Premier leads delegation to OTCC meeting in the UK
GIS - Monday, November 21st, 2011 at 5:52 PM
Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith
Premier Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE will lead a delegation to the United Kingdom (UK) today, Saturday, November 19 to represent the Territory at the annual Overseas Territories Consultative Council (OTCC) meeting with Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) from November 23-24.
Premier Smith will join other premiers, chief ministers and officials from the Overseas Territories (OTs). They will meet with the Minister for Overseas Territories Mr. Henry Bellingham MP, other ministers of HMG and senior officials to discuss key policy issues and the relationship among counterparts.
“This meeting is critical to the direction of all Overseas Territories,” Premier Smith told the Department of Information and Public Relations. “The Overseas Territories must build a healthy and productive relationship with the British Government within the framework of modern partnership.”
The OTs’ list of agenda items include discussions on the proposed OT Strategy and White Paper; aviation safety; financial services and economic development; good governance, financial management and economic planning; community and local government issues; culture, media and sports issues, criminal justice; business, innovation and skills issues; pension and labour issues; and environment and climate change issues.
Prior to the OTCC meeting the Premier will attend a bi-lateral meeting with Mr. Bellingham to discuss a number of pressing matters. While in London the Premier will also meet with the new chairman and members of the BVI All Party Parliamentary Group. He will also be briefed by representatives of Air Safety Support International (ASSI) on a number of aviation matters.
Honourable Smith’s delegation includes Financial Secretary Mr. Neil Smith; Assistant Secretary for External Affairs in the Premier’s Office Ms. Najan Christopher; elected representative for the eighth district Mr. Marlon Penn; advisor Mrs. Lorna Smith, OBE, and from the BVI London Office, Director Mr. Kedrick Malone and Political Analyst Mr. Benito Wheatley. The Premier and delegation will return to the Territory on Saturday 26th November.
In Honourable Smith’s absence from the Territory, Deputy Premier Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering will act as premier. According to Section 55 (1) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007 the Governor, “If the Premier is expected to be absent from the Virgin Islands for more than forty-eight hours, the Governor shall authorise the Deputy Premier to perform the functions of the office of Premier.
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37 Comments
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Why didn’t the Premier take the Leader of the Opposition on this trip. This just shows the unprofessional-ism of the party. If they had just carried at least one member of the Opposition, they would have gained more strength amongst the party.
The Premier does not need to take no Opposition with him, lets think about when Ralph was the Premier DID YOU SEE HIM TAKING DR. SMITH HIM CHECK, you DUMB FOOL.
For your information , the former VIP government always took a member of the Opposition with them on certain trips they travelled. That is a fact. So please check your facts before you post. The records can verify this too
please…has ralph ever taken dr. smith to any of his meeting…..However Dr. smith did a few years ago when the new legislation was coming into place…..so please just sit down!
OKay what is the problem. Hon Smith’s delegation included Mr. Neil Smith;OK Asst Sec for External Affairs in Premier’s Office Ms. Najan Christopher (Delores Christopher daughter!; elected representative for the eighth district Mr. Marlon Penn[he's kool!]; advisor Mrs. Lorna Smith, OBE [whats wrong with her, she is educated and has a long standing history with the BVI Govt! strups been there from HLStout time and I love her! go hush your mouths the woman looks good at her age and she is still trying to serve her country so go sit down.
Mrs Lorna Smith OBE should in no way shape or form be an advisor to this government! She should be there in the capacity of Wife of the Premier and nothing more. Is she a paid advisor? NDP ranted and raved about transparency and this is how they start off. Stay in your lane Mrs. Smith!
My, how the rules have changed overnight!!!!
To tolian and brandy, stop hating and negative , not because you all can’t go to london, your making such silly comments, get a grip tolian and brandy. both of you sound so foolish. VIP has lost so stop the hating and embrace it. you all making noise about who gone to england. is this something that you need to make an issue with people. show support and love. how do you expect the BVI to do better if you, if your finding fault with such petty things.
brandy scatter ur old self…ista discussions…nothing is written in stone….its a regular discussions london initiates with the Overseas Territortories….so in all ist good for him to be present and see….All members of the previous had an opportunity why cant he
Even thou Marlon might be young, please becarefulhow you treat him please. There is a reason why he is part of the government!!!
Marlon was elected by the people of the eight district. God has him there for a reason and he has proven to be the best canidate to represent the district. No weapon that is fromed against Marlon shall never prosper. He is going to be alright.
Why to you people be so negative?? Do you know that Lorna has her own consulting business? She is more that qualify to go with the primier who is in deed her husband. People stop letting envy and jealousy control your thinking. They are all working for the betterment of the country!!!
To tolian this Delegation is small compared to previous the last 4 year:
Premier & His wife
His 2 PA’s
2 elected Officials
2 support staff!!!
If my counting skills are correct that makes it 8…..
current admin travelled with 5
Yes my friend, you tell them! They love selective amnesia, all of a sudden they’re concerned about value for money haha!!!
