Labour Minister defends indecision on Trade Commission
Trade Minister Lorna Smith has defended her decision to hold off on establishing the Trade Commission, despite complaints that the cost of living continues to increase because of the absence of that entity.
Earlier this week, Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn said the Trade Commission could use powers under the Consumer Protection Act to bring reprieve to many residents facing high utility and food costs.
But he said Minister Smith has been operating the Trade Department without a Trade Commission, even though members have been appointed to the board for some months now.
“The Minister has taken the position that she isn’t going to move forward with the Commission so that’s why the Consumer Protection legislation cannot be enforced. Right now, the Trade Department is acting ultra vires to the law — they are making decisions that aren’t sanctioned by any law because the law that was passed through the Trade Commission isn’t being followed,” Penn explained earlier this week on Tola Radio.
However, Minister Smith has moved to defend her decision to hold off on the Trade Commission, stating that her delay is because she is trying to make the best financial decision.
She explained that significant funds are needed to set up the Trade Commission and this would increase the $750,000 that is required annually to run the Trade Department.
“At the moment, the Trade Department costs $750,000 to run per annum. A Trade Commission puts that up to $1.5 million. The board has been established — a chairman and at least seven members and their salaries attached to them. It will require a number of directors under them. I’m not saying it won’t happen, give me the opportunity to decide what is best for the Trade Department,” Smith stated.
“But Honourable Penn basically said you’re operating illegally without the Trade Commission,” Host Floyd ‘Heritage’ Burnett chimed in.
Minister Smith responded: “Honourable Penn can say what he wants! We do not need a Commission to establish the Consumer Protection Act. But it is going to happen, just give us some time,”
Minister Smith added that establishing a Trade Commission right now would take away much-needed funds at a time when the whole territory is struggling with the high cost of living.
In the meantime, residents continue to complain about price gouging, rising costs for utilities, and groceries and salaries that have not increased. They say there is no entity to keep vendors and businesses in check and as such, they continue to be at the mercy of those who provide goods and services.
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I will believe Lorn any day over corrupt Smurf
She will not do nothing to hurt her family businesses
She is 100% correct. The government needs the funds to pay for Sowande’s nomadic lifestyle.
Standard operating procedure(SOP) in the HOA. Pass laws then ignore them until the UK steps in and applies their diplomatic enforcement pressure.
Prime example is the 2010 Labour Code which had no active Labour Review Board until 2015. As usual there were board members paid an annual salary to do nothing.
We have to make sure there are enough of the ‘right’ loopholes in any legislation. A commission might catch them and close them.
How much revenue does the trade department bring in a year? Isn’t it one of our larger revenue generators? Shouldn’t all revenue generating departments have an oversight commission?
What is Kevin ‘OJ” Smith doing at the Premier’s Office for $120K?
‘The Board has been established – a chairman and seven members and their salaries and they will need directors working under them’. 1. Are we paying a Board to do nothing. 2 . Why does the Board need directors underneath them? They oversee the statutory bodies already in place.
OJ was allegedly promised/rewarded that job for running against Fraser
He was rewarded for going up against the giant Julian Fraser.
This Minister is speaking nonsense. For starters the $750,000. is not going to the people who need help so why not spend it there if that’s what it will take to make the Citizens Lives easier. People are dying from all types of diseases mostly because of Stress the number one Killer. Government after Government is killing the Citizens of this Territory. But then the blame falls on the stupid people anyhow. There was a Consultant from India who was in the BVI for two years working on the very same topic about Trade Commission etc that was on Tola Radio this morning. The present Premier, Deputy and all the others full well know about it. So what was the current Trade Commission Chairman talking about some weeks ago concerning same? Was he talking just to use Energy? All of a sudden they playing ignorant thinking that WE are ignorant. Presently, without the Trade Commission and the enforcement of the Consumer Protection Act, the people of this Territory will continue to suffer with the high cost of living in this Territory all in the name of put it on hold for a while. That while has been gone for years. The sad thing, next week in the HOA ALL Members on the Government side will vote in favour of it being put on hold because of who will bring it. Watch and see or tell me I am wrong. People of this Territory, You have F*ig yourselves. Everyone in Trade knows what Game is being played out here. The Economy will forever remain in a slump if these people are not stop in their Track. The Deputy is no Fool. They have indirectly been in office from Lavity’s time, The NDP now VIP. They know full well about what the Bill means to the people but we all know too what it means to their Families. The People of the BVI are Doomed under this Government. NO CONSUMER PROTECTION BILL, NO RELIEF FOR THE PEOPLE!!!
