2023 British Virgin Islands general election

{{Infobox election

| country = British Virgin Islands

| type = parliamentary

| previous_election = 2019 British Virgin Islands general election

| previous_year = 2019

| election_date = 24 April 2023

| next_election =

| next_year = 2027

| seats_for_election= All 13 elected seats in the House of Assembly

| majority_seats = 7

| turnout =

| image1 = Natalio D. Wheatley - Meeting with US Congressional Delegation (cropped).jpg

| leader1 = Natalio Wheatley

| party1 = Virgin Islands Party

| last_election1 = 8 seats

| seats1 = 6

| seat_change1 = {{decrease}} 2

| popular_vote1 =

| percentage1 =

| image2 = Ronnie Skelton.png

| leader2 = Ronnie Skelton

| party2 = PVIM

| last_election2 = 1 seat

| seats2 = 3

| seat_change2 = {{increase}} 2

| popular_vote2 =

| percentage2 =

| image4 = Marlon A. Penn Jan 2020 (cropped).jpg

| leader4 = Marlon Penn

| party4 = National Democratic Party (British Virgin Islands)

| last_election4 = 3 seats

| seats4 = 3

| seat_change4 = {{steady}}

| popular_vote4 =

| percentage4 =

| image5 = JulianFraser.jpg

| leader5 = Julian Fraser

| party5 = Progressives United (political party)

| last_election5 = 1 seat

| seats5 = 1

| seat_change5 = {{steady}}

| popular_vote5 =

| percentage5 =

| title = Premier

| posttitle = Premier after election

| before_election = Natalio Wheatley

| before_party = Virgin Islands Party

| after_election = Natalio Wheatley

| after_party = Virgin Islands Party

| map_image = 2023 British Virgin Islands House of Assembly election.svg

}}{{Politics of the British Virgin Islands}}

General elections were held in the British Virgin Islands on 24 April 2023.{{cite web |url=https://bvinews.com/its-decided-april-24-will-be-election-day/ |title=It’s decided! April 24 is Election Day |publisher=BVI News |date=15 March 2023 |access-date=16 March 2023 |archive-date=16 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316170414/https://bvinews.com/its-decided-april-24-will-be-election-day/ |url-status=live }} The governing Virgin Islands Party (VIP) remained the largest party in the House of Assembly but lost its majority resulting in a hung parliament.{{cite web|url=https://bvinews.com/final-election-results-no-clear-winner-coalition-likely/ |title=FINAL ELECTION RESULTS: No clear winner! Coalition likely |publisher=BVI News |date=24 April 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleid=34687 |title=No Majority Winner! Negotiations Underway To Form New BVI Government |publisher=BVI Platinum |date=24 April 2023}}

The VIP won six seats, with the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) and the National Democratic Party (NDP) each winning three seats, and Progressives United (PU) winning a single seat. There followed a period of intense discussions between the party to either prise away members or to try and form a coalition between parties.{{Cite web|url=https://bvinews.com/elected-parties-locked-in-talks-about-coalition/ |title=Elected parties locked in talks about coalition |publisher=BVI News |date=25 April 2023}} In the end former first lady Lorna Smith agreed that she would join the VIP as a single person in coalition to give them a working majority and keep them in power.{{cite web|url=https://bvinews.com/cornerstone-lorna-smith-joins-vip-to-help-form-new-govt/ |title=Cornerstone! Lorna Smith joins VIP to help form new gov’t |publisher=BVI News |date=25 April 2023}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleid=34688 |title=BREAKING NEWS: NDP’s Lorna Smith Joins VIP To Form Gov’t |publisher=BVI Platinum |date=25 April 2023}}

Background

The House of Assembly normally sits in four-year terms. The Governor must dissolve the House within four years of the date when the House first meets after a general election unless it has been dissolved sooner.{{cite web |url=http://www.bvi.org.uk/files/constitution2007.pdf |title=Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, article 84(3) |publisher=Government of the Virgin Islands |accessdate=15 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421165503/http://www.bvi.org.uk/files/constitution2007.pdf |archive-date=21 April 2012 |url-status=dead }} Once the House is dissolved a general election must be held after at least 21 days, but not more than two months after the dissolution of the House.

