The statement comes in the wake of concerns raised by Mitsy Ellis-Simpson, a prospective candidate at the party’s congress, who charged, after being unsuccessful in her candidacy, that the selection process for candidates, in her opinion, was unfair.

“The [party] wishes to affirm that its recent congressional meeting, which included the election of its final At-Large candidate, was conducted with the utmost professionalism and in adherence to the party’s constitution,” the VIP said in a statement released yesterday.

The statement added that the party takes its obligations seriously and has always maintained a high standard of integrity and fairness in its processes.

According to the statement, Ellis-Simpson did not register any dissatisfaction with the process after the conclusion of the congressional meeting. “In fact, she congratulated her opponent and did not indicate any concerns to the executive body of the party,” the VIP statement noted.

“We wish Mrs Ellis-Simpson the best of luck in her independent candidacy,“ VIP President Sharia de Castro said. “The VIP remains committed to working towards a brighter future for these Virgin Islands and we are moving forward together.“

The party said it remained committed to promoting good governance, unity, and strength in preparation for the upcoming 2023 general elections and said it was dedicated to conducting all its affairs transparently and in accordance with its constitution.