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

UPDATE: President Obama wins election! Four more years in White House

Barack Obama hits the stage with his family to deliver his victory speech for the 2012 Presidential Election at his celebration held at McCormick Place on early Wednesday morning, November 7, 2012 in Chicago, Ill. The 51-year-old President of the United States walked out on stage with his wife Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha to the tune of Stevie Wonder‘s “Sign, Sealed, Delivered” playing to a roaring crowd. Photo: justjared.com
Democratic representative Barack Obama (left) has retained the presidency of the United States of America following elections yesterday November 6, 2012. He defeated challenger Mitt Romney (Republican). Most Virgin Islanders were backing President Obama and had predicted he would win. Photo: Barackobama.net & Biography.com
Democratic representative Barack Obama (left) has retained the presidency of the United States of America following elections yesterday November 6, 2012. He defeated challenger Mitt Romney (Republican). Most Virgin Islanders were backing President Obama and had predicted he would win. Photo: Barackobama.net & Biography.com
Left: Joe Biden (D) is the Vice-President of the United States of America. He has been a long time US Senator from the State of Delaware before becoming the Vice President in 2008. Right: Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan (R) was the running mate of Mitt Romney. Photos: White House.Gov & The Political Guide
Left: Joe Biden (D) is the Vice-President of the United States of America. He has been a long time US Senator from the State of Delaware before becoming the Vice President in 2008. Right: Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan (R) was the running mate of Mitt Romney. Photos: White House.Gov & The Political Guide
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Virgin Islands News Online, after speaking with pollsters in Washington DC and in New York City, and our USA correspondence, is now able to confirm that President Barack H. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, both Democrats, will serve another four years as President and Vice-President of the United States of America.

Republican Mitt Romney with running mate Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan had a bright start but fell away just as analysts had predicted.

Obama currently has 256 electoral votes on his way to the magical 270 to retain the presidency while Romney has 203 electoral votes but that is mere numbers as there is no way Romney is likely to make a comeback.

Earlier, it was confirmed that the Democrats would keep control of the Senate. 

There is already loud celebration at Obama Headquarters in Chicago, Illinois as supporters are more than convinced that Obama has retained the presidency according to projections.

Virgin Islanders Back President Barack Obama

Prior to the elections, Virgin Islands News Online was on the streets and the telephone asking residents who they believe would win and who they were backing in the US presidential elections.

Claude Skelton-Cline an astute observer of American politics, who himself worked in the USA for a big city Mayor, told this news site that, "I suspect that it is going to be the incumbent. The polls are in his direction...and he has the power of incumbency. I think he has done an exceptional job under the circumstances and conditions..." 

Mr. Skelton-Cline himself was a candidate with the National Democratic Party (NDP) in the Virgin Islands (VI) elections. He was defeated by political veteran J. Alvin Christopher for the 2nd District seat.

L.  Allan Wheatley, a former Financial Secretary with the VI Government, told this news site that,  "I can't say who would win but I can say who I would like to win- Obama, simply because of the ethnic factor, the performance that he has done with respect to international affairs as well as recovering the economy from the Bush era."

Mr. Wheatley himself was a candidate with his own Party of the People for the 7th District seat.  He also lost to another veteran now Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering.

Donald E. de Castro, a local political activist and controversial talk show host who had lived and worked in the USA, said  he expect Obama to win because “he is the only one who has a decent agenda. People who would be voting for Romney are basically voting against Obama." 

Virgin Islands News Online also caught up with Bishop John I. Cline of the New Life Baptist Church and Chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority. Bishop Cline said he predicts that “President Obama will serve a second term”…. “I think that when all is said and done the people will realise that he inherited a very bad economy and the country was on an economical slide that he has brought it back, from the auto industry to job creation. It has not happened as fast as the people would like but I think once the dust has settled there would be enough who has seen what he has done." He also said that with President Obama's health care plan, millions of persons who could not have afforded health care would now be able to do so and this would also be a major factor for votes in Obama's favour. 

Another talk show host,  himself an Independent candidate in last year’s VI election who lost, Edmund Maduro told this news site that, "From what I have seen it is a tight race but Obama should come out the winner, if what we are seeing on television are facts." He said in politics he does not look at people but at policies and performance and given the situation globally, Obama has done an excellent job. "I think he is worthy for a second term." He also said that Mitt Romney has been inconsistent in representing his policies and this could work against him at the polls….and Obama he works with the poor people.”

