“We will not make decisions in seclusion or exclusion” – Premier Smith
MERRICK ANDREWS, Editor - Thursday, November 10th, 2011 at 4:52 PM
The members of the National Democratic Party government. The Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith (centre) was sworn into office along with four other ministers at a ceremony held at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011. * Photo credit: BVI News
Newly sworn-in Premier of the British Virgin Islands Dr. D. Orlando Smith has promised the people of the territory that his government will not make any decisions without the input of the people – a mandate he admitted his 2003-2007 government failed, thereby leading to their devastating 11-2 defeat at the polls four years ago.
But given that the people have overwhelming given the National Democratic Party (NDP) a second chance after the Party’s 9-4 victory in Monday’s general elections, Smith said the NDP has learned their lesson.
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“As we did at our many campaign rallies we once more make a solemn promise to you that we will not make decisions in seclusion or exclusion. We will strive to always seek your advice, we will welcome your input in decisions we will have to make on your behalf,” Smith said in front hundreds of supporters during a swearing-in ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 9 for the new government ministers.
Smith said to rebuild the BVI together “we must and will keep the lines of communications open”.
“ I truly believe that we all want a better Virgin Islands but we all have different opinions and ideas on how to get where we need to be. We will keep you apprised of plans and activities that we carry out on your behalf. We hope in turn that you will continue to respond to us and to let us know what we’re doing right and what you think we’re doing wrong. We learnt the hard way of doing otherwise four years ago and will not repeat that error again,” Smith said.
Premier Smith was sworn in as the minister of finance. Other ministers sworn in were:
Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Resources – Dr. Kedrick Pickering, the seventh district representative
Minister of Health and Social Development – Ronnie Skelton, territorial at-large representative
Minister of Education and Culture – Myron Walwyn, territorial at-large representative
Minister of Communications and Works – Mark Vanterpool, fourth district representative
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- The members of the National Democratic Party government. The Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith (centre) was sworn into office along with four other ministers at a ceremony held at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011. * Photo credit: BVI News
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82 Comments
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The return of Henry Jarecki and the Investment Club, to the exclusion of BV Islanders. We will all see.
Lavity and Ralph along with VIP is who sold all islands around here! Cut the BS scare tactics!! You all brought us Biwater, Carimex and others and they were PURE FAILURES for the past 4yrs, GO SIT YOUR BACKSIDE DOWN MAN!!!
Carvin Malone, Zoe and her inlaws and many others MILKED our Treasury! Now all of a sudden you all care about the BVI? Schuups!!!! Ya’ll too damn BADMINDED MAN!!!
You full of #######. Get your facts straight!!!!
Tek the BUN.
CLAUDE CLINE GO AND DO GOD WORK, BECAUSE SOME
ARE CALLED, SOME ARE SENT AND SOME JUST WENT.
Trust me he will be doing GOD’s work. and be careful you might need him (Claude)to help you find God.
Luckily, one can find God on his own!
Congrats to the NDP. Myron, Mark and Archie they had all kinds of things to say about you all but let them check you all out and see where you reach………God is in control. Let them try to figure out what God has done. Prayer is the key to open all doors. Proud of you! All the best in the House of Assembly..we are behind you!
Be fair, both sides talked badly about each other.
Glad it aint Ronnie with the purse
I would have liked to see at least one lady get a Ministry, however, that’s not my call.
I hope the NDP Government, will continue to utilize ‘social networking’ sites to LISTEN to the opinions, requests and VOICE of the people of the BVI for the next 4 years.
Each Ministry and each Representative should have a website where the general public can communicate with them. This may sound like a lot, but it was enough when they were running and should continue even more now that they are REPRESENTING.
Maybe each Representative should employ a Public Communication person, who would be responsible for PASSING ON the information the community sends in to the Representative. If it’s just a comment of praise, they could reply on behalf of the Representative while keeping them informed. Just think, there are 13 Representatives. That would be 13 new jobs!! IF people are not SENDING IN comments, this person could be also responsible for SENDING OUT surveys, opinion polls, etc.
Just a thought.
I like this idea. I was actually thinking on something similar this afternoon at the swearing in. Great minds…..
Congratulations to our new and improved government!
WANTED ALIVE! Peter Crumble & VIP Loyalist. Last seen loitering around blog sites chattin CRAP. These persons are Unarmed in a battle of WITS and Intelligence and should be laughed at by all means possible, LOL.