The elections are the first since the 2021 Commission of Inquiry which recommended the suspension of the Territory's constitution after finding that "[a]lmost everywhere, the principles of good governance, such as openness, transparency and even the rule of law, are ignored".{{cite web |last=Hickinbottom |first=Gary |url=https://bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/resources/coi_report_print_version.pdf |title=British Virgin Islands Commission of Inquiry: Report of the Commissioner, the Rt Hon Sir Gary Hickinbottom |publisher=Government of the British Virgin Islands |volume=1 |year=2022 |page=7 |access-date=9 March 2023 |archive-date=10 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610110832/https://bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/resources/coi_report_print_version.pdf |url-status=live }} Ultimately the UK government did not act upon that recommendation.{{cite web |url=https://bvinews.com/uk-decides-not-to-partially-suspend-bvi-constitution/ |title=UK decides not to partially suspend BVI constitution |publisher=BVI News |date=8 June 2022 |access-date=9 March 2023 |archive-date=9 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309102021/https://bvinews.com/uk-decides-not-to-partially-suspend-bvi-constitution/ |url-status=live }} In response to the report the Territory formed a "unity government" including members of the opposition National Democratic Party (NDP) and Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) in the Cabinet.{{cite web |url=https://viconsortium.com/vi-caribbean/virgin-islands-bvi-proposes-unity-government-to-discourage-uk-takeover-house-speaker-vacates-position-premier-fahie-remains-in-federal-jail-for-now |title=BVI Proposes Unity Government to Discourage UK Takeover; House Speaker Vacates Position; Premier Fahie Remains in Federal Jail for Now |publisher=The Virgin Islands Consortium |author=Janeka Simon |date=5 May 2022 |access-date=9 March 2023 |archive-date=9 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309101832/https://viconsortium.com/vi-caribbean/virgin-islands-bvi-proposes-unity-government-to-discourage-uk-takeover-house-speaker-vacates-position-premier-fahie-remains-in-federal-jail-for-now |url-status=live }}

The elections also follow the arrest of the country's Premier Andrew Fahie, in Miami on charges relating to drug smuggling. Fahie was removed as Premier, representative of the First District, and leader of his political party. Natalio Wheatley succeeded him as Premier and party leader.{{cite web |title=UPDATE: HoA unanimously passes Resolution to remove Hon Fahie as VI Premier |url=https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/update-hoa-unanimously-passes-resolution-to-remove-hon-fahie-as-vi-premier |website=Virgin Islands News Online |access-date=6 May 2022 |date=6 May 2022 |archive-date=13 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513014209/https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/update-hoa-unanimously-passes-resolution-to-remove-hon-fahie-as-vi-premier |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Dr Wheatley sworn in as Premier! New cross-party gov’t also installed |url=https://bvinews.com/just-in-dr-wheatley-sworn-in-as-premier-new-govt-also-installed/ |website=BVINews |access-date=5 May 2022 |date=5 May 2022 |archive-date=5 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505233347/https://bvinews.com/just-in-dr-wheatley-sworn-in-as-premier-new-govt-also-installed/ |url-status=live }}

Electoral system

The House of Assembly has a total of 15 members, 13 of whom are members elected by the public to serve a four-year term, plus two ex-officio non-voting members: the Attorney General and the Speaker of the House. Of the 13 elected members, nine are elected via first-past-the-post voting to represent territorial district seats, and four are elected on a territory-wide "at-large" basis via plurality block voting.

