The ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) was returned to office in the British Virgin Islands after winning the June 8, 2015 General Elections by a landslide, taking 11 of the 13 seats.
The NDP, headed by Premier Dr Orlando Smith, won seven of the nine district constituencies with the main opposition Virgin Islands Party (VIP) winning the remaining two seats. The VIP had come into the elections with four seats in the last Parliament.
The NDP also took the four ‘at large’ seats, with Myron Vernel Walwyn (5,777 votes); Smith (5,753 votes); Ronnie Skelton (5,342 votes) and Archibald Christian (4,659 votes).
A total of 42 candidates contested the elections for the 13 member House of Assembly..
VIP leader Julian Fraser, in his first election as party leader after taking over from 81-year-old former premier Ralph T O’Neal, who has now retired from active politics, won his district by a narrow margin of 596 to 561 over the NDP’s Kevin Smith. The other successful VIP candidate was Andrew Fahie.
The new Cabinet will comprise Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Ronnie W. Skelton, Minister for Communications and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool, Minister for Education Hon Myron V. Walwyn and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Hon Kedrick D. Pickering.
