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Lorna Smith to launch financial services boot camp in 2025

Former Financial Services Minister Lorna Smith has announced plans to launch a financial services boot camp programme early in 2025.

Speaking during the 2025 budget debate in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, December 18, Smith underscored the importance of the financial services industry to the Virgin Islands’ development.

Calling on Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley—who now holds responsibility for financial services—to prioritize the sector, Smith outlined her commitment to its enhancement.

“We must ensure that BVIslanders are truly contributing to the industry, not just filling numbers,” Smith said. “That is why I shall be starting early in 2025, a financial services boot camp programme that will provide … knowledge and will build self-confidence both at the entry level and the managerial level in financial services,” she declared.

Smith invited the public to “stay tuned for more information,”.

Premier Wheatley, who took direct responsibility for financial services after removing Smith from office, reiterated his dedication to the industry, describing it as a cornerstone of the Virgin Islands’ economy. He pledged to lead efforts to strengthen and modernise the sector.

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7 Comments

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  1. Questions says:

    Who is the boot camp intended for? Will there be educational qualifications to take it? Who will have access to the course? why aren’t financial services basics taught in HS?

    • Inquiring minds says:

      Financial Services is being taught in the HS (ESHS) my son has done the class in 11th and now 12th grade and he is actually doing very well.

      I hope that this program can be offered to seniors as the high school so that they can get some further exposure.

  2. Levy says:

    Anything to embarrass or out-do the premier
    Yuh see how she and walyn putting in they bid for the next election

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
    • Exactly says:

      So the Premier was right all along she was planning surreptitiously on the no confidence vote. So he acted proactively .I believe she has value and would have been better off waiting her turn. This makes her seem power hungry and not wanting to be led by anyone. Unable to be a Team Player. In fact we saw that before elections that she was seperate and apart from NDP.Good leadership is about knowing when to lead and when to follow.

      Like 4
      Dislike 1
    • Cry Babies says:

      A two-week-old infant can outdo this Premier. We are a joke with this man at the helm, and to those who can’t see it, I beg you to go get your eyes fixed.

      Like 1
      Dislike 2
    • @Levy says:

      They all are. And the fools, hoodwinked, white envelopes receivers and others will render the rest to another four years of misery, corruption and political uncleanliness.

  3. Boot camp says:

    is for soldiers not multi lingual intelligent professional financial services managers.

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