Republican Party of the Virgin Islands
| Republican Party of the Virgin Islands | |
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| Basic facts | |
| Type: | Political party |
| Affiliation: | Republican |
| Top official: | Gordon Ackley, Chair |
| Year founded: | 1948 |
| Website: | Official website |
The Republican Party of the Virgin Islands is the U.S. Virgin Islands political party affiliate of the national Republican Party.[1]
Background
The Republican Party of the Virgin Islands (USVI GOP) was established in 1948 by a group of political activists led by Stanley Farrelly, Roy P. Gordon, Charles Clark, and Louis Brown. The party gained admittance to the Republican National Committee in 1952.[2][3]
The USVI GOP is one of three recognized political parties in the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to a 2014 analysis, the U.S. Virgin Islands supervisor of elections reported 23,455 active Republican voters out of 46,739 total active voters in the territory.[4][5]
Platform
The party's stated platform is composed of 14 main issues:[6]
- Education
"We believe that the present centralized educational system has not adequately performed the functions for which it was established." - Economy
"The Republican Party of the Virgin Islands believes that the development of the private sector is necessary in order to create economic growth and prosperity in the Virgin Islands." - Tax reform
"The Republican Party of the Virgin Islands proposes that changes must be made in the tax laws of the Virgin Islands. Among these changes is the elimination of the gross receipts tax and import duty tax." - Energy
"The Republican Party of the Virgin Islands encourages the use of alternative sources of energy from wind, solar, etc." - Federal relations
"As an integral part of the United States, it is imperative that the Virgin Islands achieve the equality guaranteed by the United States Constitution." - Integrity in public office
"Illegal or unethical behavior as a public official cannot be countenanced." - Governmental services and operations
"Good means of communication and a well-planned infrastructure are as basic to efficient government as are the institutional guarantees offered by schools, hospitals, and public safety." - Local government
"In keeping with the basic principles of the Republican Party, we believe that government starts with the people, that the more people that are actively involved, the more control there is over government." - Elections
"Voter verifiable certification should become the norm and safeguards should be implemented within the system, so that all elections are fair and accurate." - Agriculture and conservation
"We Republicans believe in the development of local agriculture as a viable industry. Incentives in the form of price supports, land grants, and financial assistance programs to individual farmers should receive more support to stimulate this depressed industry." - Law and order
"Reforms must be made in our system of criminal justice with the existing state of crisis in the Virgin Islands which denies our citizens freedom from fear." - National defense and homeland security
"Individuals entering the Virgin Islands should do so legally, and illegal entry should be discouraged and promptly punished." - Human services
"Virgin Islands Republicans believe that government should be limited to providing services for those who are truly needy, and to those who can not help themselves." - Budget
"The Republican Party of the Virgin Islands believes that government must operate within a balanced budget as required by law."
Rules and bylaws
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The state party is governed by a set of rules and bylaws. Typically, these give structure to the different levels of organization—local, county, and state committees—and establish protocol for electing committee members. The bylaws also typically give details on the party's process for nominating and sending delegates to the national party convention during presidential elections. The following is a summary of the Republican Party of the Virgin Islands' rules. This summary focuses on the structure and governance of the party:[1]
- The territorial committee is the governing body of the Republican Party of the Virgin Islands. The finance committee oversees the party's financial operations.
- The territorial committee must conduct a minimum of four meetings each year.
- Party officers include the chair, first vice chair, second vice chair, secretary, and treasurer.
Convention
The Republican Party of the Virgin Islands selected its delegates to the 2016 Republican National Convention during the 2016 U.S. Virgin Islands Republican caucus, which was held on March 10, 2016.[7]
Leadership
The executive director of the Republican Party of the Virgin Islands (USVI GOP) is Dennis Lennox.[8]
The following individuals hold leadership positions with the USVI GOP:[8]
- Gordon Ackley, State chairman
- John Clendenin, National committeeman
- Vacant, National committeewoman
Recent news
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Republican Party of the Virgin Islands, "Principles and rules," accessed April 20, 2016
- ↑ Virgin Islands Republican Women, "Home," accessed April 20, 2016
- ↑ Dookhan, Isaac. (1994). A History of the Virgin Islands of the United States. Kingston, Jamaica: Canoe Press. (page 298)
- ↑ Election System of the Virgin Islands, "Frequently asked questions," accessed April 20, 2016
- ↑ Election System of the Virgin Islands, "Voter registration statistics cross reference report," March 6, 2014
- ↑ Republican Party of the Virgin Islands, "Platform," accessed April 20, 2016
- ↑ Republican Party of the Virgin Islands, "Letter to the chairman," April 2, 2016
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Republican Party of the Virgin Islands, "About Our Party," accessed December 19, 2023
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