John Cline, former interim chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP), said the party remains unified following internal tensions after its April 18 leadership convention, rejecting suggestions that the organization is fracturing after concerns raised by Mark Vanterpool.
“The party is not breaking up — the core is strong,” Cline said during a live facebook address today April 23, following the convention. “You may have one person leaving, but that does not define the NDP.”
The comments came after Mark Vanterpool questioned the delegate selection process and subsequently distanced himself from the party following his loss in the chairmanship race to Marlon A. Penn. His actions, including removing party branding from his campaign vehicle, returning the keys to an office he had provided for the party, and publicly criticizing the internal process, have raised questions in political circles about his future within the organization.
Cline said the dispute reflects the actions of an individual rather than a broader division within the party.
“Let the fringes fall off — the foundation remains,” he said, emphasizing that the party’s leadership and structure remain intact.
The National Democratic Party, founded in 1998, has been one of the two dominant political parties in the British Virgin Islands and has alternated between government and opposition over the past two decades. The party last held office after the 2015 general election but has since operated in opposition following electoral losses in 2019 and 2023.
Cline acknowledged that the party has experienced internal differences but said those issues do not undermine its overall direction.
“We are going to offer a strong team,” he said, referring to preparations for the next general election. “The core of the party is strong.”
The April 18 convention marked a key step for the NDP as it formalized its leadership ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
Cline said the party would continue engaging the public and outlining its plans in the coming months.
“We will give you a reason to trust us again,” he said.
Despite the recent dispute, NDP officials have maintained that the organization remains stable and focused on its long-term political strategy.
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