Update: The Final Countdown!

[gallery]The British Virgin Islands (BVI) is ten days away from General Elections 2019, and for the candidates that have been on the campaign trail, it is the final countdown following Nomination Day, today, February 14.

Candidates across the districts underwent the nomination process today with two nominators and one witness, each placing their names up for consideration by the nation.

The process was over within minutes in the various districts, unlike at the House of Assembly (HoA), where the District Four and Territorial At-Large candidates were all lined up to officially join the election race.

BVI Platinum News caught up with the candidates as they left the House, following their nomination, to find out how they intend to utilize the next ten days, which are very crucial at this stage of the election period.

New Parties

Honourable Ronnie Skelton was a founding member of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and throughout his political past, ran with them. However, this election season, he has formed his own party—the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM)—which is contesting with nine candidates.

Speaking to this publication moments after his nomination, he said, “From here, we’re officially nominated, so we’re officially candidates for election 2019. From here, for the next ten days, there will be a real sprint to the finish line.”

At this point, campaigning and spreading the word of the PVIM’s plan for the territory is his main focus.

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(PLTM) - “We intend to get our message out to ensure the people understand that we’re the perfect alternative for the management of the country,” he stated.

Lesmore Smith is contesting as an At-Large candidate on the PVIM ticket, and is new to the political race. However, following his nomination, he said, “I am feeling great. It’s a great feeling to be here and be in this election.”

Despite the challenges that it brings to him as a newbie to the election race, he expressed his optimism, saying, “I am looking forward for 25th to be successful, as I am hoping to be. It’s not easy travelling from Anegada to Jost Van Dyke knowing that I am territorial, but it’s the choice you make and the task will have to go with the choice.” His fellow At-Large candidate, Ms. Shaina Smith is no political novice, as she has contested in the past. However, she said it is still exciting to contest with the PVIM, which can be considered an infant party, compared to the others which have been in existence for decades.

“I am looking forward in the next ten days to continue to speak to persons about their concerns and their ideas in terms of what we want to see for our country,” she stated.

Progressives United (PU) also had four nominees on the scene today.

Dr. Vincent Scatliffe is running for the District Four seat, a post he has held in the past. The At-Large candidates, Dirk Walters, Rajah Smith and Verna Smith all expressed their enthusiasm in contesting this year’s election.

“Well, I am very busy campaigning and it’s been going extremely great. I am going to be very, very busy in the next ten days,” Verna Smith stated. Meanwhile, Mr. Walters said, “I am going step it up to another level and continue going hard. The response has been tremendous.”

Over on the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) side, the entire team showed up at Road Town in support of each other following nominations.

As he rallied support for the party, Chairman of the VIP, Hon. Andrew Fahie said, “We thank God we are able to reach this far…the VIP’s message will be the same, we just intend to intensify. It’s just going to be more campaigning.”

Meanwhile, At-Large candidate Shereen Flax-Charles shared that she will be burning the midnight oil.

“We’re going to be working 24/7 around the clock for the next ten days, getting out with the public as much as possible. Just making sure that they are in tune with what is happening and letting them know what our mandate is moving forward as the next government of the British Virgin Islands,” she divulged.

Her partner on the At-Large slate, Mr. Carvin Malone also spoke to BVI Platinum News and said, “I am pleased that when history is written, whether it is 20, 30, 40 years from now, I can proudly say that I actually started the process into reform.”

For him, “It will be a renewed effort because campaigns are won or lost in the last 10 or 14 days, and we have to make sure that we keep the pressure up and get the message out.”

The new candidates on the National Democratic Party’s (NDP) At-Large slate, Henry Creque, Sandy Underhill and Trefor Grant all said they have been pleased with the response on the campaign trail thus far.

According to Creque, “I really enjoyed it. Over the next ten days, I’m just looking forward to finishing strong and on election day to bring home the victory.”

Mrs. Underhill added, “We are going to continue to hit the ground hard. Campaigns are won on the ground, great speeches are excellent, but they are won on the ground, meeting the people, interacting with them, getting to know them.”

The “tourism guru” among them, Mr. Grant indicated that voters should expect to see more of him in the coming days.

“You would expect to see more of me just hammering out my platform points.”

Meanwhile, their leader and Chairman of the NDP, Hon. Myron Walwyn said, “It has been a very interesting journey for my team and I. It has been an interesting campaign. We are going to continue to ramp up our efforts.”

He confidently closed with, “Our campaign is a very strong, issue-oriented campaign. We’re going to continue with that because we believe we have the best plans.”

Previous Article: Nominations Underway!

Nomination day is underway in the various districts across the BVI.

Candidates were lined up from as early as 9:30 am this morning, February 14, at the House of Assembly (HoA) in Road Town, where nominations for the District Four and Territorial At-Large candidates are ongoing.

So far, the District Four candidates for all parties have formally had their names nominated for election.

A number of the At-Large candidates have also officially joined the race, sealing their bid for a seat with their nomination.

Over on Virgin Gorda, the process is also underway.

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