BVI will Choose New Premier, Political Parties are to Adhere to Code of Conduct

Political parties which will participate in the general elections in the British Virgin Islands on February 25, 2019, as well as the general public, are asked to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Code of Conduct. According to the statement of the BVI government, “The Code of Conduct now exists for political parties and candidates with the 2019 amendment to the Elections Act now in force. The purpose of the code is to promote conditions that are conducive to free and fair elections, and a climate of tolerance in which electioneering activity may take place without fear or coercion, intimidation or reprisals.”

The code consisting of 11 clauses covers the following areas: politically-motivated violence or intimidation, prohibited conduct: conduct during polling period, announcements of results of elections and respect for media and journalists. 

During the elections, the new political leader will be chosen for the BVI, as Orlando Smith has retired from his post of the territory’s premier. Mr. Smith’s National Democratic Party (NDP) has fractured, opening the possibility for a new party, the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement, to enter the government after long years of the NDP and the Virgin Islands Party domination. The VIP also fractured after the 2015 elections: Andrew Fahie will lead the VIP, while Julian Fraser split to form his own party, the Progressives United.

The new BVI government will face many issues, including the BVI financial sector challenges and the possibility of being potentially blacklisted by the European Union and being subject to the recently implemented UK beneficial ownership rules.