National Democratic Party (NDP) Chairman and Opposition Leader Marlon Penn is remaining silent as questions mount over the stability of the party following the resignation of former Ninth District candidate Coy Levons and uncertainty surrounding Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn.
BVI Platinum News contacted Penn for a response to the recent developments, but the NDP leader said: “At this time, I have no comment on either matter.”
His silence comes as the party faces renewed scrutiny only months after internal elections that were expected to reunite and strengthen the organisation ahead of the next general election, constitutionally due by mid-July 2027.
Levons, who unsuccessfully contested the Ninth District for the NDP in 2023, recently resigned from the party, reportedly citing family responsibilities. He lost the 2023 contest to incumbent Ninth District Representative Vincent Wheatley by 78 votes.
Walwyn’s future with the NDP has also become the subject of growing speculation.
When contacted recently by BVI Platinum News about his position, Walwyn also declined to address the matter, stating: “No comment.”
Walwyn returned to the NDP earlier this year as part of an effort to reunify the party following years of division. However, he unsuccessfully challenged Second District Representative Melvin “Mitch” Turnbull for the deputy chairmanship during the party’s internal elections in April.
Turnbull secured 64 votes to Walwyn’s 57.
Penn won the chairmanship after defeating former Fourth District Representative Mark Vanterpool. However, the internal elections produced an immediate fallout, with Vanterpool leaving the NDP and later launching the People’s Leadership Movement (PLM).
Walwyn remained with the NDP but has kept a low profile on party affairs. His recent work throughout the Sixth District has carried no visible NDP branding, further fuelling questions about whether he intends to remain with the organisation.
Political commentator Claude Skelton Cline has been among those openly questioning the party’s direction and its chances at the polls under the current leadership.
He previously argued that the NDP would struggle to win the next election under Penn and suggested that the party should instead install At-Large Representative Ronnie Skelton as leader while bringing Walwyn and Vanterpool firmly back into the fold.
Referring to Penn’s victory in the internal elections, Skelton Cline declared: “You won the battle, and then you committed yourself simultaneously to losing the war.”
He has also accused the NDP of placing internal interests ahead of the wider Territory and claimed the party would rather lose the election than make the leadership changes he believes are necessary.
The NDP pushed back against similar criticism in July, declaring that its leadership election was settled and that the party remained confident in Penn, its team and its ability to govern.
“The National Democratic Party remains confident in its leader, its team, its vision and its ability to lead the Virgin Islands forward,” the party stated at the time.
The NDP said its members had exercised their constitutional right to elect Penn and a new executive, adding that the organisation would respect their decision.
It also warned against public exchanges that could deepen divisions and called on members, supporters, elected representatives and party officers to work collectively towards forming the next government.
BVI Platinum News contacted Penn for a response to the recent developments, but the NDP leader said: “At this time, I have no comment on either matter.”
His silence comes as the party faces renewed scrutiny only months after internal elections that were expected to reunite and strengthen the organisation ahead of the next general election, constitutionally due by mid-July 2027.
Levons, who unsuccessfully contested the Ninth District for the NDP in 2023, recently resigned from the party, reportedly citing family responsibilities. He lost the 2023 contest to incumbent Ninth District Representative Vincent Wheatley by 78 votes.
Walwyn’s future with the NDP has also become the subject of growing speculation.
When contacted recently by BVI Platinum News about his position, Walwyn also declined to address the matter, stating: “No comment.”
Walwyn returned to the NDP earlier this year as part of an effort to reunify the party following years of division. However, he unsuccessfully challenged Second District Representative Melvin “Mitch” Turnbull for the deputy chairmanship during the party’s internal elections in April.
Turnbull secured 64 votes to Walwyn’s 57.
Penn won the chairmanship after defeating former Fourth District Representative Mark Vanterpool. However, the internal elections produced an immediate fallout, with Vanterpool leaving the NDP and later launching the People’s Leadership Movement (PLM).
Walwyn remained with the NDP but has kept a low profile on party affairs. His recent work throughout the Sixth District has carried no visible NDP branding, further fuelling questions about whether he intends to remain with the organisation.
Political commentator Claude Skelton Cline has been among those openly questioning the party’s direction and its chances at the polls under the current leadership.
He previously argued that the NDP would struggle to win the next election under Penn and suggested that the party should instead install At-Large Representative Ronnie Skelton as leader while bringing Walwyn and Vanterpool firmly back into the fold.
Referring to Penn’s victory in the internal elections, Skelton Cline declared: “You won the battle, and then you committed yourself simultaneously to losing the war.”
He has also accused the NDP of placing internal interests ahead of the wider Territory and claimed the party would rather lose the election than make the leadership changes he believes are necessary.
The NDP pushed back against similar criticism in July, declaring that its leadership election was settled and that the party remained confident in Penn, its team and its ability to govern.
“The National Democratic Party remains confident in its leader, its team, its vision and its ability to lead the Virgin Islands forward,” the party stated at the time.
The NDP said its members had exercised their constitutional right to elect Penn and a new executive, adding that the organisation would respect their decision.
It also warned against public exchanges that could deepen divisions and called on members, supporters, elected representatives and party officers to work collectively towards forming the next government.
© 2026 BVI Platinum News. This article is original BVI Platinum content. Reproduction or republication without written permission is prohibited.
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