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by pltm
(PLTM) - Hon. Archibald Christian entered today's sitting of the House of Assembly and sat in his usual position - in the back bench of the governing National Democratic Party (NDP).
Before the sitting, Hon. Christian, who resigned from the NDP on Tuesday, confirmed with BVI Platinum News that he is with the new political party, the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM), said to be led by Hon. Ronnie Skelton, Minister of Health and Social Development.
Interestingly, Hon. Christian, who is a founding member of the NDP, said that he intends to stay on to serve as Junior Minister of Tourism under the NDP Government.
The At Large Representative was among two other members that resigned this past week.
"I am with Mr. Skelton," he told BVI Platinum News today, November 15, as he prepared to enter the House of Assembly. Hon. Christian also confirmed the name of the new party.
"I'll still be on the Government side until…something would have to cause me to move to the other side...I'll remain a Government member until I retire from Government," he said.
"No", he responded, when asked if he plans to give up the position as Junior Minister.
Many political observers believe that this is not morally right and that the members who are leaving the NDP should leave the party in its entirety, and not hold on to their Government seats.
BVI Platinum News understands that Hon. Skelton's resignation is imminent.
It is now left to be seen if Premier Hon. Dr. D. Orlando Smith will ask the Governor to strip Hon. Christian of the Junior Ministerial post.
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