Gov’t clueless on what tourists want — Lorna Smith
Territorial At-Large candidate for the National Democratic Party (NDP), Lorna Smith has slammed the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government for being oblivious in its approach to issues facing the local tourism industry.
Pointing to several ATM machines in the Second District she claimed remained in disrepair for months, the former First Lady told residents at a campaign rally earlier this week that they need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
According to Smith, most day-trippers who come to the territory as tourists spend their time in Cane Garden Bay and often need access to facilities such as ATMS, especially in instances where they do not want to use their credit cards for purchases.
“[The issue] really goes to the heart of a government, a government that is clueless in terms of what visitors expect and what visitors want,” Smith contended. “I say it without apology.”
“A phone call from the government [to] whoever is in charge, would get those ATM machines fixed in short order. But nothing is a priority. It is time for a new administration… to take the wheel and steer the ship of state out of adversity,” Smith insisted.
Smith charged that the territory must start with a tourism plan that concentrates on improving its tourism product and the synergies of the power of land and cruise tourism, working in tandem.
Smith claimed that the territory is drowning in its current ‘anything goes’ state which she argued has to change.
She said a new government will review approaches to the further diversification of the tourism and financial services industries and determine the best approach to how the government can lead this. She also promised that initiatives in the territory’s sustainable and eco-tourism offerings will be included in that review.
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A friendly greeting and processing from immigration when I arrive – when I come by boat I don’t want to have to wait for 90 mins to be cleared at West End. It should only take 5 mins. There needs to be lots of staff especially to deal with day trips in the morning. When I come by plane, the immigration staff should be at their desks. Why do I have to wait for the slowest passenger from the previous flight to finish before I can start – it is so third world to make me do that.
Sensible fees for arriving – it costs me hundreds of dollars to come for the day.
Road without holes I can lose my rental car in.
Friendly service on Tortola – the sister islands are usually great but people are rude and aggressive in Tortola.
To have Road Town as clean and tidy as the Pier Park. How difficult can it be?
Not to be blocked in my other cars when I park in town – Tortolans seem to think that the area behind my car is a parking space! Parking in the middle of a car park is ignorant.
Not to be overtaken on blind corners.
A craft market that has nothing for sale that was made in China.
Not to leave feeling that the locals see me as a cash cow to be exploited at every opportunity.
Lorna wants to see the Government lead – unfortunately the Government cannot lead – it simply needs to not get in the way of private enterprise. Lorna has had her wages paid by the Government for too long and does not know any better.
In case she does not know, let me tell her – the Government does not operate the ATMs in CGB.
I must have missed something. Are there EVEN ATMs in Cane Garden Bay? What is she repairing?
You know, I had reservations about Mrs Smith as a candidate but she has run her campaign with a professionalism and energy that reflects her appreciation for the seriousness of the issues we face as a country. She’s actually listening to people and looking at real issues. Not to mention the strength of character she must have to at her age and stage put herself in a position of vulnerability before people who regularly and publicly bash her mercilessly. If quarter, just a quarter of our men in past leadership had the cojones grandes she carries, we would in a better place but God is in control and nothing before its time. I urge you people to listen to these candidates and assess them with wisdom and from the perspective of the future of the BVI. It’s not a popularity contest. It is about the future of generations.
You neither understand private enterprise nor government. It is the failure of governments to lead which has them getting in the way of private enterprise. They can stymie growth and progress both by act and omission. Failure to lead is stymying by omission. Re-read her statement until you get it.
Lorna is right that ATM up rite way Pasea has been down for months we must cater our infrastructure and services toward Tourism. These banks just want to take and not provide good service.
Lorna are you serious???? ATM Machines? That’s Government responsibility? WOW!
When people want to get elected they see all the problem have all the answers but as soon as they get elected they forget everything and full their pockets see them fighting for power cause they know not thee hour.
@Big mistake, The government may not operate the ATM anywhere in the BVI but they have the power to see that they are working more so in a tourist areas.
