Progressive Virgin Islands Movement

{{Infobox political party

| name = Progressive Virgin Islands Movement

| logo =

| logo_size =

| colorcode = {{party color|Progressive Virgin Islands Movement}}

| leader = Ronnie Skelton

| ideology = Progressivism
British Virgin Islands independence

| headquarters =

| country = the British Virgin Islands

| leader1_title =

| leader1_name =

| founded = 2018

| split = National Democratic Party

| seats1_title = House of Assembly

| seats1 = {{Composition bar|3|13|{{party color|Progressive Virgin Islands Movement}}}}

| national =

| blank1 =

}}

The Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) is a political party in the British Virgin Islands.{{cite web|url=http://www.caribbeanelections.com/knowledge/parties/bv_parties/default.asp |title=Political Parties in the British Virgin Islands |publisher=Caribbean Elections |accessdate=25 March 2023}} It is presently led by Ronnie Skelton.

Although the party uses the word 'progressive' in its name, this is generally taken as a reflection of a desire for 'progress' in terms of the Territory's development rather than an ideological attachment to traditional socially progressive politics. The party's leader supports the independence of the British Virgin Islands.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-17 |title=No independence without democracy, Skelton says |url=https://bvinews.com/no-independence-without-democracy-skelton-says/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=BVI News |language=en}}

Founding

The party was founded in 2018 following an acrimonious split in the ruling National Democratic Party.{{cite news |url=http://bvinews.com/new/facts-about-the-so-called-skelton-political-party/ |title=Facts about the so-called Skelton political party |work=BVI News|date=13 November 2018}} The then-Premier, Orlando Smith, indicated that he would retire from politics at the next election.{{cite news|url=http://bvinews.com/new/premier-not-seeking-re-election-as-ndp-leader/|title=Premier not seeking re-election as NDP leader|work=BVI News|date=19 June 2018}} This created a leadership contest, and the two main candidates were Myron Walwyn and Ronnie Skelton. Walwyn won,{{cite news|url=http://bvinews.com/new/walwyn-elected-as-ndp-leader-penn-new-party-vp/ |title=Walwyn elected as NDP leader, Penn new party VP |work=BVI News|date=23 June 2018}} and thereafter Skelton resigned to form his own party.{{cite web|url=https://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleId=29525|title=Skelton Begins Recruiting For New Party |publisher=BVI Platinum|date=2 October 2018}}

Electoral history

The party contested the 2019 British Virgin Islands general election, but only won a single seat ("Mitch" Turnbull in District 2). Although Skelton failed to win election to the House, he remained leader of the party, although Turbull represented it in the House.

Ahead of the 2023 British Virgin Islands general election the party doubled the number of representatives it had in the house when Junior Minister Shereen Flax-Charles "crossed the floor" 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}} Ms Flax-Charles was unsuccessful in her re-election bid, but three PVIM candidates were elected, including incumbent Mitch Turnbull and party leader Ronnie Skelton.{{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}}