PVIM, NDP leaders rejected symbiotic merger, chose absorption

Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has revealed that political leaders of the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) and the National Democratic Party (NDP), Ronnie Skelton and Marlon Penn, rejected a proposal for a structured merger between the two parties in favor of one simply absorbing the other.

Speaking in an interview with 284media last week, Walwyn explained that integrating both parties in a way that respected their individual constitutions would have prevented internal discord. However, he suggested that Penn and Skelton were uninterested in that approach.

“To subsume NDP into PVIM or PVIM into NDP—we did not believe was the best thing because we would have bad blood. We would have issues of trust,” Walwyn argued. “We were saying, let’s blend the parties so that we have a level playing field, a fair platform where everyone can walk away with their dignity intact. We could work together, review both constitutions, build something that works, and then contest the general elections—whoever wins, wins.”

“To me, that was a very plausible approach. But it was not accepted at that meeting,” Walwyn stated.

He said the meeting ended with an agreement to reconvene at a later date. However, during a subsequent discussion, Penn and Skelton maintained their position that one party should absorb the other. They promised to provide an update in April.

While awaiting further discussions, Walwyn’s political allies, Stacy Mather and Melvin “Mitch” Turnbull, decided to address concerns about the leadership of the Opposition. This led to Walwyn being installed as the new Opposition Leader, replacing Skelton.

“We see the leadership of the Opposition and the merger as two separate and distinct issues because we had concerns about the effectiveness of the Opposition,” Walwyn explained. “We believed there was a major fumble with the vote of no confidence.”

He emphasized that their move to change the Opposition Leader was unrelated to the merger discussions.

“We left that meeting expecting an update in April, but lo and behold, I was sworn in as Opposition Leader on Monday, and by Wednesday, I heard that PVIM was being subsumed into NDP. I must say, I was extremely troubled by it. I felt betrayed. It felt like a repeat of 2018, and it was done to exclude us,” Walwyn added.

Skelton and Penn have since claimed they were blindsided by Walwyn’s appointment, with Skelton stating he was never officially notified of his removal.

However, Mather, a PVIM member, said he had a lengthy one-on-one discussion with Skelton beforehand, during which he expressed dissatisfaction with Skelton’s leadership as head of the Opposition.

Within 24 hours of Skelton’s removal, Penn and Skelton merged PVIM into the NDP.