NDP must solve problems, not blame predecessors, Skelton warns party

At-Large Representative Ronnie Skelton has cautioned the National Democratic Party against following what he views as the Virgin Islands Party's approach of attributing the territory's difficulties to decisions made by earlier governments.

Speaking during an NDP radio broadcast, Skelton took aim at politicians who cite inherited challenges as reasons for slow progress, despite having pledged swift action during their campaigns. "I hope we don't do this thing I hear this government doing, saying they inherit this. I didn't know you could blame other people for your inheritance," Skelton said. "You went out there and told the people you can do all these great things, and now you get in, you're crying about things you have to fix."

He continued: "I am not built that way. I ain't blaming a man for a thing. If I say I can fix it, I'll fix it."

Water supply has become a focal point of this debate, with residents growing increasingly frustrated by ongoing shortages. The government has repeatedly pointed to years of underinvestment by previous administrations as a root cause of the infrastructure problems now facing the islands. Skelton acknowledged that an earlier VIP government did contribute to current water difficulties by constructing production facilities on the eastern side of the territory, which complicated delivery to western areas. A later NDP administration attempted to remedy this but encountered financial constraints.

Yet Skelton maintained that assigning blame would not solve the water crisis, particularly given rising demand and declining rainfall. "You can't sit here and just blame people. You just have to find a solution to the problem," he stated. He recognised that the present government's investments in water transmission infrastructure and reservoir systems represent constructive steps forward.

NDP Chairman Marlon Penn aligned himself with Skelton's message, emphasising that his party prioritises actionable remedies over defensive explanations. "None of us are built that way on this team," Penn said. He noted that the NDP has been working alongside industry specialists to formulate effective answers to the territory's challenges.