Although there was a delay in announcing the date of the elections, campaigning began some weeks before the it was announced.{{cite news |url=https://www.bvibeacon.com/elections-approach-campaigns-crank-up/ |title=Elections approach, campaigns crank up |work=BVI Beacon |date=10 February 2023 |access-date=7 March 2023 |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307215812/https://www.bvibeacon.com/elections-approach-campaigns-crank-up/ |url-status=live }} After the House of Assembly was dissolved for the election on 10 March 2023 there was then a short delay before the election date was confirmed.{{cite web |url=https://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleId=34591 |title=HoA Dissolved; Premier To Announce Elections Date |publisher=VI Platinum News |date=11 March 2023 |access-date=11 March 2023 |archive-date=11 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311204748/https://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleId=34591 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://bvinews.com/premier-says-election-day-to-be-announced-soon-explains-delay/ |title=Premier says election day to be announced soon; explains delay |publisher=BVI News |date=14 March 2023 |access-date=14 March 2023 |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314133025/https://bvinews.com/premier-says-election-day-to-be-announced-soon-explains-delay/ |url-status=live }}

Parties and candidates

=Virgin Islands Party=

The incumbent Virgin Islands Party (VIP) was led by Fahie in the previous general election, but following his arrest on charges of drug smuggling offences,{{cite web |last1=Durbin |first1=Adam |title=British Virgin Islands: Premier Andrew Fahie arrested in US drug sting |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61266526 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=29 April 2022 |archive-date=29 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429042127/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61266526 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/article260874392.html |title=British Virgin Islands premier arrested on US drug charges |publisher=Miami Herald |date=28 April 2022 |access-date=7 March 2023 |archive-date=29 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429140442/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/article260874392.html |url-status=live }} leadership of the party passed to Wheatley. The party was the only political party to contest every single seat.{{cite web |url=https://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleId=34602 |title=OJ Smith In The Third As VIP Presents Full Slate |publisher=VI Platinum News |date=15 March 2023 |access-date=16 March 2023 |archive-date=16 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316172643/https://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleId=34602 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.284media.com/local/2023/02/06/vip-selects-10-to-run-in-the-upcoming-general-election-3-positions-remain-open/ |title=VIP SELECTS 10 TO RUN IN THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION – 3 POSITIONS REMAIN OPEN |publisher=284 Media |date=6 February 2023 |access-date=8 March 2023 |archive-date=8 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308113620/https://www.284media.com/local/2023/02/06/vip-selects-10-to-run-in-the-upcoming-general-election-3-positions-remain-open/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://bvinews.com/vip-has-10-candidates-for-upcoming-general-elections-so-far/ |title=VIP has 10 candidates for upcoming general elections so far |publisher=BVI News |date=6 February 2023 |access-date=8 March 2023 |archive-date=8 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308120056/https://bvinews.com/vip-has-10-candidates-for-upcoming-general-elections-so-far/ |url-status=live }}

=National Democratic Party=

The NDP is led by Marlon Penn (D8). They fielded nine candidates.{{cite web |url=https://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleId=34610 |title=NDP Presents Nine Candidates |publisher=VI Platinum News |date=18 March 2023 |access-date=21 March 2023 |archive-date=21 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321181126/https://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleId=34610 |url-status=live }}

=Progressive Virgin Islands Movement=

The leader of the PVIM, Ronnie Skelton, failed to win a seat in the 2019 election, and so Mitch Turnbull (D2) assumed leadership of the party in the House. However, for the 2023 campaign Skelton resumed leadership of the party. The party's ranks were also bolstered when representative Shereen Flax-Charles (at-large) crossed the floor to join the PVIM.{{cite web |url=https://www.bvibeacon.com/flax-charles-leaves-vip/ |title=Flax-Charles leaves VIP |publisher=BVI Beacon |date=3 March 2023 |access-date=7 March 2023 |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307215822/https://www.bvibeacon.com/flax-charles-leaves-vip/ |url-status=live }}

=Progressives United=

Julian Fraser, the current Leader of the Opposition by default being the only member of the House of Assembly not in the "unity government", is the leader and only sitting member of the Progressives United (PU). On 1 April 2023 the PU announced a 'soft alliance' with the PVIM. No PU candidates were announced other than Fraser.{{cite web |url=https://bvinews.com/local-progressive-parties-unite/ |title=Local ‘Progressive’ parties unite |publisher=BVI News |date=1 April 2023 |author= |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-date=3 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403090525/https://bvinews.com/local-progressive-parties-unite/ |url-status=live }}

