Interim President of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Bishop John I. Cline said the party is confident that it will have a good slate of candidates for the next general elections. Photo: NDP/Facebook

Interim President of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Bishop John I. Cline has said the party is strong. Photo: RDA

In a statement to our News Centre, Bishop Cline said, “The NDP is strong and well-positioned in its preparations for the 2026/2027 general election.”

Cline said the party is confident that it will have a good slate of candidates for the next general elections. 

These candidates, he said, will be able to “not only contest the election but to win and to govern these beautiful Virgin Islands and lead it on a path to success, sustainable development and economic prosperity.”

The NDP won three seats in the 2023 general election. The members winning seats were Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6) and Hon Lorna G. Smith (AL). Hon Smith has since joined the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government, while Hon Walwyn broke away to form the Alliance. The NDP; however, gained Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) in its merger with Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM).

Prepared once VIslanders trust us enough

Cline said the NDP aims to see Virgin Islanders’ standard of living and quality of life improve; create jobs, especially for the youth; and to grow the economy for local businesses and entrepreneurs who are starting to “give them a real chance at success in the Virgin Islands”.

“That’s what we’re about, and we intend to do that once the people of the Virgin Islands trust us enough to want more for themselves, want more for these Virgin Islands. The NDP is very well-positioned and prepared to deliver on those things.”

Plans for convention ongoing

Cline also said plans are in motion for the party’s convention. He had previously revealed that the party was aiming to have the convention by the end of 2025 or during the first quarter of 2026.

The NDP and the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) announced their reunification under the NDP on March 26, 2025. 

“The planning is still in motion. We will soon be releasing the date of the convention,” he told our News Centre.