NDP taking steps to remove Hon Lorna G. Smith from party
Hon Penn was at the time speaking during an Opposition press conference today, April 27, 2023, alongside leaders and elected members of the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) and Progressives United (PU).
On April 25, 2023, Hon Smith released a statement that she had teamed up with the Virgin Islands Party to give it a 7-seat majority to form a new government; however, will still remain a member of the NDP.
During the 2023 elections, the VIP won six seats in the House but needed a seventh seat in order to form the government. The NDP and the PVIM had 3 seats each and were planning to form the Government with Progressives United's (PU), 1 seat, in the person of Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3).
Hon Lorna G. Smith to be removed from NDP
In indicating that Hon Smith had blindsided the Opposition and the NDP, Hon Penn said Hon Smith’s alliance with the VIP, under the name of the NDP, is not a policy of the party and that moving forward steps will be taken to remove her from the organisation.
“Her alliance in the name of the party is not representative of the party. The party brass met last evening and we made a decision that we are going to move forward to have her removed as a member of the party.
“So she does not represent a coalition with the National Democratic Party and the Virgin Islands Party and I want to make that clear to the public,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hon Penn said he too had the opportunity to defect to form a Government under Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley, having received calls from some 7-members of the VIP, but he stood on principles to stay in his organisation based on what they campaigned on.
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117 Responses to “NDP taking steps to remove Hon Lorna G. Smith from party”
She is a traitor and should be removed from the party. There is no way around this. If NDP fails to deal with this and remove her they will continue to look like weak, used fools.
“Her alliance in the name of the party is not representative of the party. The party brass met last evening and we made a decision that we are going to move forward to have her removed as a member of the party.
“So she does not represent a coalition with the National Democratic Party and the Virgin Islands Party and I want to make that clear to the public.”
These are the exact words of Marlon Penn who joined the VIP Government a few months ago to form a Unity Government because he said he did it to save the country because the UK did not want a VIP Government in power any longer. Yet a day after the elections the same UK through their Governor on the ground sworn in a VIP Government with 6 VIP elected members and an alliance with Lorna (NDP). Marlon is challenged with the truth and needs to stop pi&$ing on us and trying to fool us it is rain. It is okay when he did it but an unforgivable sin when others around him does it. I had enough of this guy.
Marlon joined an alliance to prevent a UK take over. Pay attention. That is very different from deceiving voters, using people for your own personal agenda and stabbing allies in the back to gain power. The woman is a traitor. You are just slow and disconnected.
The truth is the NDP did not have the numbers to form the government on their own. They needed to work with the other 2 parties to do that. Based on media reports and words on the street, those 3 parties could not see eye to eye before the election, and probably could not agree on much after.
Somebody had to move to the another side, and she did. While it may have been self serving on her part, I think it was a smart move. Considering her age, and the possibility of her ending up on the back benches after having gotten the 2nd largest vote, I can understand her decision despite it angers and disappoints some.
Bottom line for me is this: Unless the NDP and the other team members had a plan that she was aware of and blew up, then I cannot fault her. Even so, if they had an agreement, and she did not agree to it, that's even worse.
The country needed to form a government, and she decided to form the coalition with the VIP.
To remove her from the NDP ranks indicates to me that the NDP is not willing to work with the VIP to get a government formed knowing that the governor would have had to step it and appoint someone, and to me that's unfortunate.
You mentioned she jumped ship while the negotiations were still in motion. Question: Did those negotiations involved her? Seems to me something is missing here about these negotiations. Who was negotiating with who?
Who were involved in these negotiations? What was the nature of these negotiations? Was she involved in these negotiations at any point, agreed to partake in those discussions, agreed to abide by them, and then pulled the plug? Please opine.
Well, this is thing to tell the King!!! How come Marlon could not call party meetings for the past 4 years to build the party and vote for the new leader while getting ready for the 2023 General Elections? However, he called a quick party meeting to get rid of Lorna. This guy is a disgrace.
You obviously are a VIP supporter. So this is all honky dory for you.
Right now, everyone looking someone to blame except themselves.
The Liberator was not budging, neither you or Skelton would moved.
You have been demoted to member of the opposition.
She said in an interview that nobody called her.... several hours after the 8:00am target for negotiations to resume on Tuesday. As far as I know, NDP did not issue a statement to dispute what she said.
So assuming she was truthful (and I believe she was), then she had good reason to do what she did. It indicates she was not taken seriously. But I don't think she should have said she was still with the NDP after she crossed.
There is no loyalty to her team… how can we the people trust you?
If I could take back my vote I would have … this is not transparency
CART YOU RAM!
CART YOU RAM!
Learn and move on.
If you want a strong team call Daniel !
The party managers see it was highly possible for someone to cross the floor and form the government. I would have done the same. Kudos to Hon. Smith. Make the country what it ought to be.
Who to Blame???
NDP could not obtain 7 seats
PVIM could not secure the 7 seats
All the slick chat, they could not convince someone from VIP to join the righteous party.....i personally forgot that same group between 2011 & 2019 gone with pier park money: aeroplane money: sewage money: brandy wine bay beach
So am I! Now is not the time to dwell on the past. Lorna acted in self interest, and we must accept this, and move on!
I told you years ago, when the tumult and the noise died down, you would be the leader of the NDP, in the similar manner, I told Andrew Fahie. And he too, became the leader of the VIP, albeit short-lived!
And here you are. DO NOT dwell on the " accidental leadership" of Sowande, ever again !
What I want from you is to use this four years to galvanize seven persons that can take back the leadership from the VIP!
You have TWO YEARS to form a team, to have discussions, so that in 2025, we can BEGIN TO SEE and hear of a committed group for 2027!!
Please, Honorable Penn, BEGIN NOW, TO START TO TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK!
IF you lose again, in 2027, you would have no one to blame, but yourself!