=Candidates stepping down=

Mark Vanterpool (NDP) confirmed that he would not be defending his District 4 seat and was retiring from politics.{{cite web |url=https://www.bvibeacon.com/vanterpool-retires-from-politics/ |title=Vanterpool retires from politics |publisher=BVI Beacon |date=7 March 2019 |author=Genevieve Glatsky |access-date=8 March 2023 |archive-date=8 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308114257/https://www.bvibeacon.com/vanterpool-retires-from-politics/ |url-status=live }}

=Candidates crossing the floor=

As often happens in British Virgin Islands politics, a number of candidates were contesting the elections for new parties having "crossed the floor" after being originally elected representing a different party. Flax-Charles left the ruling VIP to join the PVIM,{{cite web |url=https://bvinews.com/shereen-flax-charles-goes-blue-lawmaker-joins-pvim/ |title=Shereen Flax-Charles goes blue! Lawmaker joins PVIM |publisher=BVI News |date=24 February 2023 |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-date=25 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325132244/https://bvinews.com/shereen-flax-charles-goes-blue-lawmaker-joins-pvim/ |url-status=live }} and former NDP representative, Alvera Maduro-Caines, left her party to join the VIP.{{Cite web |url=https://bvinews.com/alvera-maduro-caines-joins-the-vip-fahie-is-a-productive-leader/ |title=UPDATE: Alvera Maduro-Caines joins the VIP! Fahie is a productive leader |publisher=BVI News |date=20 January 2020 |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-date=25 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325135014/https://bvinews.com/alvera-maduro-caines-joins-the-vip-fahie-is-a-productive-leader/ |url-status=live }}

Developments

=Merger talks=

The NDP and PVIM conducted exploratory merger talks, but ultimately those talks were not successful.{{cite web |url=https://bvinews.com/just-in-ndp-pvim-explore-merger-but-talks-seemingly-break-down/ |title=JUST IN: NDP, PVIM explore merger but talks seemingly break down |publisher=BVI News |date=22 February 2023 |access-date=8 March 2023 |archive-date=8 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308114011/https://bvinews.com/just-in-ndp-pvim-explore-merger-but-talks-seemingly-break-down/ |url-status=live }} The PVIM had originally been formed when a number of members of the NDP split away and formed a competing party before the 2019 election. Despite the absence of any formal alliance, it is noteworthy that in only two of the nine districts are candidates from the two parties contesting against each other.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}

On 1 April 2023 the PVIM subsequently announced a 'soft alliance' with the PU. No PU party candidates were announced other than Fraser in District 3.

Platforms and election conduct

=Polling=

No public polling was published.

=Policies and platforms=

None of the political parties published a political manifesto, but a number of issues arose in press commentary and at party rallies.

The opposition parties tried to make capital out of the arrest of Fahie and the allegations of corruption in the Commission on Inquiry report in relation to the VIP government, treating the election as "a referendum on the corrupt VIP and the corrupt Premier".{{cite web |url=https://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleId=34611 |title=Elephant In The Room! This Election Is A Referendum On Corrupt VIP |publisher=VI Platinum |date=20 March 2023 |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327203715/https://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleId=34611 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://bvinews.com/ethically-challenged-skelton-slams-vips-record/ |title=Ethically challenged! Skelton slams VIP’s record |publisher=BVI News |date=20 March 2023 |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-date=11 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411223335/https://bvinews.com/ethically-challenged-skelton-slams-vips-record/ |url-status=live }} Former VIP leader, Fraser, said the party has no place in government.{{cite web |url=https://bvinews.com/no-place-in-govt-so-called-liberator-slams-vips-poor-record/ |title=No place in gov’t! So-called ‘liberator’ slams VIP’s poor record |publisher=BVI News |date=3 April 2023 |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404201806/https://bvinews.com/no-place-in-govt-so-called-liberator-slams-vips-poor-record/ |url-status=live }}

