Hon. Myron Walwyn, Hon. Melvin Turnbull, and Hon. Stacey Mather have announced the formation of a new alliance within His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.
The revelation came during an impromptu press conference on Thursday, signalling a potential shift in the opposition’s structure.
Despite the formation of this alliance, At-Large Representative Hon. Ronnie Skelton will maintain his role as Leader of the Opposition. Skelton assumed the position after securing the majority in His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition under his Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) party following the 2023 election. It has not yet been revealed whether he or other opposition members will be joining the alliance.
The Opposition has undergone significant changes since the last election. Initially composed of three political parties, it saw a reshuffling when Third District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser crossed the floor after the dismissal of former Deputy Premier Hon. Lorna Smith, OBE.
PVIM currently includes Second District Representative Hon. Melvin Turnbull and At-Large Representative and Deputy Speaker Hon. Stacey Mather. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Party (NDP) is represented by Eighth District Representative Hon. Marlon Penn as Leader and Sixth District Representative Hon. Myron Walwyn. It remains uncertain whether Hon. Smith is still affiliated with the NDP following her removal from the Dr. Natalio Wheatley-led administration.
The implications of this new alliance for the balance of power in the Opposition and its overall impact on governance in the British Virgin Islands remain to be seen.
More updates will follow as the story develops.