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Territorial At-Large Representative Stacy "Budda" Mather has publicly affirmed his contentment with joining the Virgin Islands Party administration, telling Works Minister Kye Rymer’s Fifth District Dialogue radio programme that he believes in the governing party’s direction for the territory.
Mather, who crossed the floor to join Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley’s government in December 2025, acknowledged that the transition from opposition ranks was not straightforward. He noted that he understood public questions about his decision to leave his previous political home, but emphasized that he would not have made the move without genuine conviction in the VIP’s commitment to progress.
"I must say: you, the Premier, have embraced me. The entire team has embraced me and it gives me a better understanding from this side of what is happening," Mather stated during the broadcast. He credited the warm reception from his new colleagues as validation of his choice.
Mather’s remarks hinted at ambitions for the 2027 general election, declaring that he looks forward to the campaign and bringing forward plans to benefit the Virgin Islands. However, he did not explicitly confirm whether he intends to contest the election under the VIP banner, leaving room for speculation about his electoral future.
Rymer, for his part, welcomed Mather’s integration into the government team, characterizing him as a strong fit within the administration. The floor-cross represents a significant political realignment in the territory’s parliament, marking Mather’s second party switch following earlier affiliations with the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement and The Alliance.
Stacy Mather was elected as a Territorial At-Large Representative and previously represented the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement before joining The Alliance. His move to the VIP in December 2025 marked a notable shift in the territory’s political landscape, occurring ahead of the scheduled 2027 general election.
Floor-crossing and political realignment are recurring dynamics across Caribbean legislatures, reflecting broader questions about party loyalty, constituent representation, and the stability of small-island democracies. Mather’s public defence of his decision speaks to the intense scrutiny such moves face in tight-knit Caribbean communities where voters often have direct relationships with elected representatives.
Sources and attribution
- BVI News
- Hon Stacy R. Mather departs Alliance to join VIP Gov't
- ‘I Am Very Happy Where I Sit’ – Mather Sees a Future for BVI With VIP
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