He will be coming up against the popular Virgin Islands Party (VIP) candidate Hon. Kye M. Rymer (R5) who is also the Deputy Premier and Minister for Communications and Works.

Mr. Blyden was a former Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee Chair under the controversial Culture Minister Myron V. Walwyn. It is alleged he had refused to continue as Chairman because Mr. Walwyn was trying to micromanage his duties.

This will bring to nine, the number of candidates with the PVIM, who has seemed to lose their momentum and it has been reported that they are having management issues with the 2023 campaign.

What is the strategy?

Many believe that with Mr. Blyden in the race, it could be a strategy to ensure voters in the Fifth Electoral District come out, and thus the strategy will help to garner votes for the At-Large candidates.

Mr Blyden could not be reached for comments up to publication time.

It is unclear when the campaign of Mr. Blyden; a former NDP who broke away and went with Ronnie W. Skelton’s PVIM in 2019, will be launched.

Mr. Blyden is the owner of Qwomar Trading Ltd and Pharmacy along with MB Ice. The incumbent Hon. Rymer is expected to win the D5 seat according to a majority of pollsters and political commentators.