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by pltm
(PLTM) - Over the last several months, the political season has been intense, and now that the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is days away from General Elections 2019, campaigning efforts are expected to double.
The BVI is known for a peaceful electoral process, however, this year, some candidates are concerned about what they say is a noticeable change in the culture of politics here in the territory.
First time candidate, Mrs. Sandy Harrigan-Underhill is contesting as a Territorial At-Large candidate on the National Democratic Party (NDP) slate, and even as a political novice, the educator is unhappy with the state of the campaigns.
Speaking to BVI Platinum News yesterday, February 14, she said, “I just wish we were running a cleaner campaign, some of us, running it on the issues…Who are better positioned to execute those or implement policies that can move this country forward,” she stated.
The former Principal of the Elmore Stoutt High School lamented, “Right now, one of my greatest concern is where we are at in terms of the negativity and the divisiveness.”
She is worried that the behavior displayed during the political season may have a lasting impact on the community.
“We are too small of a community and it worries me that we are not going to be able to get over this. After elections, regardless of who wins or loses, we must be able to move forward. Right now, we are hurting our people with the divisive nature of this election campaign,” she stressed.
These concerns were shared by her fellow NDP At-Large candidate, Mr. Trefor Grant, who said that he is looking to remain focused and not have the negative aspects of the race distract him.
“If there is one thing I do, is I stay very focused. I don’t get distracted by all the nasty memes and the distraction that’s coming from other parties,” he iterated. However, he noted, “It’s unfortunate however, because that’s not what the people want to hear about. The people deserve a lot better and there should be a general respect for each other.”
In giving his assessment of the political season so far, their NDP Chairman, Hon. Myron Walwyn said that he has observed a shift in the political culture in the BVI, saying, “It has been an interesting campaign; it has been a very different campaign.”
Expounding on these sentiments, he said, “We are generally very conservative people here in the territory, not just in politics, but in every respect. I am seeing a change in the culture of the politics that I have spoken about. It just seems to be not of us.”
“There seems to be an invasion of sorts from somewhere else and we live in a very small community where we live as family, even as political rivals, where one person might need the next,” Hon. Walwyn stated.
Several days ago, Hon. Walwyn, while denouncing ‘political mudslinging’, had said that the VIP’s focus is to run a dirty campaign with no real economic plan on how to take the territory forward.
However, in responding to these accusations, Chairman of the VIP, Hon. Andrew Fahie said that while he acknowledges that his side is not completely innocent, the NDP has also been engaging in such acts.
“I am amazed. I am going to say this, and you could quote me directly. The NDP has been publicly stating that they are concerned about mudslinging and bashing, but every time I listen to them, they’re the ones doing the most bashing, and they continue to do so,” he stated.
He also alleged that during their home-to-home campaign visits, some parties are using untruthful statements to bash his VIP candidates.
He further related, “I am not saying that it does not exist on our side, but the ones that are crying out the most are the ones who are doing it the worst, because they always want people to be side-barred from the main thing.”
