Page 18 | Thursday, November 3, 2011 | The BVI Beacon
Meet the candidates By CHRYSTALL KANYUCK ckanyuck@bvibeacon.com A record 43 candidates are running for 13 seats this election. They range from elder statesmen to fresh-faced newcomers, offering plenty of choices in ideology and background for Virgin Islands voters, who will go to the polls Monday. The majority of candidates — 30 — are running under one of three party banners. The other 13 candidates are running independent of a political party. Women’s participation seems to be gradually increasing: Seven candidates are women this year, compared to six in 2007 and five in 2003.
Twenty-seven of the candidates are running for one of nine district seats. The most-sought District Nine seat, with five contenders, has belonged to Premier Ralph O’Neal since 1975. Four candidates each are seeking the Second District and Eighth District spots. Sixteen candidates are competing for the four territorial at-large seats. Fifteen candidates have held office before, while 19 are making their first bid for elected office. Two candidates are the sons of late Virgin Islands politicians: Bertrand “Washasha X” Lettsome is the son of Terrance B. Lettsome, and Preston Stoutt is the son of the territory’s first chief minister, H. Lavity Stoutt. At least 20 of the candidates have worked in the public service before running for elected office. They’ve served in diverse positions ranging from teacher to technocrat. The oldest candidate, Mr. O’Neal, will turn 78 in December, while the youngest, Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley, turned 31 in June. The BVI Beacon gathered the information for these profiles mostly by asking the candidates themselves, but in some cases the information was taken from candidate websites or from the newspaper’s archives. In the interest of fairness, the Beacon made several attempts to contact each candidate, including publishing a request in two editions. The following, then, are the election candidates for 2011.
Elections 2011
Elections 2011
AT LARGE Name: Eileene Baronville Party: Independent Born: Not provided Occupation: Proprietor and director, Paradise Preschool and Day Care Marital status: Single Children: Adult daughter and four grandchildren Education: General and legal studies certificate, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College Residence: Barrow’s Estate, Road Town Previous political office held: None Have you run for political office before? Twice (independent)
Name: Bertrand “Washasha X” Lettsome Party: Independent Born: Dec. 7, 1962 Occupation: Retired chief conservation officer Marital status: Divorced, in a committed relationship Children: Two sons and a daughter Education: BVI High School; B.A. in marine science, Hampshire College; M.S. in environmental engineering, Polytechnic University, New York Residence: Long Look Have you run for political office before? No
Name: Elton Callwood Party: People’s Patriotic Alliance Born: Nov. 27, 1964 Occupation: Owner and chief editor, VI Standpoint Marital status: Married Children: Four Education: BVI High School; Royal of Business School; A.A. in management, Borough Manhattan Community College; B.A. in marketing, University of the Virgin Islands Residence: Carrot Bay, Tortola Have you run for political office before? No
Name: Edmund Maduro Party: Independent Born: July 5, 1939 Occupation: Retired chief immigration officer, businessman Marital status: Married Children: Six children, 14 grandchildren Education: Secondary level Residence: Baughers Bay Previous political office held? None Have you run for political office before? Twice, United Party
Name: Archibald Christian Party: National Democratic Party Born: Aug. 22, 1959 Occupation: Real estate appraiser Marital status: Married Children: Two Education: St. George’s Primary School; Road Town Primary School; BVI High School; Mapps College (Barbados) Residence: Freshwater Pond, West End, Tortola Previous political office held: None Have you run for political office before? Twice, in 2003 and 2007 (NDP)
Name: Keith Flax Party: Virgin Islands Party Born: Oct. 29, 1946 Occupation: Self-employed: Consultant and professional jeweler Marital status: Married Children: Three Education: St. Mary’s School, Virgin Gorda; building engineering technician qualification, Kingston Technical School and the College of Arts, Science and Technology, Jamaica Residence: Hodges Creek Previous political office held: At-large representative, 2007-present; Speaker of the House, 1983-1996 Have you run for political office before? Once (VIP)
