Senior Opposition legislator Mark Vanterpool has announced that he will be bowing out of politics after completing his term, and contends that this time he is indeed serious about his decision.
Vanterpool made the announcement during the 11th Sitting of the Third Session of the House of Assembly on Thursday September 2nd.
He said, “The Honourable Premier joke with me and said that I said this is my last and I said that many times before and he remind me of some of the times I’ve said it, and reminded me of some of the other members those who’ve passed on, blessed their memory, who told me do say it because I may be back again.”
He continued, “But I make no bones about it, I don’t have any wish to run for any more political office, I think I have made my contribution once this 20 years is finished, these five terms are finished, I think there are younger persons to come up and I think everyone must make their contribution.”
Will be spending time with family
Vanterpool assured the Members of the House of Assembly that he intends to keep his word this time, after discussions with his family of whom he intends to spend more time with, following his departure from political office after some 20 years.
“I don’t intend to contest for office anymore and it is something I have considered for a long time, it is something that my family and I have consulted on because little do people know is that families play a major role in your public office. Unlike what you may think that it’s a flamboyant position, I can tell you it’s not especially when it comes to families who suffer in many ways as a result of being in political office whether verbally or otherwise,” he stated.
“Therefore, I think I have put my family through enough during these 20 years almost and I want to thank them for being a good support for me and I have promised them that my time if the Lord gives me a little more is going to be spent paying a little attention to them, especially my grandchildren,” Vanterpool further explained.
In the meantime, the Fourth District Representative said during his remaining time as an elected member, he intends to have all 13 Members of the House of Assembly working together in sync, for the betterment of the territory.
Following the territory’s last election in February 2019, which saw Vanterpool’s National Democratic Party losing government, the member who was reelected to serve the Fourth District had initially announced his retirement from politics.
However, following that announcement, Vanterpool later decided to remain in politics, a decision that resulted in the opposition legislator and the Speaker of the House of Assembly Julian Willock, taking the matter to court.