Leaders defend trip to Monaco Yacht show
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley and Junior Minister for Culture & Tourism Luce Hodge Smith were recently forced to defend their recent trip to the Monaco Yacht Show after one journalist told both leaders that their report did not make sense.
The tense exchange happened at a press conference on October 6, where Premier Wheatley and Junior Minister Hodge-Smith said the Monaco Yacht Show was a success.
However, the journalist challenged their statement, telling them “they didn’t come back with anything, just the usual talk.” The journalist also asked them to give proof of the success the BVI gained from attending the world-leading event.
“We can’t see the success, we can’t feel it. Miss Hodge said it was a huge success. But we’re not seeing any outcome. How can you say something was successful and at the same time, you’re telling us we’ll have to wait and see the outcome? What yardstick are you using to say the trip was a success?” the journalist asked pointedly.
In response Premier Wheatley explained that the trip was a success based on the negotiations they were able to have with players in the mega yacht industry and the opportunity they got to market the BVI’s tourism product.
“The true success will be measured in the growth of the [shipping] registry. So if after this year or next year we’re not seeing significant growth in the registry, then we’ll have to question whether the strategy was successful. But I can’t see how we’re going to get persons on our register if we’re not there to market the services to the people,” Premier Wheatley explained.
Unsatisfied, the journalist asked Junior Minister Hodge-Smith to give an answer.
“On my observation, it was a huge success because we were able to interact with persons – and no, you can’t interact with persons on Zoom,” Minister Hodge Smith said firmly. “You have to be present. You said we were only there for cocktails, but at that reception we accidentally met the owner of the IGY Marinas. And we were able to have a discussion on how we can do business going forward. Do you meet that person on Zoom?” Junior Minister Hodge-Smith argued.
She continued: “That’s what it means to be present. You have the opportunity to get things done for the territory. We are in a global community, we cannot act in silo. Nothing comes to us. We have to go and aggressively sell our product and if it means traveling across the world to do it, we need to do it.”
Later on in the press conference Junior Minister Hodge-Smith explained that government members have to account for the cash spent on international trips, adding that they have to repay in situations where they can’t account for the resources.
Many residents have been complaining about the frequent international trips being taken by Premier Wheatley and other members of the government. They say they are concerned about the costs, especially since the government continues to say there is no money for infrastructure upgrades in the community.
Others have questioned whether the Premier is paying enough attention to domestic events in light of his travels. They’ve suggested that if other civil servants represent the country, elected leaders would have more time to address urgent issues in the community.
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The fact that they had to come out to defend this trip tells me that they know it was unnecessary and a waste of tax payers money for Natalio and Luce to go. They brought nothing to the table. Whatever needed to be done could have been done by the head of the BVI agencies that were present. Those two went on a joy ride just like how Sharie is on a joy ride now in Singapore. When they do crap they hold press conferences and all sort of thing to justify it. What was the cost for the Monaco trip and the Singapore trip?
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That trip was as successful as the $250,000 non-stop party. Success is not measured by the possibilities. It is measured by actual, measurable outcomes. Based on Smith-Hodge reply, if I take my dam self, go to Monaco and talk to successful people, this alone gives me the right to declare myself and my trip as a “success”. Err, WRONG!! We need ripe representation, these people are green both in party colour and in maturity (or lack thereof).
When will the audit of Ship’s Registry be published? Yearly accounts at least, so we can see how truthful this and past governments are / have been with the effectiveness of the very expensive travel to which this department seems to be adicted. Proof talks! BS walks!
What a really stupid statement from a the premier. We accidentally met so and so. What if you did not meet him. You didn’t go with the intent. He never inform you that he would have been there. No wonder you are seen as the accidental premier. How many other heads of government was there. Those trips could well be undertaken by senior civil servants. I believe they might have given a more measurable response. See you at the next dog fight sl**man remember tola have dogs too.
Going to these events is super important for our Tourism. But the journalist is right. Don’t come back giving us the fluff talk about huge success until we can measure it with new yachts and boats coming as a direct result of the attendance. Stop trying to blow hot air up our azzes. Come back and tell the plain truth. You meet with lots of key players that you hope will translate in to increased business for the BVI in the next 2-3 years. Simple. Stop talking to educated people about huge successes with zero tangible results.
So:
1) BVI Ship Registry is declining due to slow response time and needless red tape. Trip to Monaco did not solve these problems.
2)IGY gave up on the BVI over 10 years ago. The owners may be polite at cocktail parties but IGY will NEVER return to the corrupt BVI.
3)It appears the sole purpose of attending the Monaco Megayacht show was to increase the number of BVI registered yachts. How many new yachts must now register for BVI flag to pay for this expensive trip? 50, 100, 1000? Tell us!
Please let us take a step back and assess this situation.
Firstly, d4 rep response was distasteful even though I agree that as the junior minister of tourism she should have been there. Mr Samuel, had to be there
I do no think the premier should have been there it was a waste of money and these things not costing the taxpayers a lot of money. The country taking a beating and a nose dive and he gone up there hosting big cocktail party so its party trips and joy rides.
To make matters worse , why did the premier have to take his adviser to Monaco / New York whom is paid a supposed 10,000 per month , does no work especially after the allegations made earlier this year by that news reporter ?