Name: Vernon Malone Party: Virgin Islands Party Born: Not provided Occupation: Attorney; former primary school teacher and police commissioner Marital status: Married Children: One Education: CPA in public administration and bachelor of law, the University of the West Indies; post-graduate legal certificate, Norman Manley Law School, Jamaica; certificate in real estate valuation and sales, University of the West Indies Residence: Huntums Ghut Previous political office held: At-large representative, 2007-present Have you run for political office before? Twice, 2007 and Sept. 2005 by-election (VIP)
Name: Lionel Penn Party: Independent Born: July 16, 1960 Occupation: Manager, Nature’s Way; entrepreneur Marital Status: Married Children: Three Education: East End Primary School; H. Lavity Stoutt Community College; Bachelor’s in business and finance, Missouri Southern State University Residence: East End Have you run for political office before? No
The BVI Beacon | Thursday, November 3, 2011 | Page 19
AT LARGE Name: Irene Penn O’Neal Party: Virgin Islands Party Born: Jan. 1, 1957 Occupation: Hotel manager Marital status: Married Children: Three Education: Zion Hill Primary School and BVI High School; pursuits in tourism and financial management, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, Cornell University and Missouri Southern States Residence: Pockwood Pond, Tortola Previous office held: At-large representative, 2007-present Have you run for political office before? Once as an independent, three times with the VIP
Name: Shaina Smith Party: People’s Patriotic Alliance Born: June 8, 1976 Occupation: Management consultant Marital status: Single Children: None Education: BVI High School; B.S. in electrical engineering, M.S. in industrial engineering and management systems, University of Central Florida Residence: Frenchman’s Cay, Tortola Have you run for political office before? No
Name: Ronnie Skelton Party: National Democratic Party Born: March 21, 1954 Occupation: CEO, Skelton Group of Companies Marital status: Married Children: Two Education: B.S. (Honours) electrical engineering, Tuskegee University; professional training as a chartered electrical engineer Residence: McNamara, Road Town, Tortola Previous political office held: Member of opposition, deputy chief minister and minister of finance, health and social development Have you run for political office before? Three times (NDP)
Name: Zoe Walcott-McMillan Party: Virgin Islands Party Born: March 26, 1976 Occupation: Manager, financial services sector Marital status: Married Children: Three Education: B.A. in marketing, Inter-American University, Puerto Rico Residence: Not provided Previous political office held: None Have you run for political office before? 2007 (VIP)
Name: Dr. Orlando Smith Party: National Democratic Party Born: Aug. 28, 1944 Occupation: Legislator, surgeon Marital status: Married Children: Three Education: BVI High School; University of the West Indies, MDDS; Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh; diploma in public health, United Kingdom; M.S. in community health in developing countries, UK Residence: McNamara, Tortola Previous political office held: Chief minister 2003-2007, opposition leader 2007-present and 1999-2003 Have you run for political office before? 1999, 2003, 2007 (NDP)
Name: Myron Walwyn Party: National Democratic Party Born: Feb. 22, 1972 Occupation: Attorney, restaurant and hotel operator Marital Status: Married Children: Five Education: Baughers Bay Primary School; Ebenezer Thomas Primary School, BVI High School; Princess Margaret Secondary School, Antigua; University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom; BPP Law School, United Kingdom; Cornell University Hospitality Executive Programme, United States Residence: Pasea Estate Have you run for political office before? No
Name: Khoy Smith Party: People’s Patriotic Alliance Born: Aug. 21, 1975 Occupation: Veterinary technician, manager of Prophys’ Farm Ltd. and Pro-Vet Animal Health Clinic Marital status: Married Children: Four Education: BVI High School; Regional Educational Programme for Animal Health Assistants Residence: Belle Vue, Tortola Have you run for political office before? No
Name: Natalio “Sowande Uhuru” Wheatley Party: People’s Patriotic Alliance Born: June 2, 1980 Occupation: H. Lavity Stoutt Community College lecturer Marital status: Single Children: Two Education: BVI High School; B.A., Clark Atlanta University; M.A., Purdue University; Ph.D. University of London (in progress) Residence: Fat Hogs Bay, Tortola Have you run for political office before? No
