PVIM-NDP Merger? “I don’t think so”: Skelton

8th District rep. and Health Minister Marlon Penn (left) and Ronnie Skelton, chairman of the PVIM

By MERRICK ANDREWS, Online News Editor

(JTV News) — Chairman of the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM), Ronnie W. Skelton, has dismissed talks that indicate PVIM will merge with the National Democratic Party (NDP).

Skelton put the matter to rest — for now — when he responded to several questions from a reporter at a PVIM press conference on Friday.

The reporter told Skelton that there have been talks, over the past weeks, about a merger between PVIM and NDP, and then asked the veteran politician if that merger will take place.

Skelton paused and smiled for a few seconds then responded: “We welcome candidates who stand on the principles that I mentioned to come and join us — this movement to develop our country. I understand that people want to join things in this wholeness…. my experiences told me that’s probably not the best way to do things. And I will prefer that individual members join us in this cause.”

“So you’re saying that the merger will not happen?” the reporter asked again.

Skelton again smiled and said. “I don’t think so.”

But the reporter wasn’t finished.

“Up to, I think it was yesterday, the district representative, the honourable Marlon A Penn, on radio, on record, said that the merger will be happening? Is there some level of miscommunication between persons thinking that something is going to happen when in fact it won’t?”

Skelton answered: “Well, to the best of my knowledge I haven’t heard what he said and I can’t comment.”

Penn is the leader of the NDP but is currently the Minister for Health and Social Development and Eighth District representative.

Skelton is a former member of the NDP but went on to form the PVIM in 2018.