Another sensitive issue which was discussed is the controversial Retiring Allowances (Legislative Services) Amendment Act, 2021 (referred to on social media as the "Greedy Bill") which gave extremely generous payments over a number of years to retiring members of the House of Assembly. The NDP pledged to repeal the Act, calling "political wickedness and greed".{{cite web |url=https://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleId=34616 |title=Political Wickedness & Greed! NDP To Repeal Portion Of Retirement Package For Legislators |publisher=VI Platinum News |date=21 March 2023 |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327184925/https://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleId=34616 |url-status=live }} The VIP hit back, accusing NDP politicians of profiting equally from the act despite criticising it.{{cite web |url=https://bvinews.com/premier-blasts-walwyn-over-hoa-retirement-package-hypocrisy/ |title=Premier blasts Walwyn over HOA retirement package hypocrisy |publisher=BVI News |date=24 March 2023 |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-date=28 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328115036/https://bvinews.com/premier-blasts-walwyn-over-hoa-retirement-package-hypocrisy/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://bvinews.com/what-repeal-malone-says-ndp-helped-pass-greedy-bill-collected-benefits/ |title=What repeal? Malone says NDP helped pass ‘greedy bill’, collected benefits |publisher=BVI News |date=23 March 2023 |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-date=30 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330042300/https://bvinews.com/what-repeal-malone-says-ndp-helped-pass-greedy-bill-collected-benefits/ |url-status=live }}

The PVIM indicated that it would make reform of the NHI scheme a priority commitment in government.{{cite web |url=https://www.bvibeacon.com/campaign-season-in-full-swing/ |title=Campaign season in full swing |publisher=BVI Beacon |date=27 March 2023 |author=Dana Kampa |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-date=31 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331231031/https://www.bvibeacon.com/campaign-season-in-full-swing/ |url-status=live }} Party leader, Skelton, spent eight years as Minister for Health in an NDP-led government.

=Bribery allegations=

Allegations of political candidates or their paying persons to vote for them were reported in local news.{{cite web |url=https://bvinews.com/reports-surface-that-politicians-buying-votes-from-the-vulnerable/ |title=Reports surface that politicians ‘buying votes’ from the vulnerable |publisher=BVI News |date=20 April 2023 |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421163011/https://bvinews.com/reports-surface-that-politicians-buying-votes-from-the-vulnerable/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleid=34675 |title=Parties Accused Of Bribing Elderly, Differently-abled Voters |publisher=BVI Platinum |date=20 April 2023 |access-date=24 April 2023 |archive-date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421163011/http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleid=34675 |url-status=live }} The allegation was made by Flax-Charles, a PVIM candidate, during a radio broadcast. She did not name any politicians or agents, but did say that it related to residents in Virgin Gorda. She also did not clarify whether she had reported her concerns to the Electoral Commissioner.

Results

{{Election results

|image=File:Iles Vierges britanniques Assemblee 2023.svg

|firstround=District|secondround=At-large

|row6=Speaker and Attorney General|totseats6=2|sc6=0

|invalid=104

|invalid2=811

|total_sc=0

|electorate=16130

|source=Government of the British Virgin Islands,https://bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/resources/electoral_district_statistics.pdfhttps://bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/resources/polling_division_statistics.pdf BVI Platinumhttps://www.bviplatinum.com/election.php

}}

=District seats=

{{Election results

|caption=First District

|sctitle=Notes

|cand2=Sylvia Moses|party2=Progressive Virgin Islands Movement|votes2=260

|cand3=Chad George|party3=Independent|votes3=153

|invalid=5

}}

Karl Dawson won the seat formerly held by Fahie. Outside of by-elections, he becomes only the third person after Fahie and Lavity Stoutt to win District One in its history.

{{Election results

|caption=Second District

|sctitle=Notes

|cand2=Troy Christopher|party2=Independent|votes2=303

|cand3=Marieta Flax-Headley|party3=Virgin Islands Party|votes3=116

|invalid=1

}}

Incumbent Melvin Turnbull won the Second District for the third time in a row.