If you don't work with the poor people Mr. Maduro asked “who the hell you are going to work with? …Romney seems to be more concerned with more capital gains for the rich while Obama has made a lot of strides with the average man. He has also been talking about the middle class and not just the poor man."

Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru, another talk show host, a lecturer at the local community college and another candidate who contested a Territorial seat in last year’s VI election with a newly formed political party The People’s Patriotic Alliance, said he believed President Obama would win because the Democratic Party is more inclusive and represents women and social issues and this could aid in the number of votes for Obama. "America has also gone through a tough time in terms of its economy and that could have easily hurt the incumbent. Somehow I think though that President Obama will pull through." He also noted that the odds are against Romney and believes President Obama would be returned to the White House.

Devon Sinclair when asked about his views on the American election said, “I believe Obama will win because Mitt Romney is only looking to make the rich richer and he has been also dishonest throughout his campaign. Until now I don't really know what Romney stands for or is against because he changes his mouth so often”. 

A different prediction from the rest of the conventional wisdom

Many other persons throughout the Virgin Islands had registered their strong support for President Obama from Virgin Gorda, to Jost van Dyke, the streets of Road Town and even many persons this news site spoke to on Anegada. They had all predicted that the President woul be victorious in the November 6 election.  

This news site also caught up with Julian Willock, a former Permanent Secretary and who has studied International Politics/Relations and holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science. He told this news site that two things will happen; either President Obama will win having enough Electoral College votes to put him over the top, or alternatively, if Mitt Romney wins he will blow out the President in a landslide.  Mr. Willock conceded that he knows, “I am the only one in the world with this view of what will happen, if Mitt Romney wins, which no American polls have predicted or even my many friends in the social science/political polling filed shares, but watch.” 

What an American Election means for the Virgin Islands/Caribbean!

Clearly, the Caribbean, the Virgin Islands not even the United States Virgin Islands got any attention from neither Mr. Romney nor the US President during the campaign. Despite this, it was predicted that if Mr Romney had won, and Cuba apart, it was unlikely that his administration’s approach to the Virgin Islands or the Caribbean will be significantly different to that of President Obama other than where regional issues touch on changed strategic concerns relating to trade policy, China, and the Middle East.

In the candidates’ foreign policy debate, only Mr. Romney mentioned the Hemisphere, speaking about the trade opportunity with Latin America, with not one mention of other parts of the region or even Haiti or Cuba.

With Obama winning the US elections, US policy towards the Caribbean is expected to remain largely unchanged.  

Concluding that nothing much will change for the Virgin Islands with Obama it then means that pressure on offshore financial centres like that in the Virgin Islands will continue; the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act will not go away.

It requires foreign banks to find any American account holders and disclose their balances, receipts, and withdrawals to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or be subject to a 30% withholding tax on income from US financial assets held by the banks.

The Virgin Islands, however, needs to get some of our locals involved in lobbying efforts and people who truly have our interest at hand.

Our interest must go beyond the drug trade, extradition, or a visa waiver to shop in Miami, Puerto Rico or Atlanta. The time has come for it to go beyond spending millions of dollars with big public relations firms to get a hand full of tourist to our islands when it’s cold up North. The time has come for a serious presence in Washington DC to influence their policies in our interest.

Oh before we forget, Congratulations Barack Obama! 

70 Responses to “UPDATE: President Obama wins election! Four more years in White House”

  • . (06/11/2012, 08:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    go obama go!!!
  • red (06/11/2012, 08:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    four more years
    • egg face (06/11/2012, 10:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Today, the downtrodden People of the good old USA will show their determination to stand up for their dignity and save us all from becoming an irreversible plutocracy.
    • december man (06/11/2012, 15:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Care to make a wager on that?
      • george w. touch (06/11/2012, 15:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Good luck to both candidates. Let the American voters decide and may the better man win. Hope he can make the world a better place for all,( not like what I did) not only for myself, friends and family but all Americans.
        • florida usa (06/11/2012, 17:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          Mitt Romney has a plan for America. It’s all for one… and one for one, where he’s the one, and everyone else is on their own.

          Please don’t blow it on Tuesday, America! We can’t afford a president who’ll sell our country for parts.

