Caribbean News
No Election Winners, a full day following hotly contested British Virgin Islands General Elections
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#BVI, April 26, 2023 – There were no victory speeches or rallies. No party thanking voters for their invaluable support. No whisperings about who will form the next Cabinet of the new government administration… just silence as voters, residents and those watching the general elections of the British Virgin Islands, BVI waited to learn who would be the next democratic leader of the country.
BVI Politicians are now meeting to hammer out possible coalitions following Monday’s general election results
Premier and leader of the incumbent Virgin Islands Party(VIP) Natalio Wheatly held onto his seat in District 7, but to secure another ruling term he will have to either join up with one of the opposing parties or convince at least one person to cross the floor to the VIP.
Latest reports were the four parties which ran in the April 24 general election are working to determine who will comprise a coalition government in the British overseas territory.
Polls closed at 6 p.m. Monday after a 12 hour voting period and the results were in before 11 p.m.
Of the 13 available seats, the VIP held on to six including that of Premier Wheatly who only just scraped by with a 120 vote lead on his competitor, however it is one less seat than they need for a ruling majority.
The National Democratic Party (NDP) grabbed three constituencies, as did the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM). The Progressives United (PU) claimed one seat.
Interestingly, the VIP also held on to the seat which was once held by Former Premier Andrew Fahie, who is now awaiting trial on drug charges and money laundering in the US after a shocking arrest in 2022.