{{Election results

|sctitle=Notes

|caption=Third District

|cand2=Aaron Parillon|party2=National Democratic Party|votes2=347

|cand3=Kevin "OJ" Smith|party3=Virgin Islands Party|votes3=186

|invalid=14

}}

Incumbent Fraser won District Three for the seventh time in a row. His seven general election wins are fourth most in BVI history.

{{Election results

|sctitle=Notes

|caption=Fourth District

|cand2=Sandy Harrigan-Underhill|party2=National Democratic Party|votes2=285

|cand3=Ian Smith|party3=Progressive Virgin Islands Movement|votes3=145

|cand4=Rosita Scatliffe-Thompson|party4=Independent|votes4=12

|invalid=5

}}

Luce Hodge-Smith (VIP) won the 4th District at her second attempt.

{{Election results

|caption=Fifth District

|sctitle=Notes

|cand2=Marvin Blyden|party2=Progressive Virgin Islands Movement|votes2=342

|invalid=21

}}

Incumbent Kye Rymer easily defended his seat.

{{Election results

|caption=Sixth District

|sctitle=Notes

|cand2=Alvera Maduro-Caines|party2=Virgin Islands Party|votes2=419|sc2=Unseated

|invalid=19

}}

Former NDP party leader, Myron Walwyn, won a surprisingly easy victory over incumbent, Maduro-Caines.

{{Election results

|caption=Seventh District

|sctitle=Notes

|cand2=Perline Scatliffe-Leonard|party2=Independent|votes2=367

|invalid=20

}}

Incumbent Wheatley fended off his lone challenger in District Seven.

{{Election results

|sctitle=Notes

|caption=Eighth District

|cand2=Allen Wheatley|party2=Virgin Islands Party|votes2=319

|invalid=16

}}

Marlon Penn won his fourth consecutive contest in District Eight, continuing the Penn family domination of that seat.

{{Election results

|sctitle=Notes

|caption=Ninth District

|cand2=Coy Levens|party2=National Democratic Party|votes2=415

|cand3=Shereen Flax-Charles|party3=Progressive Virgin Islands Movement|votes3=239

|cand4=Vernon Vanterpool|party4=Independent|votes4=31

|invalid=3

}}

Vincent Wheatley held on to his seat amid a crowded field as Coy Levens and Flax-Charles split the anti-government vote.

= At-large seats =

Unusually the four at-large seats were split amongst three different parties. Incumbent Sharie de Castro was returned, but other VIP incumbents Neville Smith and Carvin Malone were ousted. Skelton returns to the house after losing his seat in 2019, and is joined by new member Stacy "Buddha" Mather. Former first lady Lorna Smith also won for the first time in her first contest for the NDP.{{cite web|url=https://bvinews.com/final-election-results-no-clear-winner-coalition-likely/ |title=FINAL ELECTION RESULTS: No clear winner! Coalition likely |publisher=BVI News |date=24 April 2023}}

{{Election results

|sctitle=Notes

|cand5=Neville Smith|party5=Virgin Islands Party|votes5=2978|sc5=Unseated

|cand6=Kedrick Pickering|party6=National Democratic Party|votes6=2860

|cand7=Shaina Smith-Archer|party7=Progressive Virgin Islands Movement|votes7=2781

|cand8=Zoe Walcott|party8=Virgin Islands Party|votes8=2697

|cand9=Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe|party9=Progressive Virgin Islands Movement|votes9=2675

|cand10=Carvin Malone|party10=Virgin Islands Party|votes10=2430|sc10=Unseated

|cand11=Renard Estridge|party11=National Democratic Party|votes11=1630

|cand12=Daniel Fligelston-Davies|party12=Independent|votes12=1490

|cand13=Allen O'Neal|party13=National Democratic Party|votes13=1396

|cand14=Lesmore Smith|party14=Independent|votes14=851

|cand15=Karen Vanterpool|party15=Independent|votes15=244

|cand16=Mitsy Ellis-Simpson|party16=Independent|votes16=164

|cand17=Ishmael Brathwaite|party17=Independent|votes17=95

|invalid=811

}}

Aftermath

=Coalition discussions=

Because of the division of seats, no party had won overall control of the House of Assembly. There followed a period of intense discussions between the parties to either pry away members or to try and form a coalition between parties. Within 24 hours Lorna Smith, who campaigned as a member of the NDP (and whose husband had led three NDP governments), agreed that she would join the VIP as a single person in coalition to give them a working majority and keep them in power. Almost immediately there followed an announcement that she would be the Deputy Premier in the new government.{{Cite web|url=https://bvinews.com/lorna-smith-sworn-in-as-deputy-premier/ |title=Lorna Smith sworn in as Deputy Premier |publisher=BVI News |date=25 April 2023}}