          Obama/Biden 2012
  • overseas (06/11/2012, 09:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    uncle sam going fire the balck man today!
    • qc (06/11/2012, 09:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      As long as there is a fair election done, voters choose who they think deserves to be the US president, then its them who really decides after all.
    • Justice for All (06/11/2012, 10:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      CAUSE ITS PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO WANT US TO GO BACK TO "MENTAL SLAVERY"!!! Ungratefull!
    • Fox (06/11/2012, 15:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      uncle sam you need to stop watching Fox News, 7 days a week
  • x factor (06/11/2012, 09:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well gee...excuuuse meeee! vino why you interview all thoes loosers about a man who is going to win?

  • Outstanding (06/11/2012, 09:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    President Obama...We got your back down here in the Virgin Islands!!!
  • under the bus (06/11/2012, 09:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How do I feel? Obama will win

  • UK student (06/11/2012, 09:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I voted for Obama last time around and agree with him on many social issues and am conflicted about voting for Romney/Ryan
  • weed (06/11/2012, 09:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If president Obama wins (please please), he should hire Mr Romney as Chief Consultant Job Creator at $1 annual salary paid by citizens of the USA
  • RAT TAIL (06/11/2012, 10:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is finally going to be over!!!! i can see somthing else on TV
    • BVI people (06/11/2012, 15:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I live in NJ just came back from voting, Obama got my vote.
      • don q (06/11/2012, 17:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Why don't the parties spend some of their money to establish an efficient and universal voting system instead of spending an enormous amount of money on election campaigns
  • people power (06/11/2012, 10:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    One can see that the old President Obama with the fire in his belly is back but hope its not too late..
  • Saic (06/11/2012, 11:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    A win for Obama is not good for us as a jurisdiction. Obama is anti-tax free jurisdictions and will leave no stones unturn to kill our industry. We need to get over the hype of having an african american president and really think about what another win for Obama really means for us!
    • Crank Shaft (06/11/2012, 11:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

      LMAO!!! Obama will kill our industry? LMAO!! What a crock of bul$h!t!! Do you think the entire world revolve around America? Asia is who we need to be focused on, not broke America. Obama will mop the floor with Romney by the way, we all know this, only the media trying to make it seem like a horse race or photo finish so you can keep tuning into their brainwashing rubbish!! To all who are saying Obama will kill our industry, explain, tell us how he will kill it. I bet you can't. Just rehashing mainstream media bull$h!t.

    • Well Said (06/11/2012, 12:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I couldn't say it better! Voting for a Black President while his administration is mauling us to economic death slowly but surely.
    • BAM! (06/11/2012, 13:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      So only one person on VINO got common sense!?... Saic it seems as if only me and you have this information cause everybody bawling Obama Obama but Obama is who gon f* them over in the long run. I don't approve of either candidate cause they're all the same with different strategies and approaches. Remember, "there are many ways to skin a cat." I must say Obama has done a good job in his efforts to revive the economy and solve Bush' f*ups and I honestly feel that he is the better candidate for AMERICA but he has his flaws as well.... ReBLOODlicans and DemoCRIPS aren't any different from the popular local parties in the BVI (NDP and VIP). I rather vote for an independent than a party's candidate because party candidates are puppets. That's why I hate politics and don't get involved.
      America is always getting involved in other countries' business because of the effects it MAY have on them. They never want to see another country prosper from their shortcomings. So all anti-tax free jurisdictions like the BVI, BEWARE!!!
      • mother hen (06/11/2012, 16:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        The US’s system of democracy is now obviously obsolete. Why do you think that there is intense campaigning in the “swing’ states? It is because these states, which contain a minority of US citizens, have an undue influence on the outcome....
    • jobs jobs jobs (06/11/2012, 15:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Romney’s is to help the rich and NEVER to create jobs for the poor!!
    • Meli (07/11/2012, 09:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Saic you are so correct!
  • romney (06/11/2012, 11:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Romney all the way.
    • fight (06/11/2012, 15:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Romney speaks of freedom, but not responsibility. A wise president would fight the "war on poverty" by BOTH individual charity & social justice.
  • Please (06/11/2012, 12:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We as a jurisdiction have more to worry about than Obama. We need to worry about our own internal matters and boost our own infrastructure. We need to support our politicians as they endeavor to improve our schools, roads, hospital and protect our culture. Fear of Obama obilterating offshore highlights the problem with being so dependent economically on something that is so easily manipulated externally. Obama is a wonderful representation of the possibilities of an America without racial limitations: any child can see themselves as the POTUS . Whether this will affect us more than psychologically remains to be seen.
    • your day (06/11/2012, 17:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      America: today, in your hands, the destiny of the entire world. The choice between intelligence and truth, or war and war.
  • zet (06/11/2012, 15:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's a great joy to know that my brother votetd for Mr.Obama today in Fla
  • second time around (06/11/2012, 15:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    the lord told me last noght that!!! OBAMA will have a SECOND ...... !!! AMEN !!! HALLELUJAH......!!! AMEN !!!
  • vex with obama (06/11/2012, 15:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    who wants to raise the corporate tax rate?

