Turnbull questions PVIM dissolution

Second District Representative Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull (left) and former PVIM leader Ronnie Skelton.

Second District Representative Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull said he was unaware of any official procedure to dissolve the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) before news broke of its merger with the National Democratic Party (NDP).

During a recent interview, Turnbull, a founding member and part of PVIM’s executive, raised concerns that proper internal steps were not followed before the announcement.

“I wasn’t aware of it, and I think we have to be a little bit more careful with what and how we say things,” Turnbull stated.

He explained that the PVIM executive had agreed on a three-step process to explore a merger with the NDP. This included meetings with NDP leader Marlon Penn and discussions among all five opposition members. But these steps were not completed.

“The last meeting that we had… [it] had a timeline that would have ended on February 17th with a plan to have a final meeting on the 24th of February,” he explained. “It didn’t happen in that way.”

Turnbull said the PVIM executive had agreed that both parties would dissolve and form a new political entity. “That was clear in two meetings that I shared in,” he asserted.

Instead, Turnbull claimed, PVIM leader Ronnie Skelton acted unilaterally. “I don’t know if one person as the chairman can dissolve the PVIM according to the constitution that I signed my name to, I know that’s not the case,” he added.

Skelton confirmed the PVIM-NDP union in an earlier press conference but gave limited details on the internal approval process. This announcement surprised members of his own party, including Turnbull and fellow PVIM member Stacy Mather.

Turnbull said both he and Mather had not resigned from the PVIM and remained committed to their responsibilities as elected officials.

“My personal and professional responsibility… is to the House of Assembly and the general population,” Mather said. “That is my first and foremost responsibility… I do not walk into the House of Assembly thinking about party politics.”

Turnbull also rejected claims of betrayal within the party. “It can’t be betrayal when I would have expressed… that I am preparing myself… for leadership,” he argued. “We are making decisions as leaders.”

He stressed the importance of unity and transparency, saying the new opposition alliance—formed by Turnbull, Mather, and Myron Walwyn—will continue to push for better representation.

“We understand that there is strength in unity, that we are indeed stronger together,” Turnbull stated.