Virgin Islands Party (British Virgin Islands)
Encyclopedia
The Virgin Islands Party (or VIP) is a political party
in the British Virgin Islands
, led by Premier Ralph T. O'Neal
.
The Virgin Islands Party has held power in the British Virgin Islands for all except for 15 years since the adoption of the modern Legislative Council
in 1967. It was originally formed by Lavity Stoutt
when he left the United Party
then led by Willard Wheatley
. Since its inception, the party has only been led by two men: Lavity Stoutt and Ralph O'Neal; the two party leaders are also the only two politicians in the history of the Territory to have held non-consecutive terms of office as either Chief Minister or Premier.
The party most recently regained power after the 2007 general election
held on 20 August 2007 when it crushed the incumbent National Democratic Party
(NDP) by 10 seats to 2 (with one seat going to an independent candidate endorsed by the Virgin Islands Party).
Prior to that, the party had most recently lost power at the 2003 general election
, held on 16 June 2003, when the party won only 42.2% of the popular votes and five out of thirteen elected seats.
Before its defeat by the NDP in 2003, the Virgin Islands Party had held power since 1986.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands, often called the British Virgin Islands , is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, the remaining islands constituting the U.S...
, led by Premier Ralph T. O'Neal
Ralph T. O'Neal
Ralph Telford O'Neal, OBE is the former Premier of the British Virgin Islands, and is expected to be appointed as the leader of the opposition...
.
The Virgin Islands Party has held power in the British Virgin Islands for all except for 15 years since the adoption of the modern Legislative Council
Legislative Council of the British Virgin Islands
The House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands, until 2007 known as the Legislative Council, has 15 members; 13 directly elected for four year terms—nine in single-seat constituencies and four "at large"—one ex-officio member and one Speaker chosen from outside the house.The first...
in 1967. It was originally formed by Lavity Stoutt
Lavity Stoutt
Hamilton Lavity Stoutt was the first and longest serving Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands, winning four general elections and serving three non-consecutive terms of office from 1967 to 1971, again from 1981 to 1983 and again from 1986 until his death in 1995.Since Stoutt's death in...
when he left the United Party
United Party (British Virgin Islands)
The United Party is a now political party of the British Virgin Islands.It was originally formed by H. Lavity Stoutt, Terrance B...
then led by Willard Wheatley
Willard Wheatley
Willard Wheatley served two consecutive terms as the Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands from 1971 to 1979. He was the leader of the United Party.-References:*...
. Since its inception, the party has only been led by two men: Lavity Stoutt and Ralph O'Neal; the two party leaders are also the only two politicians in the history of the Territory to have held non-consecutive terms of office as either Chief Minister or Premier.
The party most recently regained power after the 2007 general election
British Virgin Islands general election, 2007
The British Virgin Islands general election, 2007 was held in the British Virgin Islands on 20 August 2007. The result was a landslide victory for the opposition Virgin Islands Party over the incumbent National Democratic Party ....
held on 20 August 2007 when it crushed the incumbent National Democratic Party
National Democratic Party (British Virgin Islands)
The National Democratic Party is a political party in the British Virgin Islands.In the 2007 general election the incumbent NDP was crushed by the Virgin Islands Party and lost all except for 2 of its seats....
(NDP) by 10 seats to 2 (with one seat going to an independent candidate endorsed by the Virgin Islands Party).
Prior to that, the party had most recently lost power at the 2003 general election
British Virgin Islands general election, 2003
General elections were held in the British Virgin Islands on 16 June 2003. They were won by the National Democratic Party, which took 54.4% of the vote and 8 of the 15 seats on the Legislative Council.-Individual territorial seats:...
, held on 16 June 2003, when the party won only 42.2% of the popular votes and five out of thirteen elected seats.
Before its defeat by the NDP in 2003, the Virgin Islands Party had held power since 1986.