Peng, please tell us on what trip the 2 PAs travelled together, who the 2 support staff were and why they were there and who paid for the Premier’s wife.
whiskers eat u heart out,your blood pressure got to b out of control that u r not on that team. so please stop counting how many officials gone .4 sure u r not on that flight
It would be good for Marlon to see the inner runnings for UK Government, especially being fresh in to Public Service….with him being under the wing of Dr. Pickering he will do excellent!
Doc and Mrs. Smith has always done us pround. As Ray Stated, Mrs. Smith is very well recognised internationally and no questions asked hands down is better equipped to handel matters on behalf of BVI…After all, she has handelled quite big projects for the World Bank, and quite a few Caribbean Islands who needed to tap into the Financail Services Market, like Dominica, St.Lucia, Bahamas….if she is good ennough for them hell she she is excellent for us!! I support her trip 100% in the capacity of advisor.No questions asked.
Bless your heart, I totally agree with you. Why allow other countries to tap into the wealth of knowledge that Ms Smith has, and not take advantage of it ourselves ? Go Lorna Go!!!
Congratulations, all! The 8th is proud of you, Honorable Marlon Penn! Don’t mind the noise!
Now that is a Premier looking the way I want ppl to know what the BVI has to offer. He surely will not fall asleep in the middle of the meeting. Very good move to take the Hon. Marlon with you – he will come home with a set of impressions and experiences. Good luck to you all
Marlon and Dancia are like apples and oranges how in the world can a green hand like Marlon represent us overseas at such a meeting? These decisions have a negative effect in the end.
He going to watch, grin, tek pictures.
Same thing Dancia used to do. Bout time someone else got a chance, no? LMAO!!!
Advisor Mrs. Lorna Smith, OBE. Interesting, so no wonder others think it is okay to take their man/woman on trips and use Gov money to do so. What is ethical in the BVI.
Well, without some background information, on the surface some could draw the conclusion that her trip is unethical, but, the facts are Mrs. Smith served in the London Office in the past for some time, and is intimately knowledgeable of its workings & dealings. Having her there is an asset. It just so happens she is the spouse of the Premier. So, in this case, I will give her a pass. Furthermore, it’s not uncommon for leaders in these situations to travel with their spouses albeit typically not in the capacity as an advisor.
Bottom line for me is this: so long as they are representing the territory well, which I am confident they will do, I am inclined to see this for what it is, and not make something out of it in the immediate aftermath of the recent elections. But rest assured if I had believed otherwise, I would have been among the first to say so.
If Mrs.Smith is acting as a private individual consulting the Government of her husband then yes it unethical and they should know better. Ray you usually have a finger on what is going on but in this case you need to look again!
@Yes. I am not going to pretend to be naive here. Mrs. Smith’s advisory role did raise my brow for a second, but upon reflection of her prior work, I was able to put aside any concern, and saw a benefit to her going on this trip in such capacity. Certainly, the Premier is aware of the appearance of this, and perhaps they thought the title of advisor would alleviate any concerns about her role, which it obviously has not given we are debating it. Nevertheless; if I were they, I would thread carefully in the future as the public is closely watching.
We know there are some that will think they elected her husband and not his wife. But Mrs. Smith is not the typical or traditional kind of “First Lady” if you will. She is an educated woman who has served roles in London before and a business woman in her own right. As such, despite I see no problem with this trip; I would urge them to be mindful of appearances.
The public has little tolerance for nepotism or cronyism. As they go forward, I would urge them to find the right balance for any role she may play in the current government with her husband as Premier. It would be unreasonable for us to think that she should have little or no role, but whatever role she plays it should always be transparent and above ground.
I personally think its better when spouses don’t get involved each other’s work of this kind, but given the background of the individuals, and the small nature of our country, I don’t believe that will be reasonable nor possible. Again, I am inclined to give her a pass. We will see what happens in the future.
shut u face and suck it up
Seems like this is not anymore nepotism? We heard of it in 2007 election but it seems right now.
When will the graffiti in town be removed? I see a BIG one by village cay area and by digicel n town for starters…
Boy people here had a short memory
Yes man, make sure Marlon gets more of that international exposure, this is good stuff. And to the person asking why travel with all of those, look at their titles and you will see. This is the norm so don’t act like it’s something that just started.
why travel with all those? what a waste of money!
This is spending to pave a brighter future for all of us, including you, “tolian”. Money well spent. Go Dr. Smith Go!!! Go Marlon Go!!!
when the money was going in the purcell ghut and giving out useless contracts ,where the hell were your comment then. marlon the 8th luuuuuuuuuuuuvvvv you nufffffffffff
Do us proud Doc and Marlon…don’t mind Dancia with her nonsense that only VIP can represent us.
She didn’t say only VIP could represent. She asked Who do you want to represent you. Those were the words. You’ve chosen so move on.
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