British Virgin Islands: Andrew Fahie and his Virgin Islands Party win general election in landslide victory

Eight years after it was swept out of power, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) headed by Andrew Fahie, has won the general election, winning 8 of the 13 seats at stake.

The party, which formed the government between 2007 and 2011, won 4 district seats and 4 Territorial At-large seats, while the incumbent National Democratic Party (NDP) won 3 seats.

The other 2 seats were won by the Progressive United (PU) and the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIMP).

In the First District, Fahie, received 752 votes, easily defeating Sylvia Moses ,141 votes and Stephanie Brewley, a mere 28 votes.

Fahie, 48, is expected to be sworn in as the new Premier later on Tuesday.

He was last December ousted as Opposition Leader following the split within the then ruling NDP with Ronnie Skelton leading a faction and became the largest opposition party in Parliament.

The VIP was 1 of 4 political parties that contested the elections held after Premier Orlando Smith, decided to forego a by-election for the 5th Electoral District that became vacant last October following the death of Representative Delores Chris.

Smith did not contest Monday’s polls, after having indicated in June last year that he would be stepping down and not contesting the next general election.

Electoral officials said 25 candidates from 4 political parties as well as a lone independent, contested the election in 9 districts, while 15 candidates contested the poll as At-Large Candidates.

The election was the first general election in the Territory to use electronically tabulated voting rather that manual count. -(CMC)