(L-R) Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6), Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2), Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), were each informed by Hon Stacy R. Mather that he was making a public announcement on December 23, 2025. Photo: Internet Source

Hon Marlon A. Penn was the only member of the Opposition who was not informed by Hon Stacy R. Mather ahead of his December 23, 2025, announcement to join the Virgin Islands Party government. Photo: Internet Source

Hon Stacy R. Mather (AL) said three out of four Opposition members knew of his frustrations about getting things done while in opposition. Photo: YouTube

In a December 2025 interview with JTV Channel 55, Hon Mather clarified that his colleagues on the Opposition, namely Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6), Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) and Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), had known about his frustrations for a long time, especially when it comes to getting things done for the Virgin Islands (VI) and the people while in Opposition. 

Just days before that interview, on December 23, 2025, Hon Mather announced his decision to leave the Opposition and join the government, a move he said was rooted in his desire to serve and help in the development of the VI and Virgin Islanders. 

They were informed 

"The weeks leading up to my considering this more seriously, I did have conversations around my frustrations with Hon Turnbull.”

He said he also spoke to Hon Walwyn “to some extent” but not to the point of saying that he was crossing the floor.

“On the day I was going to make my announcement…I called three of my colleagues on the Opposition. I called Honourable Turnbull, and I had a conversation with him, I called Honourable Skelton, and I had a conversation with him, and I called Honourable Walwyn, and I had a conversation with him…but they were informed that I was making an announcement.”

Hon Penn wasn’t in the loop

He also confirmed that at no point leading up to the announcement did he speak with Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), though they were colleagues on the Opposition. 

“When it comes to my conversations while in the House of Assembly, most of my conversations have been between Honourable Skelton, Honourable Turnbull and Honourable Walwyn on that side. When it comes to anything that deals with the district or those kinds of things, that's when I have conversations with Hon Penn. When it comes to matters in the House, we have conversations; for that, I chose not to reach out for that.”

Hon Mather is working closely with Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) on the Registration, Apprenticeship, Training, Employment, and Development (RATED) programme, initiatives in agriculture and fisheries, and the development of community programmes aimed at empowering community-based organisations to execute initiatives for the upliftment of the citizens and residents of the community.