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Update: Record 43 candidates for General Elections in VI

Supervisor of Elections Juliet Penn at the press conference at the Election Office minutes ago. Photo: VINO
Premier and 9th District Candidate Ralph T. O'Neal goes through the nomination process in Virgin Gorda
Premier and 9th District Candidate Ralph T. O'Neal goes through the nomination process in Virgin Gorda
At Large candidates at this morning's Nomination Day exercise at the Rupert Briercliffe Hall. Photos: VINO
At Large candidates at this morning's Nomination Day exercise at the Rupert Briercliffe Hall. Photos: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - (Posted: 5:28p.m.) A record 43 candidates have been nominated for the General Elections scheduled for November 7, 2011.

This figure was disclosed minutes ago by Supervisor of Elections Juliet Penn.

According to Penn, some 27 candidates were nominated to contest the District seats and 16 for the Territorial At Large seats. She also said that some 23 District candidates were nominated for the 2007 elections and 13 At large candidates for the same elections.

The lone surprise at today's nomination was businessman Mr. Lionel Penn, who is contesting as an independent At Large candidate.

District 9 has received the most candidates with 5 contesting followed by the 2nd and 8th Districts, which have attracted 4 each.

Even as the process for nominating candidates was underway Virgin Islands News Online was able to confirm that one candidate had dropped out.

David “Cannon” Fahie, who in April had publicly expressed his intentions to contest the November 7, 2011 elections, told this news agency this morning that he was no longer in the race. He, however, did not wish to immediately state his reasons for the decision.

Among the At Large candidates that were nominated this morning included Opposition Leader Dr. D. Orlando Smith, who was actually the first to reach the Rupert Briercliffe Hall for nomination, his National Democratic Party (NDP) colleagues Myron Walywn and Ronnie Skelton; Virgin Islands Party candidates Irene Penn- O’Neal, Keith Flax, Vernon Malone and Zoe Walcott-McMillan, and independent candidates Bertrand Lettsome, Eileen Baronville and Edmund Maduro.

Mr. Maduro told Virgin Islands News Online that he was not launching an official campaign as he regards what he has been doing over the last 20 years, as a radio and television host, as his campaign. “I have been going a bit from house to house and even from island to island. And I believe every Saturday evening and Monday evening I have been in the living room of everybody so that is my way of doing it.”

Asked what would be some of his main areas of focus is elected, Mr. Maduro said “preserving the human resources for the benefit of the people of the British Virgin Islands including employment, business and environmental health”.

Miss Eileen Baronville also said she was not launching an official campaign as the day for General Elections is already near but that she has been doing house to house visits. She told Virgin Islands News Online that she has a blend of ideas that she had put forward in her two previous attempts, and some new ones include focusing on agriculture, care for the elderly, and encouraging VIslanders overseas to come home and invest in their Territory.

Zoe Walcott-McMillan, known as the leader in her own right, and who drew applause and hugs from persons following an interview with one of the television crew at the Rupert Briercliffe Hall, told Virgin Islands News Online that she was in a very positive frame of mind ahead of the Election Day.

“I am feeling good. I am feeling ecstatic but I am also humbled by the fact that everywhere I go there are so many young people that are coming to me and looking up to me, it means that I have to be true to who I am to ensure that I represent those people that look up to me. Outside of that I still continue to have quite a number of support from persons who, after my last bid in the 2007 elections, are still behind me. They believe in what I am proposing and it is because I continue to listen to the people and I consider to address the issues of the people because I am here for the people, by the people and of the people.”

The final list of candidates nominated to contest the Districts are:

1st District- Andrew A. Fahie of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP), and Independent candidate Preston Stout.

2nd District- J. Alvin Christopher (VIP), Leall Rhymer (Independent), Claude Skelton Cline (NDP) and Allewine Smith (Independent)

3rd District- Julian Fraser (VIP) and Kevin Smith (NDP)

4th District- Colin Scatliffe (Independent), Vincent Scatliffe (VIP) and Mark Vanterpool (NDP)

5th District- Delores Christopher (NDP) and Elvis Harrigan (VIP)

6th District- Omar Hodge (VIP) and Alvera Maduro-Caines (NDP)

7th District- Ronnie Lettsome (VIP), Dr. kedrick Pickering (NDP) and Ludwis Allen Wheatley (Independent)

8th District- A. Nolan Davis (Independent), Dancia Penn (VIP), marlon Penn (NDP) and Bevis Sylvester (Independent)

9th District- Hubert O'Neal (NDP), Ralph T. O'Neal (VIP), Samuel O'Neal (Independent), Devon Osborne (Independent) and Lorie Rymer (Independent).

