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KING or KONG!

Above: Dickson Igwe. Photo: supplied
By Dickson Igwe

The most crucial decision facing the GRAND OLE PARTY in decades will be made on April 23, 2014. The critical task it presently faces is choosing the right leader to take it into an election war at the end of 2015. A call to cancel the April 23 convention by the old king is clearly an attempt to stall the process. It smacks of desperation. This story was written before that announcement.

This proceeding article is part of a series on the political pulse of the Virgin Islands at midterm. It is not an endorsement of any politician or party.

Now, make no mistake. If the Virgin Islands Party opposition, with its troops, goes into the BIG TENT MEETING onApril 23, 2014, and then, when all is said and done, no NEW LEADER emerges, it can kiss any hopes of election victory in 2015 or 2016 goodbye. The simple fact is Virgin Islanders and Belongers will not put the PRESENT LEADER back in, come the end of 2015. It is wishful thinking, anyone believing this.

The people have determined the Old King’s time is up. A time comes when the baton of leadership must be passed on. This is such a time. Not passing the baton on smoothly and skillfully in a relay results in the loss of the relay. Liken the leadership transition of the opposition to a relay. The present leader must pass on the baton to the next generation on April 23. His not doing so will result in inevitable defeat for the party in early 2016.

In any event, the story on the street is that constitutionally there is no leader or executive committee. The party failed to execute certain formalities after it lost the 2011 General Election. The party delegates are the only real constitutional authority: THE DELEGATE HAS THE FINAL SAY.

OK, if a new leader is not elected come April 23, the party will become permanently handicapped. It will be permanently disfigured so to speak. It will limp into the future, a CRIPPLED COLLOSUS. The worst case scenario is one in which the party splits permanently. Only those members with a PERVERSE AGENDA would want this to happen. In a two party system, unity and strength matter greatly. It takes a united organization to effectively fight an election campaign.

In any event, if a new leader fails to emerge, this will ensure the incumbents a second term, in this Observer’s opinion. He still has no theory or hypotheses to offer where a third party breaks into the current two party mould. Unless, he sees a lot more of what is on offer from the players in the third lane.   The story from SCHOOL CHILDREN is that up to 3 new parties are getting ready to contest the next general election. What a thing!

Consequently, delegates and members of the main opposition party in these Lesser Antilles should go to that tent meeting with open eyes, clear heads, and big hearts. They will have to ask themselves some BIG QUESTIONS, on what will amount to a historic decision. Emotion will have to take second place to reason and logic.

The opposition party possesses a very democratic leadership selection process. Compared to what any other party has on offer, it is second to none. On April 23 that process will place power solely in the hands of party delegates. And just like at a general election, the future of the party will be in the hands of Joe Voter. In the case of April 23, it will be Tom Delegate. No one has the power to stop that process, as no one can stop a general Election, unless in the event of NATIONAL CRISIS.

The delegate must not be emotional. He or she must understand that the future of these islands rests in his or her hands. Anyone attempting mischief that night, or anyone trying to sabotage the process must be loudly condemned.

Delegates should observe the constitutional process to the maximum extent. Anyone trying to thwart that process is not a friend of democracy. Selfish agendas must be placed on the backburner. The plan to stall the process is clearly an act of desperation by certain elements within the party. The Old king calls a convention, and then suddenly cancels the meeting. This is clearly unconstitutional. What is he afraid of? One wonders what his advisers hope to gain by destroying the GRAND OLE PARTY. They must not be allowed to succeed.

To be continued.

Dickson Igwe is a current affairs columnist, he is a scholar of strategy. Connect with Dickson Igwe on TWITTER and FACEBOOK. Email Dickson Igwe ondicksonresearch@gmail.com

12 Responses to “KING or KONG!”

  • ccc (19/04/2014, 15:13) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ralph is not giving up
  • qc (19/04/2014, 15:44) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Anything to keep Uncle out of retunrning to leadership is fine for me....I for fraser
  • weed (19/04/2014, 15:46) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Well put Dickson! April 23rd is an important date the beging of the gant ole party to wake up and get rid of teh NDP
  • mvw (19/04/2014, 15:55) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    it is my humble opinion that the executive committee term expired after 3 months of the VIp loosing the elections pursuant to the constitution..anu i am legal
  • don (19/04/2014, 19:19) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Bouy myron scatter your rass
  • time (20/04/2014, 11:37) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The delegates will be fools to allow RTO to intimidate them at this time-
  • 2 long years (21/04/2014, 10:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    VIP all the way.as after two years its clear NDP is a waste of time.
  • Global (22/04/2014, 03:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Igwe better hope myron does not see this article
  • @ Global (22/04/2014, 13:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If IGWE ain't afraid of RTO you think he will be afraid of Myron? Go bury your face in the nearest latrine-


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