The NDP under Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) was unable to get a full slate of candidates for the general elections and has been trying to win over independent candidates.

Speaking at a rally in the Seventh District last evening, April 17, 2023, NDP At Large Candidate David Allen O’Neal encouraged supporters to throw their support behind Scatliffe-Leonard, noting that the team’s mission is to vote out the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) and its current District Representative, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley.

'Vote out the accidental Premier'- D. Allen O'Neal

Mr O'Neal has labeled Dr Wheatley as an 'accidental premier' on the campaign trail, a move that was criticised by many as childish.

“I want to encourage you that when you go to the poll that you vote out the ‘accidental Premier’ and you install Perline Scatliffe- Leonard as your District Representative…If we don’t vote NDP all the way and with Perline Scatliffe- Leonard and it’s the only way that you’re gonna effect a perfect change and a direction of where the BVI is going to go in the future. It’s endemic on us,” he said, adding that the NDP is not promising ‘pie in the sky’ but realisable solutions to move the BVI forward.

Mr O’Neal also encouraged supporters to vote for the rest of the NDP At Large team who are contesting in the District, including Renard V. Estridge, Lorna G. Smith, Dr Kedrick D. Pickering and himself.

Anti-VIP Government talk-show co-host Damian Percival, who chaired the rally, also threw his support behind Scatliffe- Leonard, who is often criticised for underperformance at W&SD.

“I support Perline. I have spent many years going Water and Sewer, people used to think I work there. I know what Perline went through…She was under a Ministry that took all her powers. They sent her home and then when they realised they couldn’t handle it they tried bringing her back. But they took all the resources from her. All the projects were done in the Ministry…Why she ain’t telling the people them the truth?” he said.

'We simply must get the VIP out' of D7- Estridge

Meanwhile, Estridge who slammed the VIP in his speech also encouraged supporters to throw their support behind Scatliffe-Leonard and the rest of the contesting team.

“We also need you to vote in this District, for Miss Perline Scatliffe- Leonard. We cannot afford for our Seventh District to be represented by the VIP. We simply must get the VIP out of the Seventh District, vote for Perline. When you have Perline who is from this District, Perline who is from this District and Dr Pickering who is from this District, District Seven will never ever be underrepresented. You will have the best representation that this territory could have,” he noted.

It is unclear if Scatliffe-Leonard attended the rally.