Dear Editor,
Two days after the UK general elections, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), a UK overseas dependent territory announced its general elections carded for June 8. The BVI elections will be important to more than 2000 Guyanese who live and work in that territory.
The incumbent National Democratic Party (NDP) led by Dr Orlando Smith disclosed that it will field the entire slate of 13 candidates while the main opposition party, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) under a new leader, Julian Frazer, has also announced that 13 candidates will vie for seats. However, a few well-known names like Dancia Benn, former attorney general and former deputy governor, Omar Hodge, a former minister, and Vernon Malone, former lawmaker and retired police commissioner, are not on the list.
What is more significant is Ralph O Neal, who served as chief minister for two terms is not a candidate. He announced his retirement last year when Frazer was named the new leader of the VIP. O’Neal has been a lawmaker for 40 years and served the sister island of
Virgin Gorda extremely well.
There were rumours that outgoing Premier, Dr Orlando Smith will bow out also, but he is very much in the race, and is heading his party’s list.
A new party is also in contention − the People’s Empowerment Party (PEP) led by former minister, Alvin Christopher, but reports state that this new movement will not make much if an impact on the electorate.
Yours faithfully,
Oscar Ramjeet