DISTRICT ONE Name: Andrew Fahie Party: Virgin Islands Party Born: Aug. 7, 1970 Occupation: 1999-present: Legislator. Formerly: part-time instructor of mathematics and science at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, 1991-1998; mathematics teacher at the BVI High School, 1991-1997; assistant principal of BVIHS, 1997-1999 Marital status: Married Children: Two Education: Ebenezer Thomas Primary School; BVI High School; University of the Virgin Islands, 1986-1988; transferred to Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida, and earned a B.S. degree in 1991 Residence: West End Previous political office held: First District representative, 1999-present. Minister of education and culture, 2000-2003 and 2007-present Have you run for political office before? 1999, 2003, 2007 (VIP) Name: Preston Stoutt Party: Independent Born: Aug. 20, 1973 Occupation: Corporate manager Marital status: Single Children: None Education: Mapp’s College, Ridley College, Queen’s University Residence: Long Bay Have you run for political office before? No
Page 20 | Thursday, November 3, 2011 | The BVI Beacon
Elections 2011
DISTRICT TWO Name: Alvin Christopher Party: Virgin Islands Party Born: Not provided Occupation: Businessman Marital status: Married Children: Yes Education: Not Provided Residence: Great Mountain Previous political office held: District Two representative since 1995; communications and works minister; deputy chief minister Haveyou run for political office before? Four times: VIP, NDP, independent Name: Claude Skelton-Cline Party: National Democratic Party Born: November 3, 1965 Occupation: Minister and consultant Marital status: Married Children: One Education: Cane Garden Bay Primary School; Wayne-Aspinall Junior High School, St. Thomas; Charlotte Amalie High School; B.A. in religion and philosophy, Florida Memorial University; Master of Divinity, Southern Seminary University Residence: Cane Garden Bay Have you run for political office before? No
DISTRICT FOUR
Name: Leall Rhymer Party: Independent Born: Aug. 3 Occupation: Watersports/water taxi business operator Marital status: Married Children: None Education: Secondary school Residence: Cane Garden Bay Previous political office held: None Have you run for political office before? 1995 (independent in District Two) Name: Allewine “Barbie” Smith Party: Independent Born: Dec. 20, 1954 Occupation: Consultant/self-employed Marital status: Divorced Children: Four daughters, 11 grandchildren Education: BVI High School Residence: Cane Garden Bay Have you run for political office before? No
DISTRICT THREE
Name: Julian Fraser Party: Virgin Islands Party Born: July 5, 1950 Occupation: Architect Marital status: Married Children: One Education: Sea Cows Bay and Road Town primary schools; Virgin Islands Secondary School; associate’s degree in architecture; Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Architecture from the New York Institute of Technology Residence: Sea Cows Bay Previous office held: District Three representative, 1999-present; minister of natural resources and labour; minister of communications and works Have you run for political office before? Three times (VIP)
Name: Kevin Smith Party: National Democratic Party Born: Jan. 6, 1972 Occupation: Financial analyst Marital status: Married Children: Two Education: Ebenezer Thomas Primary, BVI High School; Bachelor of Business Administration, University of the Virgin Islands Residence: Sea Cows Bay Have you run for political office before? No
How to give your X on Polling Day By CHRYSTALL KANYUCK ckanyuck@bvibeacon.com Just put an X in the box. It may seem simple enough, but each Polling Day, elections officers have to reject some ballots because voters made improper marks or otherwise disqualified their ballot. In 2007, for example, 69 of 7,412 ballots had to be rejected.
To make sure your ballot isn’t rejected, remember to make an X in the box to the right of the name and party symbol of the candidate you want in office – not a check or other mark.
In addition, the X should be fully within the box and not touching the sides or crossing into another box. Also, if you vote for more than one candidate in your dis-
trict or more than four territorial at-large candidates, your ballot won’t count. Ballots with stray marks or that have the voters’ names on them will also be rejected.
