“For all those who know this is the talking season and you don’t know who and what will be talking and who will be going where over the next few months, I want to say as the Member for the Fourth District I will continue to fight for my people right up to the last and who knows when?” Hon Vanterpool remarked during the Ribbon Cutting and Dedication Ceremony for the newly remodelled Road Town Market Square on February 13, 2023.

Clarification was immediately sought from the veteran legislator, who confirmed that he was not contesting the upcoming elections.

‘I’m a statesman now’- Hon Vanterpool

“I state very clearly, I am a statesman now. I am not throwing my support anywhere else but I am not getting involved in the whole political arena right now. I am supporting I think whoever will the best team to carry forward the mantle of the country,” the prominent businessman and legislator responded to a question from a JTV reporter.

Hon Vanterpool also said he is still a member of the National Democratic Party (NDP), even though he does not attend meetings, and that he will retain that membership until the House is dissolved.

Asked which party he will be throwing his support behind during the election season, Hon Vanterpool said it may not necessarily be one party.

“The unity government did a good job I think, holding it together for the last year, which I was a part of, and I want to see us start thinking more especially in the short term, of getting the country moving forward without the battles between parties and so on and hope that can work out.

He continued, “And so I hope that I am not too much thrust into the political arena in any way at all. I just want to go quietly out and enjoy my life with my grandchildren and in my business.”

Hon Vanterpool reiterated that he also wanted to make way for younger persons to step forward for political leadership.