Territorial At Large candidates

1. Eileene Baronville (Independent) 2. Elton Callwood (People's Patriotic Alliance-PPA) 3. Archibald Christian (NDP) 4. Keith L. Flax (VIP) 5. Bertrand Lettsome (Independent) 6. Edmund Maduro (Independent) 7. Vernon Malone (VIP) 8. Lionel Penn (Independent) 9. Irene Penn-O'Neal (VIP) 10. Ronnie W. Skelton (NDP) 11. Daniel Orlando Smith (NDP) 12. Khoy Smith (PPA) 13. Shaina Smith (PPA) 14. Zoe Walcott-McMillan (VIP) 15. Myron Walwyn (NDP)

16. Natalio Sowande Uhuru Wheatley (PPA)

14 Responses to “Update: Record 43 candidates for General Elections in VI ”

  • billyb (24/10/2011, 14:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    you aint had no business in there in the first place. You ain think you are enough of a poppishow?
    • Mary J (24/10/2011, 16:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      if Myron and Ms. bariville running why he cannot run...he musch better than a lot of dem! shoots
  • tola cant (24/10/2011, 15:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    She is so fake I can recall just 3 years ago how she tried to put down my dreams and carried my name around tola just cause i was a young person trying to do some thing then few months after she took over her mothers store and it went out of business very good business woman you talk to much about people
  • for sure (24/10/2011, 15:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Zoe girl you are a sure seat
  • True (24/10/2011, 17:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Zoey you will not be that lucky like last time to get all those votes. you could go sit down!
  • Woman Power (24/10/2011, 17:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Zoe, Dancia and Irene alllllllllll the way!!! But not Alvera nor Delores nor them other weaklins..... Lol
  • LOL (24/10/2011, 18:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    To True: you need to shut the he'll up and keep off ah Zoe back yes she going win again like she did the last time when the cheat for Smith to win so it would not look bad with one man on the opposition side. Well I could tell you that in my family circle alone got over 15 plus and all of them is VIP so you will know bout she ain't going win you can talk thar but we voting VIP all the way. Forward ever backwards never.
  • vip loyalist (24/10/2011, 20:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    where's cannon and courtney? they scratched? they're alot smaller than i think
  • true (24/10/2011, 21:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    that lady should not have anything to do with elections she is a stone ndp it needs someone else to be over her
  • (((1st District Voter))) (25/10/2011, 01:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Voters of the 1st Electoral District, on Election Day - re-elect Fahie, Andrew A. as your District Representative and Team VIP All the way!!!!
  • JTV (25/10/2011, 03:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    ok just looking at that list VIP you safe safe safe
  • Confucius (25/10/2011, 07:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Now that we have the full slate of candidates, it is disappointing to note that there is a noticeable lack of what I would describe as "excellent" representatives in several districts. As a result, the people of those districts will be forced to vote for some pretty unimpressive candidates. That's unfortunate. But putting that aside and having gone through the slate with my entire family, I predict a narrow NDP victory: NDP - 5 seats VIP - 4 seats Independents - 3 seats PPA - 1 seat I also predict there will be some major upsets in some traditional strongholds on both sides. The broom is poised to sweep out those whose time has come and gone and those who have overstayed their welcome. My family and I have recognized that the key to this election rests with the At Large candidates. The voters have the ability to limit the amount of power any one party will have simply by CAREFULLY choosing At Large candidates that they believe will best represent the interests of the people ~ NOT a particular party. Towards this end, we have selected one NDP candidate, one VIP, one Independent and one PPA candidate. One of the independent candidates is deeply concerned for the environment and has a great deal of knowledge in that area. This gentleman most certainly gets our vote because our environment has taken just about as much abuse as it can stand thanks to both the NDP and VIP. Another independent is concerned about crime and also has a good deal of experience in that area. He has been held back as a politician (by his own party) but has a good head on his shoulders. Given the chance to make a difference, we believe he can offer some valuable input in the area of crime prevention and will push our leaders to do much more to support the police department and their crime fighting initiatives. The fourth is a gentleman who has an excellent head for business and prior experience in government. He will likely end up as Premiere ~ but not the one some might expect. I am not a particular fan of his, but he is certainly amongst the strongest "leaders" we have. Provided he can be reined in and kept from participating in any cronyism, we believe he is capable of doing a very good job. It will be up to the other independents and At Large representatives to keep him in line by voting with their heads and their hearts when it matters. The fourth At Large candidate we have selected is a very bright young woman who has her hand on the pulse of the young people and the direction they want the BVI to take in the future. She has had no political experience but we believe her altruistic outlook and fresh ideas will be a refreshing change from our otherwise jaded political arena. Unlike other candidates, she is not promoting pie-in-the-sky projects that we can ill afford. She was blessed with common sense and her feet are firmly planted in the soil to which she was born. We believe that by limiting the strength of any one party, the ruling party will be forced to make certain that whatever they intend to do will be of benefit to ALL Virgin Islanders and not just a chosen few. Cronyism, nepotism and corruption MUST END NOW! Choose your candidates wisely my friends. Our future is at stake!
  • Brad Boynes (25/10/2011, 12:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Cronyism, nepotism and corruption MUST END NOW! Not in the Virgin Islands Con man. Wishful thinking. The need becomes a GREED.


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