'Disrespectful' to tell Belongers they can't vote
The Opposition rebel also took a swing at commentator Claude O. Skelton-Cline, who has said Belongers should have no say in a referendum for independence. "Nation-building is an essential part of i...
The Opposition rebel also took a swing at commentator Claude O. Skelton-Cline, who has said Belongers should have no say in a referendum for independence. "Nation-building is an essential part of independence and further self-determination. We can't move forward as a people, leaving half of our people behind.
And that is something that we have to confront," Hon Walwyn stated during the continuation of the Ninth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands on Monday, September 22, 2025. The opposition leader said the Virgin Islands is a very diverse community, and can’t move forward by leaving half of the people behind.
When referring to the referendum, he said: "I hear even people on the radio, Madam Speaker, so disrespectful, telling Belongers who have been here, that if we have a referendum, they would not be able to vote in a referendum.’’ He further exclaimed, "How dare you? How dare you?" The Opposition Leader referred to the time his mother and father came to the Virgin Islands, stating, "My father and my mother came here in 1963 of blessed memory. 1963.
If my father were alive, you're gonna tell my father if we are having a referendum that he can't vote on the referendum, and he'd been here for nearly 70 years, you're drunk? No." Hon Walwyn emphasised the need to confront some of these things. "They're harsh things, but you have to confront them if you're going to move forward.
However, we confront them, we confront them, but to confront them, we must." This online news site is the sole property of and is operated by Advance Marketing and Professional Services dba Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) in the Virgin Islands. The content, which includes all articles, photographs, advertisements, bloggs and graphic images, are copyrighted by Virgin Islands News Online and/or the original copyright holder.
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