Deputy Premier on bureaucracy: I feel so embarrassed!
Deputy Premier Lorna Smith was embarrassed at the level of red tape in the government, arguing that she may have been naive in hoping for more progress when she first entered office.
While discussing the condition of the territory in the House of Assembly recently, Smith remarked that the presence of derelict boats in the harbour, left from the 2017 hurricanes, has continued to disrupt the BVI and needs to be addressed.
A request for proposal first needs to be issued before the boats can be removed, but Smith said she was unsure about who needs to get this started.
“It’s really beyond horrible-looking. We have to fix this country and whoever has to prepare this request for a proposal – whether it is the Ministry of Finance or whoever – we have to get it done,” Smith told lawmakers.
The Deputy Premier explained that, in addition to the request for proposal, the Shipping Registry first has to tag the boats before they can be salvaged. She described the situation as a vicious cycle of nothing happening.
“It is not that we don’t have the financial resources,” Smith said. “We have the financial resources to do this, but we have to get it done. I feel so embarrassed. A year ago when I came, I thought it was a straightforward thing… I thought we’d have had the whole thing fixed by September.”
Smith suggested that, in hindsight, she was naive about her expectations.
“Today, there is not even, as I said before, the request for a proposal to get them out of the water. It really is not good enough,” the Deputy Premier insisted. “I call on everybody, all of us, whatever we have to do, let us do it. Let’s work together to get this country cleaned up on land and sea.”
“When you’re at sea, you really see the beauty of the British Virgin Islands,” Smith added. “There is nowhere else in the world that is as magnificent, as spectacular as the British Virgin Islands. But that is out to sea. On land is a different story… Let’s get our country fixed.”
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It was you who left the corner for your selfish reasons. I will not be voting for you again. You went for power and have not made one bit of difference.
Tell your boss! you are in the second highest position why are you telling us this?
any wreck in the sea can be taken out as salvage no need to tag
Madam Deputy you have no idea the horrible ignorance bullfrogishness that is the way of life in these VI. I never seize to be amazed. I have theluxury of choice in bekng here or elsewhere and more often elsewhere or else I would succumb to committing murderer or suicide. There is no limit to the daily madness by the Government and civil servants.And all I am seeing are efforts to make it worse.if that’s possible.
Give up your Ministerial Seat then! You aren’t qualified to advance the areas of your portfolio. You only took them as they Grant you immense power
Ummmmmm embarrassed? What about the dump fires…. That’s not embarrassing that’s criminal!
YOU’VE JUMPED SHIP FOR POWER….KEEP QUIET AND DO THE WORK THAT YOU ARE PAID TO DO, ALSO WE WANT TO SEE THE PROMISED CHANGES THAT YOU SAID THAT YOU’RE GONNA FIX.
Lorna Smith is all about power and nothing else.
I now know why there is so much necessary red tape. It is there for very good reasons. I am embarrassed because I may have been the author of some. All in all, the country needs them, just like all the other countries in the Caribbean do!
Part of the rational for the UK to take control is to address all the local stupidity surrounding local laws and processes, don’t expect the local politicians to address this, they are the individuals that introduced it in the first place. Suspending the constitution would allow the Uk to replace the Banana Republic dictatorial type laws with British legislation that’s stood the test of time for circa 1000 years, it’s up to the people to demand this. Don’t expect the local government to change things, or, the UK to volunteer it, get out into the streets and demand it
The Lady in the Corner said “…I feel so embarrassed. A year ago when I came, I thought it was a straightforward thing… I thought we’d have had the whole thing fixed by September.”
If you are embarrassed, imagine how we feel. You are in a position to fix it! Tell us what you are doing to fix it. To identify the problem and not say what your Government is doing to fix it says you are doing nothing! Come on…we did not expect this from you at all. You are a career civil servant, you more than anyone else should know how long these things take. What is your Government doing to address it? And blaming the COI like Ronnie is so wrong. It is not the COI’s fault!!! Where is the RFP from 2019? You should not have to be starting from nothing. To say I am disappointed is an understatement.
You say these things in one breath and then turn around and praise the Premier so I am confused. Who is responsible for fixing the mess? Why arent they doing it? And if they are not, why do they still have your full support? I am confused.
Luarna in the Corna wanted power now she has it and if I have to ride her like the horse of Zorro so be it. Getty Up, give her the spurs
Power, money and notoriety, that’sll they work for.
BVI gone to dogs and hell long time now.
Some ah dem went in with their mandate to steal, piliage and plunderthe government money. Only god knows how far they gone.
Meanwhile, increment and social security upgrades,including a living wage is seeing no light of day.
Deniors and retirees are truly suffering and they are busy feedig themselves while allowing others to suffer. Time will tell for all ah dem.
a voice cried out in the wilderness / saying ( I call on everybody , on all of *US* to work TOGETHER and LETS DO IT ) / there is a message in there , and its up to the reader to comprehend , but that ain’t got any guarantee , ( people see what they want to see eTc ) so she may have to get her messages out to the people , some other way
Ive always said this place looks beautiful from the sea.
If you don’t know how to get it done, who does?
RDA had a sound plan years ago, gov didn’t want to pay because it was going to be led by a foreign company
Everyone else already knows. Trying to doing anything in the VI that involves a Government Office is next to impossible.
A career civil servant from the days of the late great HL Stoutt, and she doesn’t know who needs to do what is comical. What does the sleeping opposition have to say other than zzzzzzzzzz?