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ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Social commentator Julio S. Henry is adding his voice to the conversation surrounding the use of malicious social media memes in the 2019 Virgin Islands (VI) elections season, that viciously attack political candidates and their family members in a bid to gain political mileage.

At a recent rally, Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP 1) Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL) had outright condemned the action, when a meme targeting his wife surfaced which further led to him to pointing fingers at the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) as responsible.

VIP Chairman Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) in a Friday, February 15, 2019, release condemning the action said, “I categorically denounce this kind of attack on Mrs Judith Walwyn,” noting that those in the political arena can agree to disagree but family members are off limits.

NDP Camp is responsible – Henry

“I find it only fitting to address some of the talk I see on the radio and TV and coming out of the NDP camp specifically the whole talk about this WhatsApp [message] that just came out, and I personally will condemn the WhatsApp [message] I think it’s wrong no matter what,” he said in a short video released via social media.

According to Mr Henry, he believes that the NDP camp is ultimately responsible for the malicious activity, “Myron, I believe personally that is coming out your camp, I think the NDP has a history of doing things like this… we saw their behaviour in 2011, 2015, we saw the NDP employ people from outside… firms that are known to be this way putting things out to try to gain sympathy votes,” he said.

Sympathy Votes

My Henry continued, “You [Walwyn] got in the minds of people, and I believe that it is somebody in your camp that is doing these kinds of things to make it look like the VIP is doing it, and imagine there is four other or three other parties out there and you find it fitting to condemn the VIP,” the television host said in berating the actions of the NDP Chairman.

Henry speaking directly to Mr Walwyn further warned, “I believe it’s you and your people doing it… it is a way for you to try to gain sympathy… It ain’t going to work.”