Name: Dr. Vincent Scatliffe Party: Virgin Islands Party Born: Feb. 13, 1957 Occupation: Physician Marital status: Married Children: Two Education: B.Sc. MBBS-MD; B.Sc. BSN.RN; DIP. Psy. Nsg.; Dip. Psy. Pharm Residence: Pleasant Valley Previous political office held: District Four representative, 2007-present Have you run for office before? 2007 (VIP) Name: Collin Scatliffe Party: Independent Born: June 15, 1966 Occupation: Owner and manager at Datapro Marital status: Single Children: Four daughters Education: Road Town Primary School; BVI High School; St. Peter and Paul Catholic School in St. Thomas, USVI; College of The Virgin Islands; B.S. in computer information systems, Quinnipiac College Residence: Hope Estate Have you run for political office before? No Name: Mark Vanterpool Party: National Democratic Party Born: July 3, 1956 Occupation: Businessman Marital status: Married Children: Two Education: BVI High School; elementary school teacher trainee, Road Town Primary School Residence: McNamara, Tortola Previous political office held: District Four representative Have you run for political office before? 1999 (NDP), 2003 (VIP), 2007 (NDP)
Elections 2011
The BVI Beacon | Thursday, November 3, 2011 | Page 21
DISTRICT FIVE Name: Delores Christopher Party: National Democratic Party Born: Not provided Occupation: Businesswoman, retired civil servant Marital status: Married Children: Three Education: Diploma in executive secretarial studies at Duffs College, Barbados. Certificate in public administration at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica Residence: Mount Healthy Estate, Tortola Previous political office held: District Five representative, 2003-2007 Have you run for political office before? 1999 at large; 2003 District Five (NDP), 2007 District Five (NDP)
Name: Elvis Harrigan Party: Virgin Islands Party Born: Oct. 21, 1960 Occupation: Accountant and small business owner Marital status: Married Children: One Education: Associate accounting technicians Residence: Fahie Hill, Tortola Previous political office held: District Five representative Have you run for political office before? Once with the NDP and twice with the VIP
Name: Alvera Maduro-Caines Party: National Democratic Party Born: Not provided Occupation: Businesswoman, retired civil servant Marital status: Married Children: Three Education: Diploma in executive secretarial studies at Duffs College, Barbados; certificate in public administration at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica Residence: Mount Healthy Estate, Tortola Have you run for political office before? No
DISTRICT SEVEN Name: Ronnie Rudolph Lettsome Party: Virgin Islands Party Born: Not provided Occupation: Not provided Marital status: Not provided Children: Not provided Education: Francis Lettsome Primary School; St. George’s Episcopal School; BVI High School; B.A. aviation management, Ohio State University Residence: Long Look Previous political office held: None Have you run for office before? Yes, 2007 (VIP)
Voters must vote at the polling station for the district and polling division in which they’re registered.
FIRST DISTRICT Zion Hill Polling Division: Leonora Delville Primary School Carrot Bay Polling Division: Isabella Morris Primary School SECOND DISTRICT Jost Van Dyke Polling Division: Jost Van Dyke Primary School Cane Garden Bay Polling Division: Ivan Dawson Primary School
DISTRICT SIX
Name: Omar Hodge Party: Virgin Islands Party Born: Feb. 2, 1942 Occupation: Businessman Marital status: Married Children: Three Education: Not provided Residence: Not provided Previous political office held: District Six representative since 1979; acting chief minister; deputy chief minister; minister of natural resources and labour; deputy speaker of the House Have you run for political office before? Yes
POLLING STATIONS
Name: Dr. Kedrick Pickering Party: National Democratic Party Born: April 8, 1958 Occupation: Physician Marital status: Married Children: Four Education: Post-graduate Residence: Long Look Previous political office held: Seventh District representative, 1999-present Have you run for political office before? Three times (NDP)
Name: Allen Wheatley Party: Independent Born: May 22, 1968 Occupation: Owner, Durley Construction Marital status: Engaged Children: Three daughters Education: East End Primary School; BVI High School; Bachelor’s in business administration, University of Houston Residence: East End Have you run for office before? No
Brewers Bay Polling Division: Brewers Bay Community Centre Meyers Polling Division: Enis Adams Primary School THIRD DISTRICT Valerie O. Thomas Community Centre FOURTH DISTRICT House of Assembly FIFTH DISTRICT Huntums Ghut Polling Division: Enid Scatliffe Pre Primary School Long Trench Polling Division: Long Trench Community Centre SIXTH DISTRICT Baughers Bay Polling Division: Alexandrina Maduro Primary School Belle Vue Polling Division: Joyce Samuel Primary School SEVENTH DISTRICT Long Look Methodist Church Hall EIGHTH DISTRICT Hope Estate Polling Division: Church of God of Prophecy East End Polling Division: Willard Wheatley Primary School NINTH DISTRICT The Valley Polling District: Catholic Community Centre North Sound Polling Division: Robinson O’Neal Primary School Anegada Polling Division: Anegada Primary School Note: Voters registered in the Salt Island Polling Division will be transported to Road Town on Election Day.