I wish the BVI was up to date with technology so that those (like myself) could have tuned in through cyber space to watch our ministers get sworn in and listen to there speeches. Congrats to all in place, all who won, and al who ran in the race and didn’t came out on top. Make me proud NDP. I’ll be watching your performance over the next few years, especially when it’s time to place students coming back with their degree (like myself).
Alvera, again I say to you congrats!!Proud of you! Also congrats to both Kedrick and Marlon.
you need to get up to date……………bviwebtv.com………………..how long you overseas buddy!
All the at-large should have had a ministry its the same thing like VIP keith flax, vernon didn’t had a ministry therefore they had nothing to do! those in district should be there for there district only and let the at large memebers control teritorial to ensure that everyone is doing something and not there for the joy ride. what is archie gonna do? he is not district and was not appointed no ministry. like really? Mindyo NDP don’t be like VIP trust don’t be like them. word is on the street if PPA had more people to form a goverment ya’ll wasn’t getting in!
Stop crying over spilled milk. IT IS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD.
PPA who?
The return of Henry Jarecki
What about Victor (VG) and Omar/Ralph? What about Ralph and Branson’s arrangements? At least Jarecki has a philanthropist mind/heart and CONTRIBUTES – hear me – HE CONTRIBUTES to this society not like the rest of ‘em. So give it a rest you ‘big boy now’ with little sense!
Don’t forget is VIP who gave him BVI status and as such, have all the rights and privileges as any BVI islander. So please hush with such ignorance.
Man just like VIP, you here harping on nonsense! Carvin Malone, they Fab 5 in Sea Cows Bay and others ate until their bellies BURST when VIP was at the helm!! Who sold Guana to Jarecki? VIP! Who sold ALLLLLLL other private islands here? VIP!!!
Boss go sit down with your BS! People fall for it last time, not now! Time to get the damn country on track! If Jarecki and others with millions and billions want to contribute, LET THEM! Simple! This big bad boogie man nosnense will stop! Fraser brought a wealthy white man here in the name of Biwater, with questionable reputation and nobody said a word! As NDP is about to be sworn in you start this shit about rich whites? BOO MAN!!!!
Seems likie you don’t know those islands were privately owned and not owned by Government. What I would say is that these islands could have been bought by them so that did not end up in the hands of foreign investors.
I hope that Flax and Fraser in particular understand that they need to be a pockwood pond regiestering their vehicles and handing in their number plates.
And Flax – no more queue jumping or waivering of parking fees at the airport.
I agree. Mr. Flax was too arogant.
I thought archie wouldve gotten a ministry
lordie 5 dictators…i done scared. i miss my green team.
When you only had one?
Dont start bawing they are not dead, just resting on long vacation and getting their act together. Hope no one goes to jail while on vacation.
where ralphie & Co.? they gone in hiding man
myron is the perfect man for education ministry. just imagine giving delores and alvera education? that would be the end of our chilren lol
You are a real jack…. They are way more educated than you.
No hanky panky with our boys
ACTION MAN IS BACK… right man in the ministry of comms and works. his personality is way better than fraser and like fraser he ges the job done
I don’t like or trust that man. He is a loose cannon.
Have some respect for my man….de action man….That man is charming, pleasant, down to earth, intelligent and handsome. In one word, Mark is HOT.
Respect the man
You’re looking at the wrong things.
I hope myron does not bite off too much. he has a law firm, 3 restaurants and now he is a minister. thats a lot of work. hope u dont allow ur businesses to run down by being too greedy. at the same time take care your private companies dont get in the way of ur work as a minister. opportunity for corruption is rife
Am so glad skeltie not in charge of the cookie jar. by the way myron looks like a cookie monster in this photo lol
i am so happy for doctor smith. he is held chief minister position and now he is premier. kudos doc
AND HE IS VERY HUMBLE!!!!
FIRST MAN I HAVE SEEN WITH SO MUCH POWER TO WHEEL IN ALL DIRECTIONS AND YET HE DOESN’T.
KUDOS DOC…AND GOD BLESS U AND THE NDP TEAM!
Two doctors at the helm! That’s what the country needs to heal our land!
I would loved to seen a ppa member in this but next time
all that talk marlon had in campaigning and sitting on the backbench
So what?….And your point is? Do you really think everyone will be appointed a Minister position? Perhaps Marlon can be assigned to work along with a Minster.
@ Well see – Where do you think Dancia is right now?
