My husband didn’t help me make switch to VIP
Newly-appointed Deputy Premier Lorna Smith recently revealed that her husband and former Premier Dr D Orlando Smith did not help her to make the decision to form an alliance with the Virgin Islands Party (VIP).
In a recent Cut Deep interview, the newly-elected legislator inidicated that her husband wanted no part in the deliberations.
“To be honest, he excluded himself from the discussions and that is the unvarnished truth. He was not part of my decision. He supports me in what I do, but he was not part of this,” Smith told host Cindy Rosan. “He’s always allowed me to make the decisions that I want to make and that’s why I love and respect him. He allows me to be me and to make the right decisions.”
While the Deputy Premier didn’t reveal her husband’s true thoughts on her big move which has rocked the territory, she said: “What he is feeling is still fresh, I don’t know what he is thinking but he supports me.”
Her husband is the founder of the NDP — the party from which she defected. Just weeks earlier, Dr Smith had opened up about his party splintering back in 2019.
READ: My biggest regret is NDP split
In the meantime, his wife had also revealed that NDP leader Marlon Penn did not agree with her move but she confirmed that her brother and former fourth District Representative Mark Vanterpool supported her decision and was aware of the many negotiations that took place before her alliance.
“He thought that my decision was the right one in the circumstances and I am grateful to him,” Smith confirmed.
As the Cut Deep interview streamed live on Facebook, many members of the community left comments expressing their disappointment with Smith’s seemingly sudden decision to abandon the NDP and form an alliance with the VIP.
Residents have also been using other social media platforms to express their discontent with Smith’s move. They’ve argued that the decision has caused further disenfranchisement within the wider community, which has been burned by politics in recent years.
At a recent press conference, Sixth District, Myron Walwyn agreed that Smith’s move has further disenfranchised residents, many of whom stayed away from the polls because of political bruises.
“The psyche of the public has been damaged by politicians and when things like this happen, it further damages the psyche,” Walwyn expressed.
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At this point, everything out your mouth ISSA LOI. Add a grain of salt? Try adding the whole darn container of salt. And what does it benefit you to admit that the head of your household has no control over you, i ask. We KNOW THIS and you have clearly proven it time and time again. Sowande is not in charge. We know this too. I get the feeling he do not mind because he knows this premier thing is over his head. Crying all the time for what? Struuupes. Both ayo deserve each other. Go way.
You said that you wear the pants so whether he spoke or not you wouldn’t listen to him. You have destroyed your husband’s legacy as the founding chairman of the NDP. Shame on you!
This woman ain’t no good. Has never been good. She is a power hungry opportunist who used the NDP supporters to get elected. No body would have studied her if it was not for the NDP. When she announced her candidacy it was a big joke and the NDP helped her and look at what she did. I don’t even want to see her. I hope she don’t intend to run again. I want back my vote from this Judas.
His biggest regret is the NDP split and look now what his wife has done. If Dr. smith can’t see that his wife don’t care about his views then he totally blind.
if she had joined the VIP from the beginning I think that they would have had more seats because if the wife of the Founder of the NDP can not joined with the NDC then it would have send a message that something is really wrong with that party. That’s my opinion.
In May of 1903 Winston Churchill crossed the floor in Parliament, moving from the Conservative Party to the Liberals, why did he do it. He did it because he was concerned about the direction his country was going, and, receiving no interest in his ideas from his own party, he moved over to the Party that was prepared to listen. I think this lady did exactly the same for exactly the same reasons.
I am so not surprised that Mark was behind this move,He has no scruples or loyalty when it comes to power and money.We all remember when he crossed to the VIP years ago and tried to get Ralph to involve the BVI in all kinds of shady deals with questionable people.Ralph exposed it afterwards.
For the good of the territory,I wish her and the Government well ,but I am totally disappointed in her.
That is not why I supported her.I don’t think she will run again because of her age,but she surely would not get the support that she did this time around.
Do you know who else was not in the room? The Chairman (HEAD) of her party and her party members (TEAM). Yet she claimed that she was left out of meetings as if that mek sense. How can someone with so many accolades align themselves with the likes of Cindy LOLOL…I mean WOW! This is the lowest. If anyone should be her handler, it should be her husband, NOT CINDY! This is a joke ? ?. I feel for the Honourable Dr Orlando Smith. I get the feeling that not only did he leave the room but that in fact he was kicked out the room. Tell us Lorna, was Mark Vanterpool also in the room? Makes me wonder what exactly some people when through in their childhood years that make them so thirsty for power, even at their past retirement age. It is sad.
