Posted By reuben.stoby On August 9, 2011 (1:27 pm) In Local Politics, News
ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, August 11th, 2011 - However, VINO was able to ascertain through its sources inside the ruling Virgin Islands Party (VIP) of Premier Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, that this is not so. Two sources confirmed to VINO that “this will not be the last sitting therefore the House of Assembly will not be dissolved this week” paving the way for a date to be set for general elections.
Many persons, mainly from the four other opposition parties, are eager for the general elections to be called. Out of five political parities contesting the 2011 elections, which must be help by November, only two parties have launched and began campaigning.
They are the National Democratic Party (NDP) of Dr. the Honorable D. Orlando Smith and the People’s Patriotic Alliance (PPA), where a leader has not been named, however, Shaina Smith has been coordinating the group’s activities.
Inside the HOA. Photo: GIS
The other two parties, the United Party (UP) of Conrad Marduro and the Party of the People (POP) of L. Allen Wheatley, have not launched but is in campaign mode, giving radio speeches and interviews on policy matters.
The incumbent VIP has not started to campaign and have insisted that they will not be forced into “a premature campaign season as our duty is to govern and execute the mandate” that they were given, one Minister told VINO.
Meanwhile, Deputy Premier and Minister for Heath and Social Development and representative for the 8th district Honorable Dancia Penn QC told VINO recently that she was ready and was looking forward to the campaign.
She is going up against the NDP rookie Marlon Penn and independent candidate Nolan ‘Dicky’ Davis a founding member of the NDP.
While the HOA will not be dissolved at its next sitting this Thursday, it is unclear how many more meetings will be convened before the dissolving of the legislative body paving the way for a date for the next general election.
Thursday’s sitting is filled with questions from the Leader of the Opposition and some Motions and Bills to be laid on the table.
With five political parties contesting the elections, VIP, PPA, UP, POP, and the NDP along with a long list of independent candidates, it is too early for any political scientist or pollsters to call the elections or predict what the new HOA will look like.
VINO will be the online news site for your full elections coverage.
Article taken from Virgin Islands News Online - http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com
URL to article: http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/news/thursday%e2%80%99s-sitting-of-the-hoa-is-not-the-last
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