[4] In the end former first lady Lorna Smith agreed that she would join the VIP as a single person in coalition to give them a working majority and keep them in power.

The elections are the first since the 2021 Commission of Inquiry which recommended the suspension of the Territory's constitution after finding that "[a]lmost everywhere, the principles of good governance, such as openness, transparency and even the rule of law, are ignored".

[9] In response to the report the Territory formed a "unity government" including members of the opposition National Democratic Party (NDP) and Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) in the Cabinet.

[10] The elections also follow the arrest of the country's Premier Andrew Fahie, in Miami on charges relating to drug smuggling.

[21] The leader of the PVIM, Ronnie Skelton, failed to win a seat in the 2019 election, and so Mitch Turnbull (D2) assumed leadership of the party in the House.

The party's ranks were also bolstered when representative Shereen Flax-Charles (at-large) crossed the floor to join the PVIM.

[30] Another sensitive issue which was discussed is the controversial Retiring Allowances (Legislative Services) Amendment Act, 2021 (referred to on social media as the "Greedy Bill") which gave extremely generous payments over a number of years to retiring members of the House of Assembly.

[31] The VIP hit back, accusing NDP politicians of profiting equally from the act despite criticising it.

Allegations of political candidates or their paying persons to vote for them were reported in local news.

Former NDP party leader, Myron Walwyn, won a surprisingly easy victory over incumbent, Maduro-Caines.

Vincent Wheatley held on to his seat amid a crowded field as Coy Levens and Flax-Charles split the anti-government vote.

Skelton returns to the house after losing his seat in 2019, and is joined by new member Stacy "Buddha" Mather.

[42] This effectively brought an end to the cross-party "unity government" which was put in place following the 2021 Commission of Inquiry.

[43] The Premier, Natalio Wheatley, called upon all parties to put the election behind them and move forward together.

[44] Predictably, a great deal of the local commentary on the election focussed upon the shock move when Lorna Smith switched from a lifetime supporting the NDP to join the VIP - a party she had repeatedly and loudly attacked throughout her campaign.