Yesterday April 20^th was Advance Polling Day across the Territory, which saw some 1400 plus persons turning out to cast their votes. Based on results provided by the Supervisor of Elections, Scherrie Griffin, at the end of the day yesterday, numbers across districts were up compared to the 2019 elections.  Some Districts experienced as much as a 58% increase in voter turnout. Numbers indicate that yesterday saw 1436 valid ballots counted compared to just 1121 in 2019, an increase of 25%. While all Districts registered a rise in numbers, Districts 2, 5 and 7 reflected record-high turnouts, with District 7 registering a 58% increase in turnout compared to 2019.

Studies have shown that high numbers in voter turnout is usually an indication of potential change, and reflects the feelings of the electorate on the dominant issues affecting the country/territory. A 10% or above increase normally signals a loss for the ruling party.

The Virgin Islands Party Administration both under former disgraced Premier Andrew Fahie and the now Premier Natalio Wheatley, has had a tumultuous four years. The VIP Administration was elected in February of 2019, and by January of 2021, the sitting Governor at the time, Gus Jaspert called a Commission of Inquiry into alleged corruption in the Territory.  By April 28, 2022, the then sitting Premier Andrew Fahie was arrested in Florida under allegations of drug trafficking and money laundering, and later racketeering, alongside his Director of Port Authority and her son Kadeem Maynard.   One day after Fahie’s arrest, the results of the COI were presented to the public via a Press Conference by Governor John Rankin.  The option laid on the table was the suspension of the Territory’s Constitution. Since the arrest of Fahie and the COI results, a dark cloud has been over the Territory.

As recently as Monday April 17^th, the prorogued House of Assembly was called back into session by the Governor to address issues that rendered persons illegal under the fast track programme initiated under the VIP Administration in 2019 and to lay further reports in relation to the COI on the table, so that the results could be released to the public in the lead up to the election.

Other major issues affecting the VIP Administration include the Greedy Bill, stimulus grants and how they were awarded, grants out of the Premier’s Officer under former Premier Andrew Fahie, and the high cost of living in the territory.

There were concerns that voters would not turn out, but in reviewing the Adanvance Polling Day numbers, the Virgin Islands may be set to record the largest percentage of voters in many years.

General Elections are scheduled for Monday April 24, 2023.