Vanterpool raised several concerns with NDP before internal election

in All News / By: BVI News on April 23, 2026 at 6:45 AM /

Vanterpool

A leaked letter seen by BVI News has revealed that former legislator Mark Vanterpool raised concerns about the National Democratic Party’s (NDP) internal election process days before the party’s April 18 internal election.

Vanterpool, who went on to lose the chairmanship race to now-party leader Marlon Penn, wrote to interim chairman John Cline questioning how delegates were selected in key districts.

The letter shows that Vanterpool was asking whether the proper meetings were held and whether the right people were chosen to vote. He pointed specifically to Districts 1 and 5, suggesting there may not have been proper district meetings to decide who should represent those areas at the convention.

He also raised concerns about fairness, including whether some individuals were representing districts they were not properly connected to, and whether the party’s constitution was being followed as intended.

Vanterpool warned that if members felt the process was not fair, it could hurt unity within the party. He even suggested delaying the finalisation of delegate lists to allow more time for proper meetings and broader participation.

BVI News understands that Vanterpool did not receive an official reply to date.

The leaked letter adds fresh context to ongoing questions about internal tensions within the NDP as it seeks to regroup ahead of the next general election.

Notably, Vanterpool has not publicly commented on the matter since the convention. His silence has raised eyebrows, particularly after he removed NDP branding from his vehicle shortly after the vote. The vehicle had been wrapped in party colours in the lead-up to the convention, signalling his strong bid for leadership.

That sudden shift — from highly visible support to quiet removal — has left many wondering whether Vanterpool plans to remain within the reunited NDP or take a different political direction.