Look at the crime, look at the roads, look at the schools, look at the people. His ears stopped and he dropped the ball. We need help .
Check Luce Hodge-Smith record in Government. Easiest portfolio and nothing to remember her by.
It has never made sense for the BVI to send a delegation to the Monaco Yacht show – and it certainly makes no sense to send the Premier. If anyone at all needed to attend, it is representatives of the Shipping Registry who can pitch for work, but even that is a long shot.
No, this is just an excuse to enjoy some first class travel and luxury hotels at the taxpayer’s expense. This achieves absolutely nothing for the BVI taxpayers.
Leaders defend:
– unlawful covid grants
– fancy business trips
– barge contracts
– security contracts
– poor road conditions
– no progress in waste disposal
– declining education
Do they know they are hired to actually improve the territory?
I am pleased the trip was made to Monaco.
Seeing first hand and experiencing the “flavor” and “essence” of a tiny dot of a country that is self made to become wealthiest of countries and with their original inhabitants enjoying the largesse and zero crime experience all engineered and generated purposefully by utilizing a dominantly large immigrant population heey that is a must see and must experience for leaders of ittybitty Country…yep Monaco is a reality!!!
We can and we should .
So how where the roads, the water, the sewerage, air pollution? How many times did the electricity go out? Give us a FULL report since WE paid for the trip.
And asking the children to go clean up the school after it got flooded. let them use the money spent on those trip to hire cleaning company to clean the school.
Ya’ll sound so stupid here bickering. They already went on their big trip spending big money, racking up miles and enjoying life and they will be booking more. You are wasting your breath only to vote them back in after a few dollars and sweet talk.
Look at the state of culture. She was elected because she is “nice” and soft spoken.
D4 Rep is jetsetting as we speak.
mr. premier
Genuine leadership is inherent and it comes from within.
Leaders are driven by their vision.
leaders are guided by their values
leaders are trustworthy
leaders have good character ;
Stop focusing on putting on a good show without giving people substance . everybody knows what behind the scenes and they hate being lied to.
check yourself and take your head out of the sky.
nobody is going to support your wrongdoings so learn to accept criticism
stop seeking to fight without understanding another man’s pain, you are not the only one with your feelings hurt and giving people sugar cake will not sweeten anything
Be humble , learn to pray , learn to forgive, grow understanding, read a book on building good character and change the narrative
Learn to treat people fairly not as conveniences or tools, learn to apologize , don’t put yourself in a position where you are tempted , sometimes you need to talk less, less, less really less and listen more,
Grow a conscience don’t bring him in from J’ca for no nonstop nonsense
don’t travel across the world to invite people to your home when your house is in disarray
Fix the issues here first
Every new day is a new opportunity for improvement .
Put away childish behaviors’ and get a mature mindset which matches your position. When the fighting is over and the dust has settled …………………………………….. you going have to clean up and you going have to rebuild what you have broken so give yourself less wuk. We want to see the new U.
D4 nahhhhh I am sorely disappointed in that statement , but fear not ….
ms. Christo….nah that was very unprofessional , where is Mrs Smith…KC has to go this aint cowtown no no
people frustrated so they venting…… their cries overwhelming , over frigging whelming
we know those envelopes that were given out during election in districts 4, 7, 8 and 9 were not free filled with free money. Who donated those funds and how are those persons or companies getting the money back. We hope not another barge contract
Only three I think. But it will be very hard to find those three when Cayman Islands is 95% the cost.
They flew to Monaco to accidentally me the owner of a company that used to run the VG Yacht Harbour. Definitely a highlight that measures success…..
The taxpayers is getting fed up with the unnecessary waste of their monies. Tired of them every minute on a plane somewhere using our money like it is their ATM. They should be made to disclose how much of our monies is spent on airlines, hotel and transportation when they are away. First class and business class seats is not cheap to fly to Monaco.
Later on in the press conference Junior Minister Hodge-Smith explained that government members have to account for the cash spent on international trips, adding that they have to repay in situations where they can’t account for the resources.
So put your money where your mouth is and pay the tax-payer back for the trip.
good journalism
If you had even the smallest interest in what’s really fueling the marine economy in the VI you would be in Annapolis at the boatshow there this week. Thousands of visitors to he VI attend this show. Many scores of them buy yachts that operate exclusively here in the BVI. This is a massive industry that is here right now. Mega yachts? They don’t come to the territory often and when they do they don’t go ashore and spend any money here. Look at the failed attempt in VG by the investment club to attract mega yachts. There are no services or facilities here for them. But you do have the premier charter operation in the world right here right now. Why not invest in what’s already a proven winner for the BVI?
Who is his adviser?
They are indeed to blame; however, so are all the people that voted for them damn well knowing they were not competent to do the job. It’s high time we stop doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.
@Accident
Actually, it was Luce who talked about the accidental meeting without a plan being the main marker of success. Maybe it was the ferocious “Z” bulldog that caused her to say stuff like that. I would give her another chance.
Premier was talking about successful negotiations. The Z should have pounced on that one and ask Premier if he would publish what was negotiated and under what terms. It seems Z is losing the touch.