Blatant Waste! Smith slams Premier’s 8-member London delegation
Territorial At-Large Representative Lorna Smith has slammed the government’s plans to send an eight-member delegation to London, calling it a “blatant waste” of public resources.
The trip, scheduled as a two-day meeting, has drawn ire from Smith, who questioned the financial prudence of such an expense.
Speaking in the House of Assembly, Smith highlighted the contradiction she sees in the Premier’s approach to spending.
“When I see, for instance, that he is taking as many as eight persons to London for what is a two-day trip… it bothers me,” she said, noting that flights alone for the delegation are expected to total at least $10,000. “It seems like a blatant waste of money.”
Smith raised concerns about recent financial issues affecting the territory, referencing a misallocation of funds between 14 and 20 million dollars. She suggested that the government should adopt a more cautious approach to spending in light of these budgeting errors.
“The Premier encouraged us to be very frugal in terms of our expenditure,” Smith pointed out. “It’s like, ‘do as I say, but not as I do’,” she added, hinting at a perceived disconnect between government rhetoric and action.
In response, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley defended the trip’s necessity and dismissed Smith’s accusations as politically motivated. According to Wheatley, members of the opposition, including Smith, often “magnify the negative and minimise the positive,” and he argued that Opposition members undertook similar trips during their time in government.
“They have no shame about it… They have no conscience,” he said, suggesting that Opposition figures have continued travelling extensively despite raising concerns about travel expenses now.
Dr Wheatley also referenced Smith’s own travel history, reminding the Assembly that she had previously accompanied him on trips to London and Hong Kong. “I love and respect her so much,” he added, “but Lord have mercy, let’s not talk about wasting money on travel.”
The planned delegation to London is intended to discuss critical issues between BVI officials and British authorities. However, Smith’s remarks have amplified a growing public debate on government expenditure, especially on international travel, as the territory grapples with financial challenges and scrutinises budget priorities.
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He think bvi got 100,000 people tax how he spends money
This is hypocrisy at its best. When she was gallivanting everywhere it was OK. However, we cannot condone wasteful travel.
If you care to do your due diligence, Hon. Smith was the least travelled Minister in his Cabinet.
Stop chatting bull Cindy
The ministers are always in and out of London. They have an office here. What is Lorna even talking about
Wow, what a shift….
Do I smell a little jealousy from our much travelled, at other peoples expense, former Deputy Premier.
Presumably she was originally on the flight but lost her seat when she was fired.
How many people did she take to Guyana on what was probably the least productive trip ever – but allegedly did allow a stop over for shopping, a five star hotel, and an expensive meal in Miami.
She noted ‘that flights alone for the delegation are expected to total at least $10,000’ – last time she went to London, her first class flight was more than $10,000 for her alone.
But if I I’m no mistaken , this is the same woman who took 22 members delegation to china or some Singapore, everyone complained about it and she j justify her actions , and now she is the same one talking bout overspending, Boy, thanks God the Premier toast her out, she is a Snake on the grass,
She did not take 25 persons to Asia, the private companies accompanying the delegation paid their own way.
We paid for Lorna and the rest of the Government hangers on
If memory serves me right wasnt that trip to Guyana about a week with 15 or more individuals and the only fruits it seems to have produced is visa free BVI entries for Guyanase.
they paid their own way, stop spreading fake news!!!
If we can delay the no confidence vote we can get a free jolly to London yippee.
What!? So now she not on the trip it’s a waste!? How many trips she was on that was also a waste. There has never been any tangible benefit to the BVI when these ministers spend big money traveling on “official business”
Isn’t Marlon heading to Australia this week?
Lorna is nothing but an opportunist. Every chance she got she defended the Premier when the issue of travel was being raised by the opposition. Now they kick her out it’s a problem. She would have been on that same trip if she wasn’t used and then spit out by the VIP
Perhaps the funding is coming out of the roads repair and repaving budget?
What the heck, let them all go off on a jolly. Isn’t the hunger of the treasury being satisfied by the cruise ships’ taxes and port dues? Surprise them all when they return home to the BVI with a new government car too.
SHE DIDNT KNOW THAT WHEN SHE WENT GUYANA WITH HER GANG
It looks like this guy is doing stuff but making sure that you do it too so he can say but you did it too. Childish. A child first seeing so much money and a lavish life. Live your best.
She missing those vip travels already. Fraser probably booking flights now.
How embarrassing!! Those men have sent our nation and pride thereof to an all-time low.
Every last one of them are, from D9- to D!.
They all can’t do it, especially the opposition, if approval by the Premier is not granted.
The trust company she let fire all those people and claim it was for automation was bringing in over 100k in tax monthly now Cyprus, Panama and Hong Kong enjoying those extra tax money for BVI registered companies.
Boi LEAVE PEOPLE BUSINESS ALONE ,YOU
KNOW EVERYBODY’S EXCEPT YOUR OWN , YOU ENJOY BAD MOUTHING CINDY NOW GORNE on LORNA , YOU REALLY HAVE REAL CHILDISH MENTALITY – IT SHOWS HOW LOW YOU WOULD GO TO WITH YOUR SARCASTIC REMARKS ON PEOPLE , AND EVEN THOUGH YOU GOT YOUR OWN YELLO SITE WHERE YOU RULE SUPREME / HERE YOU ARE SPEWING YOUR DIRTY TRASH ON PEOPLE , ONTHE SAME SITE YOU HAVE BEEN BAD MOUTHING TOO , AND STILL YOU BLOGGING ON MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE
Lorna is best to keep quiet and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt!! I know you a smart woman but wa you there saying is just giving natalio reason and political points it wasn’t the time for you to talk nonsense when just a few days ago you was on a traveling rampage as well!!
Lorna full of s**t
POT CALLING THE DAM KETTLE BLAVK MAKES GIR HOOD VOMEDY. LORNA GO SIDDUNG PLEASR. YHE GRAVY TRSIN OVER 4 U.
I’m not going to call it as a pot calling the kettle black, just yet but…
Honourable Creque-Smith, I agree with you with regards to wasteful spending..No country, should allow any type of wasteful, and unregardful spending, of its financial purses, butt..
Political travel, is essential to the maintenance and stability of a country..No man lives on an island, is applicable, fully, in this instance.
Wanton political friendships, essential to political standings, globally, in many instances, can be forged, only, through travel..
And this is where I think the level of hypocrisy is laid bare. For you see, there were many days, as a Lieutenant, when you, Honourable Creque Smith, engaged in many political travels.
Some have called such travel, wasteful. Ausar says, all travel, is beneficial, just as long, disclosure, of finances, expended, is laid bare for the public to see
So this where your discourse on the matter would be helpful, Honourable Creque Smith..
Lay bare, for us all, in the House of Assembly, your financial itinerary, for all of your expenditures, during your time as Lieutenant, and let the people decide, what is wasteful, and what is not..
We all are, in need, of information,to help us decide, whether the Premier, and his team, are, in a wasteful, spending mode..
But without your disclosures, former Lieutenant, I’m afraid, this is where Ausar, would have to say, unequivocally: It’s just another case of Pot, calling the kettle, Black!
Rub the pig’s belly let um go lie down.
But she was going with him before she got fired what a shitshow for Lorna it’s comical. Can’t criticize now when all the time you were backing the nonsense
All are milking the government