Will the real premier in the room, I am not asking for the premier I am asking for the real premier, please stand up. This is the real deal, we asked for a woman like Israel asked for a king. We got what we asked for. Any person who thinks slow man can run any cabinet that the Hon Lorna is in, living in fool’s paradise.
This is the deal ok Lorna you run the country but leave me as premier. Lorna holds the sway and call the shots. We got our lady premier. Now will the real premier please stand up and identify yourself.
She is the most talented person in the government. By miles.
What is better for the BVI , that she controls the vital parts of our economy or that she sits in useless opposition with embarrassing co party members like Wall Wyn?
did you read this before you wrote it??? MAKES NO SENSE
The same Wall Wyn that helped her win. Ungratefulness is worse than obeah
Most talented? Hahaha, jokes on a Monday morning. Someone who has to resort to snake like behaviour is not talented at all. Makes me wonder what other screw ups she may have orchestrated over the years that were just never brought to light. She does not control anything. She cannot even control herself. Walwyn has my respect 100% but this one? Oh boy.
Walwyn wasn’t embarrassing when he was getting people to vote for her. Old people say time longer than twine.
Lol. You sound really made, but its too late.
She crossed because she must always be the star. Look at the way she ran her campaign. Promoted herself and none of her teammates. Poor team player. Everybody on the coalition side were people of substance so she couldn’t have her way so she cross over to the moo moo team. Anybody could shine bright through moo moo. Once Sowande could call himself premier he don’t care if Monday fall on a Friday.
Some comment from Myron. People didnt vote because cr**ks like him stand for office.
If stupid was a person it would be you. If you don’t want to vote for somebody you just don’t vote for them. Plain and simple. Stop being a fool
Lorna smith said so much bad things about the VIP. She called them incompetent to dishonest to almost retarded and she still turn around and join them. What does that make her?
csc dA pUNK
It’s all about keeping the BIG name families in power so they can keep robbing to poor
The now six Opposition members have shown they cannot speak truth & cannot be trusted. They all spoke about VIP contacting them but never admitted they also called people in VIP to join them because they couldn’t get the government formed with their seven members due to egos, pride, greed, and lust for power. Everyone in the BVI knows they also called the VIP looking position even if they did it through their friends, family, and/or close supporters so they could have stayed in the back & make it look as if their hands were clean with their “so-called” integrity gimmick. They need to stop taking we the public for fools and stop trying to throw the blame on Lorna.
Hee husband is in it just as much as she is. Don’t fool yourselves.
let’s take every day as it come and goes. The honeymoon will be over and all the chitchat will stop. We will see how Sindee and Sewunday get along and if he will be forced to suck up to her. Most importantly, we will see if the new deputy will offer Syn-dee a top position. For everyone of them it is about what is in it for them. Watch out
Ayu really hurting ?
Stole our children’s birthright, she did.
In**ate.
I would like you all to see how many supporters of NDP from all the districts voted for Lorna and subtract them from her three thousand plus and tell me if she had enough for her to win. Because I know for a fact it is because she campaigned on NDP podium why she won.
Lorna is a grown up with no convern for othets excepy herself . I hope wheatley can handle her
of course, I did, did you read and understand? read it over.
If Wheatley could not handle the USVI governor, he for sure can not handle Lorna. Lorna and all know that. She saw him as a WEAK target.
Dr Smith is not the founder of the NDP! Where you get that from? That group was formed on Skelton block on a series of Friday nights in 1998. It was Pickering, Skelton, Christian! Smith, Quito, Cromwell them came later.
Your campaign was soiled and now your candidacy has a strong stench which can only be somewhat disguised by actual work. Crack on, Coach on … the BVI public is watching
Why is this even still a topic? What’s done is done we got a territory to run, why is this STILL a topic?? Who cares whether her husband endorse the move or not, it’s DONE, the ink is dry now, MOVE ONNNNN!!
She called them every name in the book and lo and behold she’s with them, the government is formed. You done vote already, just don’t vote for her again is all, pay attention to who you planning on voting for. Lesson learned, stop crying over spilt milk.