Could VI see its first female Premier after the 2023 Elections?
Many residents are claiming that many of the issues caused by the political class have been because of Patriarchal leadership fueled by male egos, and that it is time for a woman to be at the helm of the Government in the Virgin Islands.
However, currently, there are no women heading any of the four main political parties, these are the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) led by Dr the Hon Natalio D. Whealty (R7); the National Democratic Party (NDP) led by Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8); Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) led by Ronnie W. Skelton and the one-man Progressives United (PU) led by Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3), all men.
But with the outcome of the elections uncertain and many voters believing that there will be a coalition government, could a woman emerge as the next Premier?
There are many female candidates being floated as possible Premiers including, former First Lady Lorna G. Smith of the NDP, Luce D. Hodge-Smith of the VIP, and Ingrid A. Moses-Scatliffe of the PVIM.
However, for these women to even be considered for premiership in the VI, they must first win their seats in the House of Assembly.
If the party leaders of the four main parties do not make the cut in the April 24, 2023, election there could be a lot of 'jockeying' for power and a female could be in the lead for the highest office in the VI.
A women leader possible in a sexist culture?
Over the years, there have been two former female legislators who served as Deputy Chief Minister/Deputy Premier in the persons of Eileene L. Parsons OBE and R. Dancia Penn-Sallah OBE, KC, but those have been the highest political office holders led by women.
While the VI in 2023, remains a male leadership-dominated society with old-fashioned and often sexist attitudes being propagated about the role of women, political pundits are forecasting that in an election year when persons want change, a woman could possibly emerge as the first female Premier of the Virgin Islands.
Five months ago, controversial talk-show host Claude O. Skelton-Cline, who hosts the Honestly Speaking radio show on ZBVI 780 AM, had predicted that a woman would emerge as the leader of the Territory following the 2023 General Elections.
His prediction will be put to the test on April 24, 2023.
Mr. Skelton-Cline, like others in the VI, has encouraged residents to vote for women.
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46 Responses to “Could VI see its first female Premier after the 2023 Elections?”
She old enough to be showing gray hair.
where next to no politicians have it, honesty.
Lorna and Ingrid both have these attributes in spades.
I look forward to seeing both of these ladies in Cabinet.
JUST STOP IT!!!!!!!!!
Just like you don’t discriminate against locks, tattoos, men dying their hair, STOP BEING TWO-FACED about women who choose to retain their youthful appearance!
Mr. Oneal. Will need a toupee on April 24.He will go bald after a land slide on Election Day. CSC
None of the mentioned qualify as Premier.
Moreover, I’m not averse to a woman becoming Premier. Nonetheless, a woman should be qualified, prepared, ready tested and proven….etc. The same criteria should apply also to men. What we don’t want is a Peter Principle situation, ie, promoting a person to a level of incompetence. In unscientific polls, it appears that after after the 24 April General Election indeed there may be a Hung-HoA, ie, no party winning 7 seats to form a government. Consequently, there will be much leverage of position(s) and horse trading, etc, for forming a government. The horse trading will be about personal self interest, not assembling the best suited team to form the government. In such a situation, a woman indeed may emerge in becoming Premier . As noted above, a woman should not be elevated just to check a historical block but rather because she is best suited, qualified, tested, proven….etc Similarly, no man should be elevated to Premier unless he is best suited, qualified, tested, ready, demonstrated experience, proven, prepared and ready. The Westminister system is flawed and can be a hot mess.
The people will decide, that's all!