Opposition Britsh Virgin Islands Party Votes To Defer Elections

TORTOLA — While many in the community were expecting a new leader for the opposition Virgin Islands Party to be announced Wednesday evening, this was not so as the VIP Congress voted to defer the elections.

A news release from the VIP said with 76% of delegates in attendance, the Congress convened its sitting for the purpose of electing officers to the party whose posts were scheduled to become vacant in accordance with Article Seven, Sections 1 and 2 of the VIP Bylaws.

The vacant positions are Chairman; President; Vice President; Secretary; Assistant Secretary; Treasurer; Assistant Treasurer; Public Relations Officer and Assistant Public Relations Officer.

The release said further that shortly after the meeting was convened, a motion was made and seconded from the floor that in “In accordance with Article 25 of the Virgin Islands Party Constitution which is entitled WAIVER CLA– USE, the delegates of the 7th and 8th district committees move that the Election of officers to the Executive Committee as directed by Article 7, Section 8 of the VIP Constitution be deferred for a period of no less than 12 months and not to exceed 18 months or as directed by the National Congress of the Virgin Islands Party.”

The mover of the motion cited a number of reasons for taking the action and concluded that; “For the future and for the survival of the Virgin Islands Party, it is critical that they defer this election and address the many issues facing the Virgin Islands Party.”

The VIP release said after a rather healthy and passionate debate amongst delegates, over 80% of the members voted in favour of the motion and in so doing decided to stop, reflect, listen and assess the measures that would be required take the Virgin Islands Party forward in a positive measure.

Wednesday’s meeting was the first time the party met, following its crushing defeat at the Polls in the June 2015 General Elections. The National Democratic Party defeated the VIP 11-2.

Andrew Fahie

Julian Fraser, who is the Representative for the Third District and Chairman of the VIP and Representative for the First District, Andrew Fahie, were the only two VIP members elected to the House of Assembly.

Several of the party’s candidates opposed the appointment of Fraser as Opposition Leader, writing to Governor John Duncan with their concerns.

Fahie did not back Fraser for the post and similarly Fraser wouldn’t back Fahie as Opposition Leader, which in turn created a stalemate.

Governor Duncan eventually used his constitutional mandate and appointed Fraser as the Leader of the Opposition.

If the elections took place Wednesday evening, maybe the VIP would have stayed with Fraser as Chairman or someone new could have been elected.