    who wants to raise capital gains?

    who will run up private insurance premiums?

    OBAMA because he doesn't know ZIP about money, he's never run a business...
    • QUESTION (06/11/2012, 17:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Yes, the battle now goes to the voters. But a battle for what? For Tweedledee or Tweedledum
  • jack be still (06/11/2012, 15:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Fired up!!!!!! Ready to (Vote) Go!!!!!!!! Don't Boo........VOTE!!!!!!
    • aid (06/11/2012, 17:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Brack and Joe are all fired up and he looks far more presidential than Gov. Romney
  • staurday night live (06/11/2012, 17:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    ..I'm watching Morning Joe, the Republican leaning show on MSNBC..HAHA HA HEHE


    • big time (07/11/2012, 11:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Obama seems to have cobbled together a voter coalition of blacks. hispanics . young people and women/ that can see the republican party- a party of old white teabaggers - stay out of the corridoors of power for decades.
  • post card (06/11/2012, 17:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    ayo need to hush me fren pll dem USA aint care bout ayo shoot man we down here on dey hussle so gimme ah break wid deeds hep ah blogs brats.
  • 2016 (07/11/2012, 00:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    U S A U S A USA USA USA USA USA
  • ausar (07/11/2012, 06:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Four more years of "Blackness" in the White House.

    For all of the haterz, tek dat!
    • money (07/11/2012, 11:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      We knew in our gut that Barack Obama was made of two term material...may God help him to do a better job on the economy. Notwithstanding that he has to work with a Republican majority in the House.
      Congratulation!!! Obama 44
      • syria (08/11/2012, 12:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        The Americans were spared relegation to unavoidable oblivion under Romney
  • Donald (07/11/2012, 10:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is quite amusing that so many people here are supporting Obama when his policies will result in a number of BVIslanders paying tax in the US. It is also so ironic how Obama is being called down for being non American in the same way so many here call down Myron etc for not being BVIslanders. Still, at least he is black.
  • HMMMM (07/11/2012, 10:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    You guys they this is good for America. But watch you will see what happen. Obama is only there to do what the elite wants him to do. I am so sorry for you blinded people.
  • oh yea (07/11/2012, 10:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good job. You are the REAL AMERICANS!!!!!
    • maybe (08/11/2012, 23:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      several lessons to be learnt but neither the govt nor the opposition will take any. Obama was magnanimous in victory and Romney was gracious in defeat. the BVI will never see this level of decorum from it's politicians. Maybe bachannal is in we blood!
  • talk (07/11/2012, 11:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good Morning. Spot on, President Obama gave a hell of a Speech
  • cbn (07/11/2012, 11:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Absolutely, I am very proud. Such a beautiful family.
  • dream (07/11/2012, 14:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Barack is back. And he is the better choice for the future of the world and America.
  • ALL FOR ONE (07/11/2012, 17:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Obama won because he was supported by all sections, red, yellow, white and blacks.
  • nyc (08/11/2012, 01:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I read about Romney and Jay, he IS an extreme conservative. I call them radicals. When I read what Ann Romney was saying about women's rights, I knew as well who had "taught her" what to think and say about women's rights. Romney never really showed up. He's not stable as far as I'm concerned. He changed his stand on issues so many times, my neck hurts from my head spinning around.
  • we the people of the bvi (08/11/2012, 11:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    the NDP wish them could do ah Obama...never happen!
    • miss the boat (08/11/2012, 23:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Romney and Obama talked issues, something that is missing in VI politics.
  • social net work (08/11/2012, 22:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    God bless the USA and Obama


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.