Gov’t workers less efficient under Governor
Government services in the Virgin Islands are being delivered at a sluggish pace because the civil service falls under the remit of the Governor’s Office rather than an elected representative, Junior Minister for Financial Services, Trade and Economic Development Lorna Smith told the House of Assembly last week.
Smith argued that the current structure leaves civil servants unaccountable to the people they are meant to serve, which she said has resulted in long delays, inefficiency, and frustration across the territory. “There is insufficient accountability, coupled with a lack of urgency in delivering services to the public,” she said.
“At the end of the day, public servants do their work, but to whom are they really accounting?”
She pointed to the length of time it takes to process basic approvals, such as trade licences and non-belonger land holding licences, which many Virgin Islanders say can drag on for months.
“I’m having district meetings, and there isn’t one district where I have not got complaints about the length of time it takes for a Virgin Islander to get a trade licence,” Smith said. Recruitment into the public service is also bogged down, revealing that it now takes at least six months to complete a hire.
The junior minister described the situation as untenable and pressed for a shift in responsibility.
“The Bible itself is clear when it says, you cannot serve God and mammon. You cannot serve two masters at the same time,” Smith told the House. “For this reason and the others I have mentioned, I repeat that it’s time to put the subject under a minister who has a better understanding of the needs of the people and a better appreciation of getting these things done promptly.”
Smith also raised concerns about Crown land distribution in Anegada, which has been a flashpoint for discontent. She noted that 50 titles, each for half an acre of land, have been pending for more than two years without a single one completed.
“Fifty titles and not one can be completed over three years. Not one of these Anegadians can get their titles,” she said. “It is not good enough business.”
The issue of Anegada lands has been the subject of repeated promises by successive governments. Legislation passed in 2024 created a Crown Lands Board and an Anegada advisory committee to bring greater oversight and transparency to the process, but residents say the delays continue.
Smith’s remarks tie into the ongoing constitutional review process, which has highlighted tensions between the Governor’s powers and the responsibilities of elected officials.
She insisted that structural reform is now overdue, echoing Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley’s view that the very design of the public service has rendered it ineffective.
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Who authorized moving the $5 million? We don’t want to hear this other garbage.
That was a fast, swift and “efficient” transaction by all “accounts”.
So fast nobody knows who sent it.
Hon. Minister. The inefficiency we face has nothing to do with who is in charge — it comes down to two things: a lack of respect for the chain of command and people who simply refuse to be managed.
Have you ever witnessed a sports Team trade a highly skilled player and wondered why? — Usually its not because they lacked talent, but because they are not team players and /or uncoachable . The cost of keeping them is too high. That is our problem here in the BVI. Too many refuse to take direction, refuse to accept feedback, and believe they know better than anyone else — sometimes especially the highly educated.
Talent without discipline is useless. Until we fix this culture and insist on accountability, no leader can succeed.
Cannot serve God and mammon at the same time, you say…past history is pretty clear what interests politicians have, and it ain’t the church.
The biggest irony is Smith’s comment regarding accountability. Lack thereof is and has been a feature of BVI governance. Pretty much every govt project has been late, over budget, and not necessarily good quality. No one ever gets brought to account, which is why this keeps on going.
This is the truth..the whole truth and nothing but the truth!
DID YOU MAKE THAT UP BY YOURSELF ? OF ITS JUST FROM THE SCRIPT ? ●¿●
smh they gonna say is the governor fault the 5 million dollars get throw away too just now
Lorna, just hush!
Just Hush
This is a misguided lament. The inefficiencies cited by Hon. Smith are not without remedy as disciplinary procedures exist and remain available to any Ministry willing to trigger them. So, before we rewrite the constitutional remit, show me a handful of instances where Ministers and/or Ministries actually activated those procedures, rather than standing by and lamenting delays they chose not to confront. Accountability isn’t just about who holds the reins, it’s about who dares to use them. Show me instances where the Governor blocked this process.
The more directly involve politicians and their cronies get in the public service decisions and daily operating processes the more ineffective and wasteful the system becomes. I have proof. Nine (9) million dollar green houses, 7 million dollar planes to no where, 45 million dollars of empty housing projects, 5 million dollars to bank, should I say more.
it is found that they are now all millionaires off of government’s salaries, they will then say “blame the sand flies, they gave us our minds, they told us to steal.
Such dribble. She’s trying so hard to change the $5 million dollar question
continues in the BVI. Blame the Governor to distract the public from the Bank of Asia scandal. Trump blames the fictional terrorists ‘Antifa’ to distract the US public from his name in the Epstein files.
Politicians: Survival of the desperate!
To Your Comment. The Governor nor the Deputy Governor, Nor the Permanent Secretary knew about our 5 Mil Dollars Deposit in BOA. UOY did. So stop talking Piss and take a Seat. Some Legislators would want to be in charge of the Civil Service so they can get rid of who they want to bring in their Friends to concur with their Dirty Deeds But We are on to All of You. NO MORE DIRTY TAMPERING. We have awoken from our Slumber.
You as an atlarge rept. When you had a meeting in VG. Ur líder. All atlarge bunch of waste you suppose to have meetings in all districts, Ronnie Matther, Sharie, all a bunch of waste
Government services in the Virgin Islands are being delivered at a sluggish pace because the civil service falls under the remit of the Governor’s Office rather than an elected representative, Junior Minister for Financial Services, Trade and Economic Development Lorna Smith told the House of Assembly last week.
I would like to see verifiable facts about this statement published by Lorna Hodge-Creque-Smith now.
The Deputy Gov is the working CEO of the public service so if it is not working, it is him that you need to rant at because he is the one who should be making sure all the people do their work.