The best part of the political nonsense is hearing the same bulls**t every 4 years for the last 24 years. The issue is the system that we have and the Civil Servants that work in it. Change that and the BVI will be much better place. Is it any wonder that places like RDA, FSC etc. function better as they have minimal government interference/linkage to Civil Service? This is not just a BVI thing, the Civil Service in most places are just business as usual as most times they do not understand the importance of what they are tasked with. Immigration and Customs should be a statutory body renamed (call it whatever you want) and things would change for the better. Until then, enjoy complaining every 4 years about the same s**t and doing nothing about it.
I want to smoke my weed in peace… like get with it.
Having broken ATMs is symptom of the lack of respect the banks in BVI show towards citizens .Ludicrous credit card charges, inefficient services and bad attitude are some of the others.
The government needs to give these banks a kick up the backside.
But the only candidate with the will, the cojones and the experience to do that is Lorna Smith
pretty much describes the entire BVI government and its civil service. It’s time to break up the civil servants and rotate them to other territories for 5 year overseas posts in Bermuda, Cayman, Turks&Caicos, Gibraltar, Falklands, Anguilla, Montserrat and any other OT’s with civil servants. Those OT’s can send their displaced civil servants to the BVI for 5 years and likely run it better than what goes on here now.
Is the CGB waste water system up and running yet? How many years-no, decades-have we discussed & been promised a plant by oscillating NDP/VIP governments? Did the NDP not think that clean water was something the ‘tourists wanted’ during its terms? I seem to remember a plant funding announcement in 2018.
Ms Smith sounds great on paper- but neither party has served us well. We need a coalition government again- it appears to be the only way things get done. Ms S would be a great asset to a new coalition government.
Listen to the tourists this is 1000% on point:
A friendly greeting and processing from immigration when I arrive – when I come by boat I don’t want to have to wait for 90 mins to be cleared at West End. It should only take 5 mins. There needs to be lots of staff especially to deal with day trips in the morning. When I come by plane, the immigration staff should be at their desks. Why do I have to wait for the slowest passenger from the previous flight to finish before I can start – it is so third world to make me do that.
Sensible fees for arriving – it costs me hundreds of dollars to come for the day.
Road without holes I can lose my rental car in.
Friendly service on Tortola – the sister islands are usually great but people are rude and aggressive in Tortola.
To have Road Town as clean and tidy as the Pier Park. How difficult can it be?
Not to be blocked in my other cars when I park in town – Tortolans seem to think that the area behind my car is a parking space! Parking in the middle of a car park is ignorant.
Not to be overtaken on blind corners.
A craft market that has nothing for sale that was made in China.
Not to leave feeling that the locals see me
Head down island. If you are a cruising sailboat they check you in/out for a month right off the bat. In the French islands they don’t even bother with stamping your passport (only sail clear).
The BVI looks at all tourists as money. Where can we ADD fees? How can we make people wait in line or fear staying too long?
We need to make things easier. The money will come.
You clearly work for the Government. Remember ROnald Regan said the top 9 most terrifying words in the English Language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”
“A craft market that has nothing for sale that was made in China.“
Why do you come to BVi to buy Chinese products?
Government can’t force a bank to fix its
own machines.
This ain’t China.
He did say that but Senator Edmund Muskie said it before he did.
Who regulates and issues licenses to the service providers of ATMs…Google it if you are not sure.
East End/Long Look need an ATM since yore. Look out for who live here also.
Please, just tell us what it takes to enter your lovely country and be nice when we decide to bring our boats and money. We are tired of being treated like criminals. My last entry took almost 3 hours, the time before that we were impounded for 7 hours with a sorry opps wrong boat. The time before that they insisted we were a charter and kicked us back to the us, with a e exit fee.. eventually we will give up and stay away for good,,,,, we are this close. Just be nice.
Why can Dmv and land registry offices be closed at 230 but open at 9.
It is silly to think a country can be productive hen its own workers are lazy, and chat all day, and are yet still entitled to sure income raise and never getting fired
Me had never know Mrs Smith was so all rounder. Me just see that the woman ain’t no dum dum, like she or not, she brite, me can’t believe she was here in Lavaty days,and do so many tings up to now. Well if them true it nuff respect. Better to use a old Broom because it know all the corners them. Yes me going vote for she and to h**l who no like it too bad.
People need to see this woman resume, impressive is an understatement. My mind made up I am taking the chance with her, we need some intelligent people to run this government, enough is enough