ROADTOWN Tortola, BVI, April 26th 2011 - Sources inside the new party had told this news site last month that after months of meetings (sometimes weekly), debates, recruitment, and discussions with individuals, advisors and voters, that a group of persons were getting closer to forming a new political party, called the People’s Patriotic Alliance (PPA).
However, many of the same sources are now reporting to VINO that the new party is on the verge of collapse. They last met a few days in March after two online news sites, including VINO, broke the story of the new group. At that meeting, some members expressed dissatisfaction that their activities were in the media prematurely and therefore the issue of trust became a factor. This has caused some potential members to walk away from the group, according to VINO’s sources.
There was also a quiet dissatisfaction over the leadership, as it was alleged that former acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works John Samuel was elected to lead the new political party. This selection apparently was not selling and caused one proponent meeting attendee who may have been considering running in the fifth district, to stop attending meetings and withdrew support from the group, according to information reaching VINO.
VINO has been informed that Mr. Samuel is now telling close friends, family and party members that he will not be contesting the 2011 elections.
Calls by VINO to Mr. Samuel, who has retired from the public service and is now full time with his businesses, were not returned. According to reports from VINO’s sources, if Mr. Samuel had decided to run, he may have contested as an At-Large candidate.
Status of other potential candidates.
Another name that was linked to the new group, the PPA, is that of businessman Collin Scatiffe, who is also the Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission and the Virgin Islands Festival & Fairs Committee. Mr. Scatiffe confirmed to VINO on Monday March 14, 2011 via a telephone conversation that he will be “running in the fourth electoral district”, but declined to comment then about his affiliation with the new group, and referred all questions then to Mr. Samuel.
Mr. Scatiffe confirmed to VINO recently that he is still a candidate and will be challenging the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) incumbent, Dr. the Honourable Vincent Scatiffe, who is his cousin and National Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Mark Vanterpool.
Mr. Scatiffe who has not been relieved of his post as Chairman of the two organisations will run as an independent following the alleged collapse of the PPA.
Last month, VINO was also informed that another possible candidate was newspaper owner and publisher, Elton Callwood. VINO, in keeping with its high standards of investigation, contacted Mr. Callwood yesterday about the group’s status.
Mr. Callwood said he had “no comments” and requested that VINO does not use his name in this article. VINO’s sources inside the group told us that after the PPA’s recent meetings in March that Mr. Callwood was reviewing his options with family and friends as to whether to contest the 2011 elections as an Independent At-Large candidate or in the first district where he is from. If he decides to consider (which VINO believes he will not) the first district, it will put him up against the political giant Honourable Andrew A. Fahie who is also the Minister for Education and Culture.
In the end, VINO predicts from its own research that the news paper mogul Mr. Callwood will not be a candidate in the upcoming general elections.
According to VINO’s sources, long-time community activist and former President of the Virgin Islands Civil Service Association, Shaina Smith, was another name associated with the group. Last week Ms. Smith in a press release announced her resignation as President of the VICSA. The press release stated that “as of Friday, 15 April, 2011, Ms. Smith’s resignation from the Service was final as she moves on to further her professional career as a management consultant”.
VINO was the first to report last month that she had tendered her resignation from the Civil Service, where she was attached to the Ministry of Finance.
Her political status at this time is unknown as she could not be reached for comments.
VINO was also reliably informed that two residents from Virgin Gorda had been invited to interest meetings of the group which is now facing challenges in getting off the ground.
Elton Sprauve and Franka Pickering, both entrepreneurs who attended meetings in the early formation of the group did not make any commitments. They have not attended any of the most recent meetings after the story broke last month according to VINO’s sources inside the group.
HL Stoutt College lecturer, Natalio Wheatley, aka Sowande Uhuru, was another person attending meetings of the group which he has confirmed to VINO. In a telephone interview with VINO yesterday, Mr. Wheatley requested that “VINO hold off on this story as an announcement could be made soon”, however he indicated that he will be running as an At-large candidate for the 2011 elections. Wheatley could not confirm, if he will be with the PPA or as an Independent, but told VINO that by June he will have “something to say”.
In addition, nationalist, activist, businessman and talk show host, Cromwell Smith was another name associated with the new group. However, it’s still unclear whether he will be a candidate.
If this group does not emerge as a new party, then it will leave only five announced political parties battling to take control of the 13 seat House of Assembly and the Administration Complex to make up the Executive Branch (Cabinet).
The five political parties are the ruling Virgin Islands Party of Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, the United Party of Conrad Maduro, the People’s Party of L. Allen Wheatley, the Independent People’s Movement of Richard Courtney de Castro and the Opposition National Democratic Party of Dr. D. Orlando Smith.
A long list of independent candidates has also indicated their intention to contest the 2011 elections.
VINO will stay on top of this story and will be the place for your full 2011 election coverage.
Article taken from Virgin Islands News Online
*************************
DISCLAIMER
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers.
British Virgin Islands News