V.I. Democratic Party Challenges Election Supervisor’s Stance on Primary Elections

The Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands says Election Supervisor Caroline Fawkes was incorrect in her opinion that a January ruling from the District Court of the Virgin Islands bars the Election System from holding party primaries in August.  Last Monday, Elections Supervisor Caroline Fawkes testified before the Senate Committee of the Whole that “no primary election can be conducted by the Office of the Supervisor unless the Legislature addresses the issue.” However on Saturday, during the quarterly meeting of the party’s Territorial Committee, an ad hoc committee presented a report on the issue which was discussed in executive session.  Ultimately, the committee voted to adopt the report's findings and recommendations, which stipulates that a letter will be sent to the Board of Elections and the 35th Legislature outlining the Democratic Party's position. According to Ashley Scotland, chair of the ad hoc committee, the party’s position is that the Election System of the Virgin I...