Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

The party system prevails in the Virgin Islands

Dickson C. Igwe. Photo: VINO/File
By Dickson C. Igwe

The Virgin Islands (VI) General Election of February 2019—despite beliefs that independent candidates and new parties would drive a new political culture—the two main political parties in the VI remains dominant in politics.

In politics, a strong brand is always a powerful asset.

Now, no one in their right mind wants to be smug.

Smugness is for losers, stated a wise sage, once upon a time. And too much – ‘’ I told you so-’’ is a self confidence that is frequently fatal.

Voodoo not Science

Although, one wondered at the, absolute confidence of Virgin Islands Party (VIP) supporters, that they would win the General Election outright, before the night of February 25, 2019.

And that very day, the VIP won eight seats to the National Democratic Party’s three seats.

So these VIP supporters knew something this ‘Old Boy’ did not. Not that he was surprised at his lack of knowledge, or his total inability to predict elections in the VI.

Predicting General Elections in the VI is not science. It is VOODOO. 

OK. The newly formed parties each won, one seat each and this by incumbent politicians that were previously entrenched members of the two main parties, who jumped ship for personal reasons.

The shock of the night was losses by two incumbent politicians who were also Cabinet members.

One was an Independent Candidate who left the National Democratic Party (NDP) weeks before February 25, 2019; the second was the NDP leader.

Two Party Culture

So the conclusion from the election results must be that the two party narrative and culture remains strong.

This election and the aftermath, serves as a warning that to break that two party culture, will take a lot more effort and resources by Candidates outside the two parties.

And a former independent and political activist that smelled the coffee early was rewarded with a major ministerial position after making the astute decision that joining one of the big two was his best bet to get a seat at the table of power.

Other independents who remained with the belief that ‘’one more push’’ would birth the baby of political power, remain disappointed, and in the political wilderness.

Huge Workload

The new government has a huge workload however.

One crucial task: in the UK, powerful politicians and bureaucrats are taking an ‘’interest’’ in the Overseas Territories as a certain Parliamentary report suggests.

This report is calling for the removal of Belongership.

Belongership is a resident status unique to OT residents that seeks to protect these tiny communities and their unique cultures from the onslaught of forces of much larger and much more powerful societies.

Protection

The OTs are viewed as vulnerable communities that require some type of legal, social and economic protection.

Belongership is an attempt to offer this protection.

Removing Belongership will destroy these communities by opening them up to invasive forces that will essentially end the way of life of these communities as they exist at present.

This is a ‘’huge matter’’ if the UK intends to drive the policy through. The Premier of Bermuda has gone as far as describing this proposal ‘’Neo Colonial.’’

The new Premier will have to deal with this matter with great diplomacy and resourcefulness and explain to His Excellency the Governor and the powers in Whitehall and Westminster, why this proposal is such ‘’a terrible idea!’’ 

The Premier will also have to get involved in the Brexit debate in the UK and meet with the various parties to understand how Brexit impacts the VI.

The new Premier should think outside the box on Brexit.

He should meet with Scottish, Irish, Welsh, English, and Overseas Territory political and business leaders.

The Premier should also meet with European Union Leaders on the matter, especially the bureaucrats in Brussels.

Advice  

Just to add another thing: this Old Boy admonishes his friends in the VIP to do three things as the party begins a four year odyssey in governance.

First: get all the advice from old VI heads – ‘’Virgin Islands Elders’’- as possible.

Second: abandon the always ‘’terrible idea’’ of not working with specific public officers who may hold different views politically: peace and love is always better than war, especially in a micro-community.

And third: start to formulate a SMART 20 year vision, strategy, and plan for the VI.

This must be a vision for the VI that is generally accepted by the country as a whole.

A smart vision is a GPS that will aid transparency, accountability, and great governance.

To be continued….

Connect with Dickson Igwe on Facebook and Twitter

1 Response to “The party system prevails in the Virgin Islands”



Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.