UPDATE: More than 40 registered in PEP
The source who is a key player in the new party said that the party at this stage has the strength and quality of membership that can create ‘Political history’ in the Virgin Islands come the next elections.
With names such a Honourable J. Alvin Christopher, Dancia Penn, Vernon Malone, Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru being pronounced as key players, the source said that there are many others who are less popular in the political realm.
“Those names are the ones that have to be used at the forefront at this time because the others still have to earn their daily livelihood and their names being made public at this stage would do much harm,” said the source.
Asked to explain what harm can be done to those members at this stage, the source alleged, “You know how this NDP can be very vindictive, they would use the one year and change they have in power to break those persons because they are somewhat with their hands in their mouths.”
According to the source Hon Christopher has been taking on the ‘Front role and face’ as he is one of the most senior and seasoned politicians in the new party. “They can’t touch him, but we can trust him not to leak names so being the political man he is taking the punches for us.”
Contacted Hon Christopher said, “You will get all the details you need when the time is right, I cannot and will not give any comment at this stage.”
It is said that plans are still in place for tomorrow’s Official launch Saturday March 29, 2014.
See previous story published March 24, 2014:
New political party PEP to launch March 29, 2014
-The People’s Empowerment Party expected to name its officers at launching but not its candidates
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Just as was firstly and accurately reported by Virgin Islands News Online on October 25, 2013, this news site can confirm that the People’s Empowerment Party (PEP) is now the newest Virgin Islands Political Party.
According to this news site’s sources within the new group, they are expected to launch the new political party this Saturday March 29, 2014 at a ceremony at 6:00 PM at Maria’s by the Sea.
Hon J. Alvin Christopher finally has his own party after being fired from two
The driving force behind the new political party is Second District Representative Honourable J. Alvin Christopher. Mr. Christopher first ran in 1995 as an independent candidate to represent the Second District that now includes Jost Van Dyke and was successful and has never lost an election since then.
Days after his election victory in 1995 he joined the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) of then political leader H. Lavity Stoutt to give his VIP a majority to form the government.
Hon. Christopher was then named Minister for Communications and Works in the 1995 Soutt Administration. The VIP was reelected in 1999 under the leadership of now party leader Hon Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, following the death of Hon. Stoutt in 1995 and Hon Christopher was again named Minister for Communications and Works.
Hon. Christopher was then fired by Hon O’Neal in 2002 under the VIP and in the election of 2003 ran and won with the now ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) of Premier Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith. He was named Minister for Natural Resources and Labour in the NDP Administration.
In 2006 Dr. Smith then Chief Minister fired Hon. Christopher while he had switched portfolio to Minister for Communications and Works following the death of the late Honourable Paul P. Wattley.
It is this news site’s understanding that at the launching this weekend the officers of the PEP are expected to be introduced but not the candidates to contest the next general elections due by 2015.
NDP & VIP
It remains unclear if a serious third party can emerge following the domination for the last 16 years plus of the VIP and NDP.
What is clear is the voters are fed up of the ruling National Democratic Party and many persons after two years are not better off. Many residents are facing severe economic hardship with the banks repossessing residents’ cars, lands and homes. Many of our Caribbean Brothers and Sisters had to return home to their countries of origin as the middle class has been wiped out and many young Virgin Islanders are jobless for over the last two years, with children going to school hungry, a fact confirmed by an NDP Legislator Honourable Alvera Meduro-Caines.
Meanwhile for almost two years the Premier was denying the pain and financial hardship felt by the ordinary men and women claiming that the economy is robust.
Many of the NDP critics continue to claim that nothing has been done for the pass two years, while a new culture of reckless spending, corruption and censoring the press has been the order of day. They claimed that the NDP has undermined the rule of law and played politics with every institution including the education system, Parliament, the legal system and the civil service.
Many residents are also fearful of speaking out because of the NDP’s demonstrated victimization, and telling the people untruths.
As for the VIP, while it’s still a household name many have argued that they are now ‘dead’, after not having had a meeting since their 2011 defeat at the polls. The critics claim that it is time for the 80-year old Leader Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, to step aside. However among party faithful there seems not to be a consensus on who the new leader should be.
The frontrunner appears to be the firebrand and seasoned Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3), but it appears that he still does not command national appeal according to his critics, while others strongly believe he is the right person to take the Virgin Islands out of its political, social, economic and international malaise.
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55 Responses to “UPDATE: More than 40 registered in PEP”
I want to advise them to seek spiritual guidance to avoid confusion. Except the Lord builds a house, they who built it labour in vain. The political climate needs honest and energetic candidates with new ideas to take the territory into the future. I do not know receptive Alvin is for change. Old time politics cannot work in 2014.
Oh, the people will be destroyed for lack of wisdom.