HON. MARK VANTERPOOL CROSSES FLOOR, JOINS VIP
By Angela Burns-Piper
“I came to a point where I had to put the people of the territory above party!” And with that, the opposition National Democratic Party (NDP) loses one of its strongest members to the ruling Virgin Islands Party.
In a surprise move, Representative for District 4 the Honourable Mark Vanterpool announced Monday February 19th that he had decided to tender his letter of resignation as a member of the party he helped to formed just over two years ago. “I intend to work with the government to achieve my plans to improve the fourth district in general and the capital in particular,” he said. This mirrors a similar move made in July last year by former Minister of Health, Education and Welfare Hon. Eileene Parsons, whose appointment was revoked and she joined with the opposition NDP. It also gives the VIP a much stronger majority in the House of 8-5.
Mr. Vanterpool said he gave this idea “many months of
evaluation and soul searching”. He said he also conferred
with his immediate family and his district committee before coming
to a final decision. “When I sought your support in the
last general election, I pledged to work diligently to improve
the capital of the territory, as well as the standard of living
for all the people of the Virgin Islands,” Mr. Vanterpool
stated. The NDP lost the May 1999 elections, only winning five
of the 13 seats in the Legislative Council.
“My election to the 14th Legislature by you the people,
requires me to find the best way possible to help the national
building process that has already begun. I ask for your support
and constant prayers as I endeavour to continue serving you in
carrying out improvement plans for the district and the territory,”
the politician said in a prepared statement.
He told The Island Sun that his decision was made strictly on the great need for the development of the capital Road Town. “The indication I have gotten from the Chief Minister is that he would like to work with me as a person and the Representative of the District more closely to make this happen…He has indicated that he has very strong interest in the development of the capital…and he has made a commitment…under my leadership to execute programmes to make Road Town better and that’s what I needed.”
According to the Rep. For District 4, this could not happen from the opposition side. “I don’t go about trying to guarantee anything to anyone. I am here to try to represent the people the best I can and I think the best way to do it is working with the government at this point in time.” Hon. Vanterpool campaigned on the strength of an “Action Plan” he had developed for the District, in particular the capital Road Town. He claims the plan was being stifled and now expects to move swiftly on implementing. “We want to begin to look at some aspects of the plan; the discussion has already begun,” he told the Island Sun. He said they want to continue the improvement of the bandstand in Road Town and perhaps incorporating a community centre there. Some road improvement and drainage work is on the cards for the Lower Estate area, along with the development of some sort of recreational facility in the area.
The MP for District 4 said he also wants to look generally at improving the aesthetics and the environment of Road Town - the sidewalks, the planting of trees, parks, the promenade opposite the hospital and other projects of the government. “The sewerage issue is a major part of what I want to prioritize and make happen; there’s also the situation with the library, recreational facilities, the basketball court…,” he went on. The plan for the basketball court is to develop it into a proper indoor gym, beginning this year with covering the present facility and continuing the government initiative of improving the A.O. Shirley Recreation Grounds. Another significant project soon to materialize is the paving of the parking lots on Wickham’s Cay, making them more usable. “Those are things we’ve been discussing before and we want to continue discussing them.”
In a statement released by the opposition National Democratic Party, Leader Dr. the Honourable Orlando Smith said his party’s members were completely surprised at Mr. Vanterpool’s decision, but respected it as his democratic right. He said the reason given was the lack of any significant progress with the Road Town Improvement Project and therefore thought that it was in the interest of the 4th District, which he represents, to join the ruling Virgin Islands Party. “His reason for resigning was cause for concern however, as the responsibility for the execution of that project and indeed all major projects is that of the government and not of the Opposition,” the Opposition Leader stated. “Should government fail to ensure that the needs of the community are met in this and other ways, it is a serious indictment on the government and the public ought to hold them accountable.” According to Dr. Smith, the National Democratic Party considers Mr. Vanterpool’s decision an unfortunate one, but wishes him well in the future.
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