Reunified NDP plans territory-wide rollout

The National Democratic Party (NDP) and Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) revealed plans for a territory-wide rollout of their renewed political agenda following their reunification.

NDP leader Marlon Penn confirmed that the two political organisations, which parted ways in 2019, have agreed to merge again. “Yes, we are merging,” Penn stated. “We’ve decided to sit down in mutual respect and the whole shared vision for the Virgin Islands to move forward,” he explained.

Penn said the move followed a period of intense discussions between the two political factions. “The fact is that we had to take time to fix the issues that we had with both organisations and the challenges that we had going forward,” he stated. “We’ve done that. We’ve had all the persons around the room. We’ve been having heated, intense discussions about the way forward.”

The parties have formed a transition committee and are finalising the necessary internal procedures, including meetings with their executives and broader support base. “What is going to happen in the coming weeks, days, and months is that we’re going to roll out our vision for this country,” Penn said.

The merger follows months of political uncertainty and shifting alliances within the House of Assembly. Penn noted that the decision was backed by voters, referencing the 2023 general election. “We had 27,000 votes between the two organisations. And the VIP had about 21,000 votes,” he argued.

The announcement also comes amid growing public concern about the cost of living, crime, and economic stagnation. Penn said the government must act with urgency to address rising food prices, social support gaps, and declining public confidence in social services. “The country is struggling… We have to find ways to make sure the social systems work for our people,” he asserted.

Penn revealed he had been offered the position of Deputy Premier after the 2023 elections but declined. “My focus is the people of this country and doing what is best for the people, not to empower myself,” he explained.