=Cabinet=

Unusually, the new government and ministers were sworn in but without confirming ministerial portfolios. Party leader, Natalio Wheatley, was sworn in as Premier, and Lorna Smith was sworn in as Deputy Premier. Kye Rymer, Vincent Wheatley and Sharie de Castro were also sworn in as Ministers but without specifying their portfolios, and Karl Dawson and Luce Hodge-Smith were sworn in as Junior Ministers.{{cite web|url=http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleid=34699 |title=Ministerial Portfolios Assigned; Premier Justifies Creating New Ministry For Lorna Smith |publisher=BVI Platinum |date=29 April 2023}} This effectively brought an end to the cross-party "unity government" which was put in place following the 2021 Commission of Inquiry.

class="wikitable"

|+ Cabinet of the British Virgin Islands

! align="center" style="background: #efefef;" width="125"|Office

! align="center" style="background: #efefef;" width="150"|Members

! align="center" style="background: #efefef;" width="350"|Notes

Premier

| Natalio Wheatley

| Minister of Finance

Governor

| John Rankin

valign="top"

| rowspan=4 | Ministers

| valign="top" | Lorna Smith

| Deputy Premier
Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade

valign="top" | Kye Rymer

| Minister for Communications and Works

valign="top" | Sharie de Castro

| Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports

valign="top" | Vincent Wheatley

| Minister for Health and Welfare

rowspan=2 | Junior Ministers

| Karl Dawson

| Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries

Luce Hodge-Smith

| Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism

Attorney General

| Dawn Smith

| Ex-officio, non-voting

Cabinet Secretary

| Sandra Ward

Ronnie Skelton was confirmed as the Leader of the Opposition.{{cite web|url=http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleid=34696 |title=Update: Skelton Sworn In As Opposition Leader |publisher=BVI Platinum |date=27 April 2023}}

=Other=

The Premier, Natalio Wheatley, called upon all parties to put the election behind them and move forward together.{{cite web|url=https://bvinews.com/lets-move-on-says-premier-in-post-election-address/ |title=Let’s move on, says Premier in post-election address |publisher=BVI News |date=26 April 2023}}

Predictably, a great deal of the local commentary on the election focussed upon the shock move when Lorna Smith switched from a lifetime supporting the NDP to join the VIP - a party she had repeatedly and loudly attacked throughout her campaign.{{cite web|url=https://bvinews.com/stunned-skelton-cline-scorches-lorna-smith-over-vip-move/ |title=Stunned Skelton Cline scorches Lorna Smith over VIP move |publisher=BVI News|date=26 April 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://bvinews.com/no-regrets-lorna-smith-denies-making-power-play/ |title=No regrets! Lorna Smith denies making ‘power play’ |publisher=BVI News|date=26 April 2023}} Shortly after the election the NDP announced that she was being expelled from the party.{{cite web|url=https://bvinews.com/lorna-smith-to-be-axed-from-ndps-corner/ |title=Lorna Smith to be axed from NDP’s corner |publisher=BVI News |date=27 April 2023}}

Separately, the Supervisor for Elections called for a wholesale reform of the Election Act ahead of the next general election.{{cite web|url=https://bvinews.com/elections-act-needs-comprehensive-review-elections-supervisor/ |title=Elections Act needs comprehensive review — Elections Supervisor |publisher=BVI News|date=26 April 2023}}

References

British Virgin Islands

General election

Category:Elections in the British Virgin Islands

British Virgin