Mather trades opposition for government

Cracks in the opposition deepened Monday when At-Large Representative Stacy Mather crossed the floor of the House of Assembly to join the government ranks.

The move leaves the government with nine of the 13 elected HOA members and cuts the opposition down to four.

Mr. Mather was the biggest vote winner in the 2023 general election, and Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley welcomed his defection as a choice for “light over darkness.”

Walwyn weakened

The surprise move left Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn (R-D6) weakened after a rocky nine months in the role.

Longstanding opposition tensions previously boiled over in March when Mr. Walwyn — who declined to comment for this story — ousted Ronnie Skelton (R-at large) after forming the cross-party “Alliance” grouping with Mr. Mather and Mitch Turnbull (R-D2).

Mr. Skelton told the Beacon at the time that he had been “stabbed in the front” by Mr. Walwyn, and he realigned himself with the National Democratic Party headed by his opposition colleague Marlon Penn (R-D8).

Since then, Messrs. Skelton and Penn have been absent from press conferences held by Alliance members.

At the head of a divided opposition, Mr. Walwyn has struggled to build broader support, and his move to oust the government fizzled in July when only Mr. Turnbull backed his motion for a vote of no confidence.

At the time, Mr. Mather apologised for missing the vote, citing “personal matters” for his absence from the HOA at the time.

Hearty welcome

On Monday, the premier welcomed Mr. Mather with open arms.

“With Honourable Mather’s decision to join the government, he chooses not to criticise the darkness but light a candle,” Mr. Wheatley said during a joint announcement broadcast on the government’s Facebook page. “Stacy has chosen patriotism over party and country above self.”

Mr. Wheatley stayed vague about Mr. Mather’s role in government, stating only that he would assist with the RATED Programme, agriculture and fisheries initiatives, and work to empower community-based organisations.

Mr. Mather said in the joint video announcement that he had decided to join the government because the territory is experiencing “strange and uncertain times.”

“Let it be clear: Politics has its place, but my duty and responsibility to serve the people of the Virgin Islands comes first,” he said. “My people, crossing the floor is not a move away from you: It is a step towards you.”

Opposition tumult

The past 18 months have been a tumultuous time on the opposition benches as Julian Fraser switched to the government and became deputy premier in October 2024 after Mr. Wheatley abruptly sacked Lorna Smith from the position.

After a time in the opposition, Ms. Smith (R-at large) subsequently rejoined the government in March as junior minister of financial services and economic development.