For PVIM to be a winning team, Skelton said he was told to return as leader

Skelton during the Friday’s PVIM press conference

By MERRICK ANDREWS, Online News Editor

(JTV News) — Chairman of the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM), Ronnie W. Skelton has denied he is power hungry, saying that supporters have told him if he doesn’t return as leader of the PVIM, they will not support the party or have any chance of winning in the next General Elections.

Skelton, a former member of the National Democratic Party, announced that he left politics in 2019. As a result, Second District Representative Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull became chairman of the PVIM.

However, Skelton has returned to the party as chairman. Turnbull is now the deputy.

At a PVIM press conference recently, ZBVI Radio’s Zan Lewis grilled Skelton and asked the veteran politician if he does not have confidence in the leadership of Turnbull, especially since he said earlier in the press conference that he is giving young people a chance to grow.

Skelton responded: I have all confidence in Mr. Turnbull. All confidence. It’s a lot more complex than what you’re saying. The people have asked for me to come back and they have asked that if I am not leading, they will not follow PVIM, so because of those things, in order for us to be a winning team. I have to put my personal wishes aside and do what’s good and right for the country. I am here for my country, nothing else. I have no interest in the personal accolades.”

Lewis suggested that Skelton took away the position from Turnbull because he is power-hungry.

“That’s your opinion,” was Skelton’s response.

However, Turnbull responded and backed Skelton.

He said: “The Progress Virgin Islands Movement is a movement, is a group of persons that are interested in one thing which is to fix the country, develop its people, and raise the standard of where we are in this territory. It is true that Honourable Skelton would have left politics in 2019 and I became the chairman but what is important is that this group of persons that you see and a lot of other supporters, we sat around the room, we had discussions and we made the decision that the best person to lead the party and this movement at this time is Ronnie W. Skelton. I became deputy chairman and we have the officers here.”

Earlier in the press conference, in response to a reporter’s question, Skelton said he is supportive of youth leadership.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I always put young people… I need them to help to build the country. I am happy to be at home but the people are calling for some experience and they feel that I have that level of experience in order to assist this country out of the problems that it’s presently in. That’s why I am here, nothing else. I commend my young leader, and all of these people around me. And if you study my history, like you did your research…right? You will know that I hand over things to young people. Because that’s what I believe can help us to build the country. I don’t want to be a bible student but I will be one today. When the Lord turned to… Moses and tell him that he must get the young and the old together: the young for their strength and the old for their wisdom to show the way. That’s all that’s happening here today.”