Page 22 | Thursday, November 3, 2011 | The BVI Beacon
DISTRICT EIGHT Name: Dancia Penn Party: Virgin Islands Party Born: Nov. 23, 1951 Occupation: Legislator, lawyer Marital status: Married Children: Four stepchildren Education: University Residence: Hodges Creek, Tortola Previous political office held: Deputy premier; minister of health and social development, 2007-2011 Have you run for political office before? Once, 2007 (VIP)
Name: Marlon Penn Party: National Democratic Party Born: May 14, 1977 Occupation: Information technology professional Marital status: Single Children: One 5-year-old son Education: Bachelor’s degree in management information systems, Temple University in Philadelphia Residence: East End, Tortola Have you run for office before? No
Name: Bevis Sylvester Party: Independent Born: Dec. 6, 1975 Occupation: Regional manager, Delta Petroleum Marital status: Engaged Children: Not provided Education: BVI High School, Andrews University Residence: Long Look Have you run for political office before? No
Name: Nolan Davis Party: Independent Born: May 23, 1949 Occupation: Construction contractor Marital Status: Married Children: Four Residence: Greenland Education: Primary and secondary school; correspondence courses in plumbing, carpentry, blueprint reading, architecture, real estate development and electrical Have you run for political office before? No
Elections 2011
DISTRICT NINE Name: Dr. Hubert O’Neal Party: National Democratic Party Born: July 27, 1956 Occupation: Ophthalmologist Marital Status: Married Children: Three Education: St. Mary’s Primary School (Virgin Gorda); BVI High School; University of the West Indies, Jamaica; bachelor’s of medicine and surgery, UWI , Barbados; post-graduate diploma
of ophthalmology. Residence: Butu Mountain, Tortola Previous political office held? None Have you run for political office before? 1993 (Concerned Citizens Movement); 1999, 2003, 2007 (NDP) Name: Rheudell Samuel O’Neal Party: Independent Born: July 23, 1960 Occupation: Contractor; owner, Rheudell O’Neal Construction Marital status: Separated Children: One son Education: B.A. in accounting, University of the Virgin Islands Residence: Virgin Gorda Have you run for political office before? No Name: Ralph O’Neal Party: Virgin Islands Party Born: Dec. 15, 1933 Occupation: Businessman, legislator Marital status: Married Children: Four Education: Diploma in government and economic development concentrating on the development of small territories, Trinity College, Oxford Residence: McNamara Previous political office held: District representative, 1975-present; minister for social services, 1979-1983; minister for natural resources and labour and deputy chief minister, 1988-1994; chief minister, 1995-2003; opposition leader, 2003-2007; premier, 2007-2011 Have you run for political office before? Eight times Name: Devon Osborne Party: Independent Born: July 11, 1970 Occupation: Sports management consultant, businessman, courier services Marital status: Married Children: Three Education: Master’s degree in physical education (sports management track) Residence: Virgin Gorda Previous political office held: None Have you run for political office before? 2007 (independent) Name: Lorie Rymer Party: Independent Born: October 31, 1948 Occupation: Certified food and beverage executive Marital Status: Married Children: Two adults Education: Not provided Residence: Long Swamp Have you run for political office before? No
CANDIDATES BY PARTY
VIRGIN ISLANDS PARTY D-1: Andrew Fahie (incumbent) D-2: Alvin Christopher (incumbent) D-3: Julian Fraser (incumbent) D-4: Dr.Vincent Scatliffe (incumbent) D-5: Elvis “Juggy”Harrigan (incumbent) D-6: Omar Hodge (incumbent) D-7: Ronnie Lettsome D-8: Dancia Penn (incumbent) D-9: Ralph O’Neal (incumbent) At-large candidates Keith Flax (incumbent) Vernon Malone (incumbent) Irene Penn-O’Neal (incumbent) Zoe Walcott-McMillan NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY D-2: Claude Skelton-Cline D-3: Kevin “OJ” Smith D-4: Mark Vanterpool D-5: Delores Christopher D-6: Alvera Maduro-Caines D-7: Dr. Kedrick Pickering D-8: Marlon Penn D-9: Hubert O’Neal At-large candidates Archie Christian Ronnie Skelton Dr. Orlando Smith Myron Walwyn PEOPLE’S PATRIOTIC ALLIANCE At-large candidates Elton Callwood Khoy Smith Shaina Smith Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley INDEPENDENT D-1: Preston Stoutt D-2: Leall Rhymer D-2: Allewine Smith D-4: Collin Scatliffe D-7: Allen Wheatley D-8: Bevis Sylvester D-8: Nolan Davis D-9: Rhuedell Samuel O’Neal D-9: Devon Osborne D-9: Lorie Rymer At large: Eileene Baronville At large:Bertand“Washasha X”Lettsome At large: Edmund Maduro At large: Lionel Penn