More confusion looms over Opposition Leader’s post; Hon Penn in the ring!
At the time, it was our understanding that Opposition Members Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) and Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) were willing to support Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) for the post; however, things have changed.
The Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Hon Penn, has placed his ‘hat in the ring’, suggesting that he is the only chairman of a political party in the Opposition; therefore, he must be considered for the post.
Efforts to get a comment from Hon Penn were unsuccessful up to the time of publication.
Hon Penn does not have a majority
Hon Walwyn has made clear to insiders that he is not supporting Hon Penn as he ‘cannot lead him’, and it appears that Hon Turnbull, as of the publication of this article, has not signed for Hon Penn to become the Opposition Leader.
Therefore, allegedly, only Hon Skelton signed a letter that went to the Governor seeking Hon Penn to be the Opposition Leader. It is believed that the letter was rejected by Governor Daniel Pruce, asking for a majority. In this case, where there are four members in the Opposition, one cannot only rely on a post of party chairman, but a majority of the opposition, meaning three must sign off before Hon Penn can become the Opposition Leader, according to constitutional experts.
They cannot use the 2016/17 case of two VIP Members, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) and Mr Andrew A Fahie. Hon Fraser was the Opposition Leader following the 2015 general election, when he only had two seats and retained the chairmanship of the VIP. However, following a VIP internal election, Mr Fahie became the party chairman and sought to be Opposition Leader. Governor John Duncan, at the time, approved Mr Fahie, citing that he was the new chairman of the only political party in the Opposition at the time.
It is now believed that Hon Turnbull will not sign for Hon Penn but could consider Hon Skelton, according to persons familiar with the confusion on the opposition aisles.
The confusion started when Hon Walwyn led a coup (legally, he had a majority at the time) in March of 2025 to oust Hon Skelton as Opposition Leader and formed a group which they labelled The Alliance.
Is Walwyn anti-Virgin Islands?
One theme throughout the opposition drama is that Mr Walwyn must not be in a position to travel to the United Kingdom with the constitutional negotiating team this year, as he is allegedly anti-Virgin Islands and has no regard for the contributions and recognition of indigenous Virgin Islanders (new phase ancestral Virgin Islanders). Mr Walwyn has denied these claims and said that he continues to help all Virgin Islanders.
A few weeks ago, Mr Walwyn showed his hands again in the House of Assembly (HoA), which angered many Virgin Islanders, when he took the side of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) in the maritime fees controversy, advocating that the Premier must go back to the negotiation table because the USVI Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr had written a letter to the USA President Donald J. Trump (R).
Many residents, talk show hosts and the intellectual class saw Mr Walwyn's behaviour as high treason, while others opined that Mr Walwyn, an attorney, talks too much and has no clue about regional and international affairs. He even claimed that if Mr Trump gets involved, everything will be on the table, including the US dollar; however, Mr Walwyn has not done any research to know that the Territory's use of the US dollar has nothing to do with the President of the United States.
During the negotiations on the maritime fees, Mr Walwyn claimed that the USVI was “eating our lunch”, but he was wrong, as Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D Wheatley (R7) was brilliant at the negotiating table as the Virgin Islands came out a winner. Mr Walwyn once said there is "nothing else he could do to help Virgin Islanders".
The opposition drama continues its efforts to unseat Hon Walwyn, before locals get nothing from the constitutional talks with him as part of the London negotiating team.
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50 Responses to “More confusion looms over Opposition Leader’s post; Hon Penn in the ring!”
The funny thing is the door wouldn’t be shut to benefit the majority of the ‘indigenous Virgin Islanders’, only for friend and family of the top dogs.
Humble thy self and the reward shall come. But alas, some individuals will cut off their noses to spite their face. If all 14 must go then this includes Wally - so pray tell; why hasn’t Wally been able to coalesce a team around him? Hmmmm….maybe Sindee and Wilma can decipher this codex…..lmbao….cap!
Are you still wondering why Lorna, Fraser and now Mather left the sh** show? The VIP are far from what we want/need in terms of forward thinking Governments but look at the other side? I think people often forget that VIP actually lost the last election and these guys could not form a government. almost 3yrs later and it has gotten much worse, not better. So it begs the question, do these people really care about the BVI or all they want is power at all costs? Alliance, Appliance, NDP, LMNOP now this circus again with who will be LOO.
The Leader of the Opposition should be appointed by seniority. This ensures that the most experienced legislator assumes command, preserving stability, continuity, and strategic direction within the House of Assembly.