Lorna Smith performs first stint as Acting Premier
Newly-appointed Deputy Premier Lorna Smith will today sit in the seat of Premier for the first time as she takes over the reigns from Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley who will be leaving the country to attend King Charles’ coronation in the United Kingdom.
Under section 55 of the Virgin Islands Constitution, one of the duties of the Deputy Premier is to lead the territory when the Premier is away or unable to carry out their duties. Smith will hold the fort for the rest of this week and will leave the territory next Monday to attend an important meeting in Britain.
“Honourable Smith won’t be leaving on Wednesday because she will be attending the Joint Ministerial Council meeting and that starts on Monday. On Wednesday, I will be leaving to attend the King’s coronation. So Honourable Smith will be here until Friday and once she leaves, Honourable Vincent Wheatley will be acting,” Premier Wheatley said at a press conference yesterday after being asked who will take the reins when he heads to Britain.
During the press conference, Premier Wheatley praised Smith as someone with a “very exceptional skill set” as he recalled her years of experience in different capacities in the public and private sector. He referred to her as a “fixer” who is fully able to perform as the Minister of Financial Services, Labour and Trade.
“As you know, she worked in the Premier’s Office for many years, she worked with the late great Lavity Stoutt, she worked with Ralph O’Neal, she worked as the director of the BVI London Office, she was the CEO of BVI Finance. In her private life, she worked with the financial services so she is very capable,” the Premier said.
“The challenges are great, but she is a fixer and a doer and we expect her to do great things in that ministry,” the Premier continued.
Although many have expressed disappointment in Smith’s decision to form an alliance with the VIP, the community is well aware of the important political position she now holds as a result of that decision. The seat of Deputy Premier is an important one, as the person who holds it is usually next in line if circumstances prevent the Premier from carrying out his duties.
This was the case in 2022, when then Premier Andrew Fahie was arrested on drug-related charges in the United States and then Deputy Premier Natalio Wheatley was ushered into the leadership seat. At the time, Premier Wheatley made history by becoming the youngest person to hold the seat of Premier in Virgin Islands history.
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KEEP AYO EYEZ ON DELILAH
already drunk with power
This is what Delila wanted. This decision will be your undoing. Watch and see.
Kye feel bad
So not even Hon Rymer but Hon Vincent Wheatley will act when they both gone? Wow
We love that vip is in office
Perhaps he might have refused to act given what transpired; that would be totally understandable.
All of self. Their family must always have somebody at the table. Look back at their behaviour and you will see. People now finally see them for who they are. Power hungry people.
She smarter than all a dem, maybe there will be a coup while Slow-Andy is away and we can have a coronation here for Queen Lorna.
She need to get cracking on what she said she would do. Don’t care for photos of her. If she has all this skill that everyone was saying she has, then she need to crack on. Crack on. Take two energy pills and crack on
It’s like you have selective hearing. You didn’t hear the part where the Premier said that Rymer would be away at the same time; that he will be attending an event for his daughter.
Kye is a humble man
Kye has nothing to feel bad about. He retains his Ministries which are weighty and impactful ones and he also retains his seat on the National Security Council. He has a voice in Cabinet; the alternative would have been to sit on the Opposition benches.
An eight grader is smarter than all of them. That is why she joined them.
Be careful you might be elected
The Premier announced Kye will also be off island
Hon. Kye Rhymer will also be overseas attending an event for his Daughter, most likely graduation.
She work with lot of leader up to when she workup ndp after election
WHY DON’T YOU PEOPLE GET THE FACTS BEFORE SHOOTING OFF YOUR MOUTHS. KYE WILL NOT BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR HONOURABLE LORNA SMITH BECAUSE HE HAS TO ATTEND HIS CHILD GRADUATION OFF ISLAND SO HE WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. COME ON MAN!!! STOP THE DIVIDE!!!
He stated that hon. Kye will be out of the country dealing with personal matters and wouldn’t be able to perform the duties. Therefore Hon Vincent will fill in.
Aint shopping no One Mart no more! Bad blood
Hmm, if she was in ayu corner….
Ayu only trying to stir confusion ?
THE 2ND ANGUILIAN TO CROSS THE FLOOR…BROTHER AND SISTER AT THAT
At this particular time, giving All we have been through together, Flooding in 2017, Irma, in 2017, Maria in 2017, COVID2 years lock down, High price fuel for a while, Coi, and a Hurricane season breathing down on our necks, being a bit Otomistic
Seems to be something we all should be practicing. It doesn’t matter who or which party or government begin to mover us forward towards the high profile we have been enjoying. It shouldn’t make you happy or anyone else for Lorna to Fail from being all of us corner. Wouldn’t it make you and the rest of us happy to wake up not far from today and find our economy flourishing again, find that Biras Creek Hotel has rebuilt and flourishing just as Little Dix Hotel is, or that Bitter End Hotel is similar rebuilt and flourishing. What about Direct flights on schedule between Usa and Bvi?!. To me some of the comments about Mrs Smith who has dedicated her life to working within the Bvi go ernment, Now at a stage where Lorna would rather be retired and on Vacations now again reetering the work force helping to get our country back on track a desirable thing?. Think about it. Please let us open our minds to allow fresh air, fresh ideas, ideas we haven’t had before for Bvi to thrive and continue to assist other Caribbean Countries to care for their people. Let us pray to break the spell and egative ideas and thoughts from our minds so that the light of progress will continue to be our way of life
GO LORNA!
He will be out of Town too. Please go back and watch the press conference.
UK will LOVE Wheatley he is the perfect YES BOY. Everything UK want out the VI they will get. We did a tremendous job at the polls.
OMG. A Coup? ? A coronation of a queen king L…. you say? Dah would be ting to tell the king. You people not easy at all.