NDP and Former Chairman Face Legal Battle
Communications specialist Sachkia Barnes has filed a lawsuit against the National Democratic Party (NDP) and its former chairman, Myron Walwyn, for nearly $40,000 in unpaid services from the 2019 general election campaign. The legal action, initiated in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, highlights ongoing financial disputes stemming from the party's electoral defeat.
In what marks a continuing fallout from the 2019 general elections in the British Virgin Islands, the National Democratic Party (NDP) and its former chairman, Myron Walwyn, are now embroiled in a legal dispute over unpaid campaign services. Communications expert Sachkia Barnes, through her company Barnes PR, has taken the matter to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, seeking compensation for services rendered during the intense campaign period leading up to the elections held in February 2019.
Barnes, in her legal filing dated June 20, 2025, is demanding a total of $39,180.82. This sum includes $28,908.32 for professional services provided from November 2018 to June 2019, alongside additional costs covering legal fees, court fees, and fixed legal costs. The claim also stipulates interest on the unpaid amount dating back to June 2019, signaling a significant financial dispute tied to the NDP's election campaign operations.
The lawsuit not only sheds light on the financial struggles potentially faced by political parties post-election but also raises questions about the management and contractual obligations of such parties in the BVI. Myron Walwyn, who led the NDP during the 2019 elections and subsequently lost his seat in the House of Assembly, has been specifically named as a defendant.
Walwyn has publicly stated his intention to seek dismissal from the case, asserting that he was erroneously included in the lawsuit. This legal battle comes against the backdrop of the NDP's internal challenges following its defeat in the 2019 general elections. The party, which has been a significant political force in the BVI, is now faced with not only reviving its political fortunes but also dealing with the legal ramifications of its campaign expenditures.
For the residents of the BVI, this lawsuit is a reminder of the intricate and often contentious relationship between politics and finance. As the case progresses through the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, it will be closely watched for its implications on political accountability and the legal responsibilities of party leadership during election campaigns.
The outcome may set precedents for how political parties in the territory manage their campaign finances and honor their financial commitments to service providers.
Primary source: BVI News