She in her own and her people dem corner now… it don’t matter if the public suffering… you watching raising annual cost of the department from 750k to 1.5m… Yall realize how much money BVI government wastes on crap every year you telling me we cant spend some of it to do something that’s going to benefit most people? Is only these greedy business people who taking advantage don’t want this; but wait… ok I get it now! also are we paying board members of a statutory body that doesn’t exist and you not even committing to a timeframe on when it’s even going to happen? The poppy-show show goes on!
The extra $750k for more bureaucrats is a waste. Save the money, change the law to get a system that will really work and move forward.
“We need more time” says Lorna in ya corner who rushed to form a government with the circus in less than 24 hours. The devil is a liar!
SHE DIDN’T ASK FOR TIME TO CROSS THE FLOOR
UK it’s time to save us if you really care about the BVI, I am sure you know what’s going on if you don’t do something soon it’s going to be very bad for most of the people in the BVI. How can you let this boy we call a Premier get away with all the wrong he and his government are doing?
Your commentary deserves one thousand likes.
It is not a satisfactory response given the severity of the economic hardships of the territory’s populace.
It is simply a political response of the political elite to the sufferings of the masses.
Inherent in that response are careful considerations of personal, family and other securities.
The financial shortcomings and brutal hardships of the masses are of little concern to those in power.
The come election time, they come with deceitful, but smiling faces seeking to get back a job to continue to look after themselves and their own.
The Virgin Islands Party and some of its members went into office with a very sinister purpose. To take as much money for themselves as possible. They said so on social media. And, the Greedy Bill is a direct result of that philosophy and purpose, which the public can see and knows of. Imagine what it can’t see or know of.
The Virgin Islands appears to have arrived at a point in its political development and history where POLITICAL HYGIENE has dissipated the way of the mangroves and into the pond mashes and mud.
It is not difficult to see, it is up front and clear as day. The territory is in need of not only honest and knowledgeable persons of political persuasion, but most importantly of POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL HYGIENE.
PEOPLE, STOP BEING STUPID AND PAWNS OF THE SHARKS PERSONAL INTEREST POLITICIANS AND VOTE WITH SENSE NEXT TIME.
I like Lorna and I like Cindy. But Cindy as a Radio host needs to calm down, relax and control her passion and emotions. Also, her Bias, likes, hate or favouritism for certain officials is too obvious. Heritage always keeps it real. Heritage keep the conversation balance and real..Tola Radio is the real show in town. Pls Cindy keep it together. I want to see you all working together. BVI needs you all. You all are stronger than our weak opposition.
The idea that a trade commission is somehow going to lower prices is dreamland. Market forces control prices unless someone has a monopoly, for example electricity and water hereabouts.The Trade Commission is empowered to create more monopolies and prevent competition wherever it feels like. Little else.
Competitive , efficient economies are what creates lower prices and good value, not some committee.
We can read and learn from some of these bloggers of what is what / what should be done / and how it should be done in the best interest of the people and for the same people
That is just partially true Fubber Duck.
So, am I to believe that we are truly in dire need of a Trade Department, a Trade Commission, and a Ministry of Trade in this small Territory??? Where is the justification??
The proposal to establish a trade commission to possibly duplicate the work of the Trade Department seems impractical. However, It has become a common practice in the BVI to hire individuals for a job, and when they fail to deliver, create additional departments to handle the same tasks (or tasks that could be assigned to the existing department), all while still paying those who haven’t fulfilled their responsibilities.
The idea of expanding government and potentially reducing services might appeal to those seeking political traction, but I agree with Hon. Smith’s call on this one. Let’s take time to reassess and conduct feasibility and impact studies to ensure a more positive outcome before proceeding. We should refrain from implementing ideas just because they sound good and instead ensure they are genuinely great ideas before committing to them!
I am seriously concerned about the introduction of multiple departments/commissions/Boards without clear benefits or effectiveness. Going forward, It’s essential for any government to carefully assess the need and impact of such organizations before implementing them to ensure they are indeed “great ideas” that benefit the community. I hope I’m not the only one who thinks It’s wise to prioritize efficiency and effectiveness over expanding government structures without a clear purpose.
She will never do anything that would not benefit her handlers M and H. They tend to forget where they came from. Look at how M is taking advantage of the labour department while she there.check the new cup. Lorna in her family corner…. Has always been she does not care to crap about the BVI or the people that live here.Remeber she is a part of O…. She does not give a s**t.
Strutting in 1970s suits
Ask the members about being paid and what their deliverables have been since receiving payments.
This 70 yr old needs to go home and take a nap. Her assuming the role as head of Trade, amongst other things, was nothing but a power grab. She has nothing to offer the people of these Virgin Islands. She is only a taker