Opposition Leader”
It's a serious leadership issue which uncle Ralph and president Malone are solely responsible for. Rather than build the party, uncle Ralph was only interested in ensuring that he secure his name in the books as longest serving politician. While he was doing that, everything else was on hold within the party.
When Uncle finally could go anymore, Fraser wrangled the top spot away from Fahie; and he also in turn did nothing to address the party problems. So today, they are both fighting but that's because the whole party is in a complete disarray.
They throw him under the bus. Do Ur self a favor and step down let them do their thing..
They say they don't like one and can't trust the other, n now this..SMDH.
CAN ZOE BE A MEDIATOR?
ZOE'S CAMPAIGNING WAS FUTILE. SHE LOST VOTES AT THE POLE JUST FOR SHOWING UP HALF-NAKED.
What a ting. The VIP has turned on Fraser. Fraser after that 11 - 2 beating, you should step down.
Who is fighting for power...leh Fahie go Sid down. The VIP says the Chairman is the leader which makes him the leader of the opposition.....Fahie you are not the chairman and will never be.... When and if you become the chairman then you have a case for now you don't have one.
All who sign the letter are a bunch of hypocrites .....so disappointed in All Out.....it's not too late All Out make it right...F*** always like to pull people in to deal with his mess....yes his cause this is not about party tis bout Fahie..As for Irene the party had to work so hard to sell you because of your currant situation, Ya ungrateful ma r@$$.
So tell me since when losers/none elected members decides who they want for leader of the opposition....it is the winners/losers have to meet and decide. As far as I see there are only two losers and they need to decide amoung the two of them the way forward....you guys really show how hypocritical and bias you arr
Well you need to read and understand. The vote is 1-1 between elected members and can only remain so for up to a month and a day. The Governor has the tie-breaking vote. So jump high jump low, if the Governor sides with Fahie, then Fahie is opposition leader. And there will not be a thing the unelected VIP party members can do about it.
But if the Governor has to decide, then the VIP will be finished for good. Voters will never put them back in power again.
Any member of the party SHOULD have seen the writing on the wall, well ahead of the election. Those responsible for electing Mr. Fraser as party leader need to step up and take responsibility for their loss.
The truth is that neither Mr. Fraser NOR Mr. Fahie is the right person for the job. They simply aren't leader material and therein lies the single most daunting problem facing the VIP. Many of the other candidates were also pretty weak. I am surprised that the party opted for "ANY" warm body rather than truly viable candidates to represent the party. Quality always outstrips quantity and the quality of the individuals (as political candidates - not as people) simply wasn't there.
If anyone watched the VIP ladies rally on television, they would realize just how weak the party really is. Not one of them came with any fresh ideas. All they did was yammer on about how corrupt the NDP was and there was a very long and senseless speech about how they (the NDP) had "snapped". That broadcast made me feel truly embarrassed to be a woman. It found it nothing short of nauseating.
Until the caliber of persons running for election improves drastically, the VIP is basically dead and in my opinion, are no better off than the PPP, which is a pretty sorry excuse for a political party.
What I believe needs to be done by both the PPP and the VIP is to suck up their pride and approach some of the very impressive independent candidates, eat some crow and beg them to join their party in SENIOR positions. I mean leadership positions.
Each of the partyies also need to decide which side of the political fence they sit on. Are they socialists, liberals or conservatives? Do any of them even have a clue what they truly stand for or do they just believe in deciding on policies and principals as they go along?
Are they socialists who believe that everyone should share almost equally in all the wealth in the territory and nobody gets left behind? Are they liberals who believe that the upper class and upper middle class should pay higher taxes than anyone else and endorse big government or are they conservatives who believe in capitalism, sustainable spending, reasonable taxation for all and minimal government?
In any case, if the VIP didn't embarrass themselves sufficiently prior to the election, they are doing a really good job of it now. A struggle for power between the only two remaining opposition members is pathetic. They are fighting for a position that HAS NO POWER! It is 11 to 2 gentlemen. What on Earth are you fighting for? What do you think can be accomplished?
About a year prior to the next election is when party members should decide who will lead the party going into the next election. Who knows, maybe by then a "real" leader will emerge. If not, then I suppose those of us who are ex-VIP supporters will remain ex-VIP supporters.
Frankly, I believe the independent candidates should get together to find out if they share many of the same principals and political leanings as the others and see if they can't form their own party. Lord knows there were enough of them to do just that!
We have far too many egotists amongst our political ranks. It is high time that the egos were put aside and anyone unable to do that should also be put aside. The VIP is in a shambles. Get it together or throw in the towel.
When the VIP congress meets then if there is a change to be made it will be made. In the mean time take several seats please.