ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI — Where is the ALL 13 team?

That is the question facing the “All 13 Must Go” movement as the British Virgin Islands moves closer to the next general election and political organisations begin positioning themselves for what could be one of the Territory’s most consequential electoral contests in years.

The movement emerged from growing public frustration with governance, accountability, the cost of living and what many residents see as a failure by elected representatives to adequately address the concerns of the people.

Its message was simple: all 13 elected members of the House of Assembly should go, making way for a new generation of representatives.

The slogan resonated with people who believe the Territory needs more than a reshuffling of familiar political faces. However, turning that message into a viable electoral force is proving to be a different challenge.

As the election approaches, the question is no longer simply whether all 13 should go, but who is prepared to replace them.

ALL 13 Facing Challenges With Its Line-Up?

Guavaberry Media understands that the ALL 13 movement has encountered some challenges with its prospective candidates, with two potential candidates reportedly leaving its line-up.

As we presently understand it, the movement has five candidates in its line-up, although the identities of all prospective candidates and the status of its recruitment efforts have not been publicly confirmed to us.

If that understanding is accurate, the movement still has considerable ground to cover to fulfil its stated ambition of fielding a complete team of 13 candidates.

The reported departures raise questions about the movement’s ability to attract and retain the people needed to turn its public message into a coordinated campaign.

It also raises broader questions about the movement’s organisational structure, candidate selection process, leadership and readiness for the demands of a general election.

The movement may still be working behind the scenes, and the absence of a complete public line-up does not mean its efforts have stalled. Nevertheless, a campaign built around replacing all 13 elected representatives must eventually identify the people who believe they can do a better job.

A slogan can capture public frustration, but a successful election campaign requires candidates, resources, organisation and a credible programme for government.

From A Popular Slogan To A Political Team

The “All 13 Must Go” movement gained traction because it captured a growing sense of dissatisfaction with governance and the performance of elected representatives.

Political commentator Claude Skelton Cline has previously floated the idea of recruiting 13 new people to present the Territory with a credible political alternative. His call suggested that the movement could evolve beyond an online campaign into an organised electoral force.

Yet the difference between calling for all 13 elected representatives to go and identifying 13 capable people prepared to contest the seats, campaign across the Territory and govern is considerable.

Who are the candidates? Who is leading the initiative? What is its policy platform? How will it select its representatives, finance its campaign and ensure that the people it presents are prepared to serve?

These are not unreasonable questions. They are questions voters should ask of any group seeking their support.

Other Political Groups Are Moving

While the public waits to see what form the ALL 13 movement will take, other political organisations have been making their intentions increasingly clear.

The People’s Leadership Movement (PLM), led by former legislator Mark Vanterpool, has begun unveiling candidates and positioning itself for the next election. The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) has also been ratifying candidates, while other political groups are preparing for the contest.

The political landscape is therefore becoming more crowded, with traditional parties, newer movements and independent candidates seeking to persuade voters that they offer a better way forward.

Among those who have declared their intentions to contest independently are Rosemary Rosan, who is running for an At-Large seat, and other prospective candidates seeking to offer voters an alternative to established party politics.

The growing independent field adds another dimension to the election. It raises the possibility that voters dissatisfied with traditional political structures may choose candidates based on individual credibility, policies and their willingness to put the Territory ahead of party loyalty.

That presents a challenge for ALL 13. Public dissatisfaction may create an opening, but that opening will not remain available indefinitely.

The Leadership Question

The movement’s central challenge is whether it can move from protest to practical political organisation.

Replacing all 13 elected representatives would require candidates capable of winning across the nine electoral districts and four Territorial At-Large seats. It would also require a coherent programme for government, a clear decision-making structure and a credible plan for dealing with the complex economic, constitutional and social issues facing the Territory.

Voters are entitled to know not simply who the movement opposes, but what its proposed representatives would do differently.

The Territory needs representatives who can address the cost of living, housing, water, electricity, public finances, crime, healthcare, education and the future of the Virgin Islands’ relationship with the United Kingdom.

It also needs people who understand that winning an election is only the beginning of the responsibility.

Is The Movement Losing Time?

With political organisations beginning to identify candidates and build their campaigns, the absence of a complete, publicly presented ALL 13 team raises questions about timing and preparedness.

The movement does not necessarily have to follow the same approach as established political parties. It could choose a different structure, operate as a coalition or continue to mobilise public opinion without becoming a formal political organisation.

But if its objective remains the removal of all 13 sitting legislators, the public will eventually need to see the people expected to carry that promise into the polling stations.

A demand for change is not, by itself, a plan for governing.

The reported departure of two potential candidates, coupled with the five candidates presently understood to be in its line-up, makes the question of whether ALL 13 can assemble a complete slate even more pertinent.

The movement may yet surprise its critics. However, with the next election approaching, it will need to demonstrate that its message can be translated into a credible electoral operation.

Could The Territory Be Heading Towards A Coalition Government?

Perhaps the most significant question emerging from the changing political landscape is whether the Territory could be heading towards a solid coalition government, reminiscent of the political arrangements that existed before the 1995 general election transformed the political landscape.

The current environment is becoming increasingly fragmented. The established parties are preparing their slates, the ALL 13 movement is seeking to build its team, the PLM is advancing its own candidates, and independent candidates are entering the race.

If support is divided among these competing groups, it is conceivable that no single political organisation will secure a clear majority of elected members.

In that scenario, coalition-building could become central to forming the next government.

Two or more political groups, potentially joined by independent representatives, could find themselves negotiating an arrangement to secure the numbers required to govern.

Such an outcome would represent a significant shift in the Territory’s political direction. It could require elected representatives to negotiate across political lines, agree on shared priorities and demonstrate that cooperation is possible even when their campaigns have been built around different platforms.

A coalition government, however, would only benefit the Territory if it were built around a clear programme for government, agreed priorities and accountability to the public. A coalition formed merely to secure positions and political power would risk reproducing the very frustrations that have fuelled calls for change.

The pre-1995 political experience is relevant as a reminder that the composition of the House of Assembly can shape how governments are formed and how political power is exercised.

The question is whether the Territory’s electorate is preparing to move away from the dominance of established political parties towards a more collaborative political arrangement.

The Question Voters Must Ask

The ALL 13 movement tapped into a genuine political conversation about accountability, public trust and the desire for new leadership. Whether its supporters can turn that sentiment into a viable electoral alternative remains to be seen.

The movement may still have people working behind the scenes. Its absence of a complete, publicly confirmed slate does not, on its own, establish that no preparations are taking place.

Nevertheless, as other political forces make their intentions known, transparency about its leadership, candidates and plans will become increasingly important.

Who will represent the nine districts? Who are the four At-Large candidates? Who is coordinating the effort, and what programme will the team offer the people of the Virgin Islands?

These are questions that deserve answers as the election approaches.

If ALL 13 intends to replace the existing political establishment, the public must eventually be given the opportunity to assess the proposed replacements.

After all, the objective cannot simply be to remove 13 people. It must be to elect representatives capable of doing a better job.

And with independent candidates, new political movements and established parties all competing for the electorate’s confidence, the next election may produce an outcome few would have predicted.

The slogan has been heard. The challenge now is to show the people the team. But beyond the ALL 13 movement, the bigger question is whether the Territory is heading towards a solid coalition government, reminiscent of the political era before 1995.