I will not take political sides – Simmonds
BVI News Staff - Wednesday, October 24th, 2012 at 6:40 AM
Simmonds
Local political activists who think the newly installed Minister for the UK Overseas Territories would hop onto their political bandwagons may have to think twice.
Minister Mark Simmonds has declared that he is not in the business of taking political sides and will only work towards improving the lot of the territory and its people.
Amplifying his non-partisanship approach, Simmonds said he ensured that his first official visit to the BVI was used to meet both political leaders – Premier Orlando Smith who heads the National Democratic Party as well as Opposition Leader Ralph T. O’Neal who is the man in charge of the Virgin Islands Party.
The recently appointed minister pitched his political stance at Government House yesterday (October 23) while responding to questions posed at a press briefing, few hours after he touched down on local soil.
Simmonds declared: “I am certainly not in the business of taking political side. And not only have I met the premier today. I also met with Mr. O’Neal who is the Leader of the Opposition – who I have known for some time, to get a balanced view of what the political perception is here in BVI.”
While keeping details of his conversation with the Opposition Leader close to his chest, Simmonds said there are indications that both political leaders have the best interest of the BVI at heart.
“I don’t want to get into details about a private conversation (with the Opposition Leader) just as I wouldn’t get into details about a private conversation with the Premier. What I would say is that Mr. O’Neal has expressed his opinions in a very articulate way and, just as the premier has the best interest of the future of the British Virgin Islands, so I believe Mr. O’Neal has the best interest of the British Virgin Islands at heart as well,” explained the new UK Minister.
He continued: “My view is that I am here to – where appropriate- put in place mechanisms through the White Paper to assist the people of the BVI. And obviously I will do that with the Premier and his colleagues because they are the democratically elected government of the BVI, along with the Governor as the UK government’s representative on the ground.”
Simmonds who has promised to ensure that ties are strengthened between the UK’s and its overseas territories like the BVI, assumed office in September as a replacement for Henry Bellingham.
Speaking of Bellingham, he said: “I am very keen to build on the work that my predecessor did to deepen and strengthen the ties between BVI and the UK in a spirit of partnership to the benefit of both people who live in BVI and people who live in the UK.”
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4 Comments
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for sure he wont be eating out of anybody hands
hahahahahah..ayo take that….This one there aint easy ma bowy! sticking to the plan! with the current NDP party in we going be safe…..2015 lets just hope it stays that way if not….we in a whole lot a trouble! all u going hear on VINO is “the british is coming, the British is coming”
If u decide to change your mind later on, remember NDP is the better of the two evils. Proven track record of performance
Good speech sir
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