EXCLUSIVE: Ralph T. O'Neal OBE weighs-in on Opposition Leader appointment deadlock!
The former VIP Boss O'Neal, who also served eight years as the Opposition Leader (2003-2007) (2011-2015), when contacted by this news site about the impasse for the post of Opposition Leader, told our news room in a brief comment on June 20, 2015 “If they are having a fight I am not a referee.”
“The Congress [of the VIP] has appointed him (Hon Fraser) as Chairman of the party. It is not a matter of what I think…it is the Congress that made the decision. Not me,” he said, not wanting to add much more.
However, Hon Fahie, according to information obtained from the Governor's Office, has refused to go along with the VIP Chairman Hon Fraser as the Opposition Leader as he believes Hon Fraser has caused the VIP to lose at the June 8, 2015 polls.
This has now resulted in an impasse for which Governor John S. Duncan has given a month for the two men to resolve who will be the next Leader of the Opposition, succeeding O’Neal who did not run for re-election in his district this election and who had demitted the position as Chairman of the VIP since its May 2014 Congress.
According to the Virgin Islands Constitution, a majority in the Opposition must decide who will be the Leader and that must be conveyed in writing to the Governor.
Many of the VIP candidates have blamed Hon Fraser for their loss as it was reported that they were told on the campaign trail by voters that people could not vote for them because Hon Fraser was the Party Leader.
It is this news site’s understanding that this concern was one of the main reasons behind the signing of a letter by a number of members, which included former At-Large candidates Irene F. Penn-O’Neal and Sharie B. de Castro, and former District candidates Elton L. Sprauve, Oleanvine Pickering-Maynard, Elvis J. Harrigan (Mervin ‘Lucky’ Charles signed for and on behalf of Harrigan), Andrew A. Fahie, and Zoe J. Walcott-McMillan, in which they endorsed Hon Fahie for the post of Opposition Leader. This letter was sent to Governor Duncan.
This news site also has learnt that there is an attempt to unseat Hon Fraser from the Chairmanship of the party, with former District 5 losing candidate Zoe J. Walcott-McMillan spearheading a petition to force a meeting of the VIP governing body, its Congress, to have a vote to remove Hon Fraser as Chairman.
The Virgin Islands will make political history at the sitting of the new House of Assembly on Tuesday June 23, 2015 as for the first time the House will convene without an Opposition Leader.
We will continue to bring you updates on this ongoing situation within the VIP.
83 Responses to “EXCLUSIVE: Ralph T. O'Neal OBE weighs-in on Opposition Leader appointment deadlock!”
ROFL
at least they are loyal and not plotters with wicked A****
1. the party did not lose in 2007 because of him personally (as is the case in 2015) and
2. he had the support of his colleague, Dr. Pickering (clearly not the case for Fraser in 2015).
The VIP needs to realize that it is going NOWHERE with Fraser as Chairman.
It was quite obvious that Fahie would challenge Fraser for both leadership positions, if the VIP lost. The party is dysfunctional and the whole leadership needs to be changed, including the President. Even if Fahie becomes Opposition Leader, he should not be made Party Chairman, as the VIP will face a similar beating in 2019.
Neither Fraser or Fahie should be appointed Chairman for the sake of the VIP.
let Ralph rest from tryin to involve the man in ayo mesh.
That Z*e is an alledged confusion maker.
Fraser has been self-important for years. Let Andrew lead. He is more of a diplomat and easier to talk to (if that is possible). Fraser sticks him foot in his mouth more often. Fraser would have more power being a puppeteer behind the scenes helping to organize the party. VIP would get more respect if Fraser steps down.
Andrew and zoe the worse two to follow...i am so pi$$ with ipo and all out!...decastro has end her political career and maynard and juggie was alwsys two dead horse
Let's break it down even further candidate by candidate for VIP who did not win a seat:
2nd District candidate for VIP - dead even before arrival because he lacked maturity and any type of political decorum.
4th District candidate for VIP - driest personality ever seen and the people just could not connect.
5th District candidate for VIP - all the off-the-camera and social media gossip killed the respect, hope and confidence people had.
6th District candidate for VIP - what can I say...no substance what so ever.
7th District candidate for VIP - with more time you might have done better, not win but better.
8th District candidate for VIP - who was that guy? Had never ever heard of him before...
9th District candidate for VIP - better luck next time. The good Dr was going to take majority of votes no matter what because his NDP supporters were clearly going to vote for him and for the mere fact that he ran without success for so many years against the stalwart Hon. Ralph even many VIP people voted for him because they were sympathetic and admired his perservance.
As for VIP at large candidates...let's see:
Penn had too much baggage and personal drama hanging over her head and might I add....unfinished court case. She should have sat this race out and plan on the next time around if anything.
DeCastro had too many catch phrases and her message got lost in the shuffle. Young people arent only interested in fancy talk. They are out of high school and are a bit more mature and tertiary educated and want to hear facts too.
Bunbury...hmm...people were not quite convinced that she was a true VIP.
Dawson. I have nothing but praise for him. He did an outstanding job.
Anybody who supported VIP could not tell Fahie and the others the truth about why they did not vote VIP because the truth hurts so it was easier to latch on the NDP's generic reason and throw Fraser under the bus.
VIP has been bragging for years about its congress and constitution. Both were used last year in choosing a new Leader and in this year which candidates to run. Now that the dust has settled we see now that there are those who have no respect in the process and decisions made and therefore want to forcefully change things to soothe their crushing egos and insatiable need for power.
If this battle would have been fought 3 to 4 yrs from now for the next general election it may be better received but right now is both poor timing and taste. Elections are over and people just want to settle back down until the next time around.
Stop throwing Fraser under the bus and clean up all your acts otherwise even the few who voted VIP won't vote next time.
I think that it's bitter for Fahie et al to act like this and they have brought disgrace to the party.
Stop your BS!, you sound like a J@CK@$$, next time before you blog, make sure your brain is not in your @$$, stop sitting on your brain and blogging.
fraser will prevail in the end Zoe better move her less r@m
Any time you have persons who not ready to stand for the Truth there would always be problems. There must be a peace maker ask br. Archie and br. Dawson they are the balance men.
I'm just stating my observations and opinion