Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Zero merger! NDP & PVIM go separate ways!

Zero merger! NDP & PVIM go separate ways!

Despite Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) claiming yesterday, February 23, 2023, while appearing on the Morning Braff show on Tola Radio VI 100.5 FM with Floyd Burnett aka ‘Heritage’ that the negotiations between the National Democratic Party (NDP) and the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) were still ongoing, we found out today that this is not the case.

In fact, Chairman of PVIM Ronnie W. Skelton told reporters today, Friday, February 24, 2023, while at a press conference at Fish Bay on the main island of Tortola to announce a breakaway candidate, that the “merge will not happen.”

He also said if there are others who share PVIM’s values and wish to join the party they are welcome. Mr Skelton also announced that he will be running At-Large and that the people called him to run.

It is our newsroom’s understanding that the NDP is struggling to secure candidates to run and some who had earlier pledged to run with the group have since changed their minds and are now with the PVIM or have backed out.

Is Hon Penn NDP Chairman?

Hon Penn announced over the New Year holidays that he was the Chairman of the NDP; however, there was no internal vote. The serving Minister for Health with the Unity Government, Hon Penn, was the Deputy Chair under former Chairman Myron V. Walwyn.

Our news centre was the first to accurately report on January 18, 2023, that there were discussions to attempt to merge the two groups- NDP and PVIM.

It is believed that Mr Penn and his NDP have about 7 to 8 candidates so far.

What is clear is that the same four political parties that contested the 2019 general elections will be back, including the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) headed by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) and the Progressives United, an upstart party formed in 2018 and headed by Opposition Leader Hon Julian Fraser (R3).
Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) announced seven of its ratified candidates at a press conference today, February 24, 2023. From front left: Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2), Ronnie W. Skelton and Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL). From back left: Paul A. Hewlett, Stacey R. Mather, Shaina M. Smith-Archer and Sylvia Romney Moses.


NDP 1 & NDP 2

The PVIM is a breakaway wing from the NDP, after Mr Skelton was fired by former NDP Chairman and Premier Dr D. Orlando Smith in 2018.

Mr Skelton had contested the Chairmanship of the NDP on the retirement of Dr Smith but was beaten by Mr Walwyn. He then formed his own political party, PVIM, as many former NDP voters, supporters and members said they could not support Walwyn.

However, both Walwyn as Chairman of the NDP and Skelton as Chairman of the PVIM lost in the 2019 elections, while vying for At Large seats.


Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
×