People be reminded that dr smith and his team cannot do this alone. lets not sit on our laurels and believe our problems are solved becaue NDP is back. they are only a group of men, they are not perfect so we must work with them so that they can represent us to the best of our ability. they will need our guidance protection because these are tough times. treasury is broke, recession is on again and people are suffering.
Hear at you now! NDP did indeed campaign hard that we should not use the failing global economy as a hindrance. They promised the world and that they can work miracles. Wow, now we will hear the treasury broke and all about recession! They better get to work. Absolutely no excuses!
I agree. Get to work. You said you would fix it even with the weak economy.
Now lets see what they can do
MY PICK
alvera – Ministry of Little Bags and Tarts
delores – Ministry of Attitude and Computer layaway
pickering – Ministry of Health and Baby Delivery
smith – Leader of soft voices
Mark – Ministry of Supermarkets and Action
SKelton – Ministry of Cookie Jars and Monsters
Marlon – Ministry of Backbench Affairs
myron – Ministry of Mulitple Restaurants in One Location
TEK THE BUN I LOVE.
Stupid, and somewhat mean, but funny…LOL!
can’t say it better….LOL
@el -You need plenty healing to recover from being a welfare baby, and you sound so bitter. Don’t worry, help is on the way. Retired Omar is starting a Foundation soon.
So how comes my boy archie dont have a ministry?
At the moment, no elected official has a ministry. Let’s just wait until the swearing in.
The NDP is the right team for the BVI. They have made mistakes and I know they have learned and they wont be pushed out for officers for another two terms at least – mark my words.
I wont miss this.
Lets hope this is a NEW NDP.. the people spoke in 2007, dont forget that.
So true! Let’s hope they learned from their mistakes, but I am afraid the ‘FOR SALE’ sign just been placed on the BVI. Even the Doc’s speech appealing to people ‘regardless of country of origin.’ He knows that if he can give voting rights to enough expats, they will all vote for him in future.
In fact, isn’t that what he did last time?
Clever man. The BVI Gov’t is open for business.
i would like to see the day virgin islanders unite for the better of the country whether vip, ndp or ppa. our country is at a crossroads and believe it or not, it is god who put the ndp there
can the ndp fix the economy? yes – but it wont happen overnight. they cant do it allone
ok i unemployed so i waitig on a job
no wonder why picko was silent during campaigning. he wanted a ministerial position or else. i think he deserves to be deputy; he was one of those most consistent successes of the party and he is influential and gets the job done.
its a shame we havent heard anything from the VIP members. no official statment congratulating the ndp.
so will lloyd black get a PS position? will OJ get his postmaster job back?
This is my pick if i was dr. smith: pickering as premier, skelton as finance minister; myron for tourism minister; archie for comms and works; delores for education; alvera for youth and culture and marlon penn – minister of heatlh
yea right! when all is said and done, the old NDP way of doing things will surface. just like how the VIPERS emphasised environmental issues to get into power, we will see if the ndp can fix the economy
playtime over! time for work
My My what a team. Committed an serious. No time for childs play. the big babies gone home .O.K. Doc. do your thing. You the man.We in the ninth cant wait.No more special favours. Equal oppertunity for all. Emergency health services. An we getting we land. Put Archie in ministry of Natural Resources. HE dont have to be minister he can be deputy. God bless an guide the N.D.P.
has anyone heard from ralph? no wonder why they were voted out, totally disorganused and incompetent. welcome back my ndp team.
i hope NDP will deliver the goods
Good choice for vanterpool. he handles money and projects well. i worked with him personally before and he is good. remember one mart is a success story for years.
now can someone explain the significance of deputy premier? does that mean if smith demits office by death or otherwise pickering is the new premier?
pretty stable line up to me.
i sensed contention in the camp with pickering when skelton decided to run again as smith had promised pickering the deputy. skelton came back so pickering was watching to see if smith wud give skelton deputy. this is wat i like about ndp and dr smith they believe in givin others a chance and working as a team as a family. pickerin deserves, skelton does too but pickering had an even bigger win that smith when the ndp was whitewashed. ronnie is back but he was the third most popular at large.compare his result to pickerings win is like comparing apple to oranges so pickering deserves the post
impressive line up, organised, wish them all the best
What happen to Archie? Somebody clarify.
You will find out about Archie, Alvera and Delores tomorrow, HOLD TIGHT! This will not be like last time with people on back bench with nothing to do. Every man jack will have a portfolio with goals to be achieved! We elected them to work, not to sit on the backbench and collect a salary! Go team and don’t forget the people that put you there!!
Not tomorrow, but soon.
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