Premier dispels rumours of UK spies in BVI
Photo depicting sections of Tortola. (Photo by Davion Smith/BVI News)
Premier Dr D Orlando Smith has shot down claims that agents from the United Kingdom have been deployed to the BVI to monitor his government.
These rumours came out of the House Of Assembly recently from members of the Premier Smith-led administration.
Responding to members of the press recently, Premier Smith said the reports are not true.
“There are not persons monitoring what government is doing. There are persons who are here on technical assistance of one sort or the other,” Premier Smith said.
Many are volunteers
According to the country’s leader, a number of the persons in question are volunteers assisting with hurricane recovery.
Premier Smith said several persons continue to reach out to the British Virgin Islands to assist with the rebuilding process.
As an example, Dr Smith made mention of a meeting he held recently with the Rocky Mountain Group (RMG).
RMG is an international company of architects and engineers with bases in the United States, China, Iraq, Mongolia, etcetera.
He said they are giving assistance to the Ministry of Communications and Works, Ministry of Natural Resources, and the BVI Electricity Corporation in forming policies.
“We are talking about renewable energy … for the continued development of the energy sector and how we can move forward and make better use of our resources.”
“Many people offered themselves; many organizations offered assistance to the BVI and this applies to Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, and Tortola,” he added.
The Premier underscored that there is no ‘secrecy’.
He explained that sometimes the public is merely uninformed of all individuals and organisations that enter the BVI to assist with recovery.
“It may be interpreted that they are here without invitation,” he said.
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What does the UK need spies for? If the UK want to take the islands back they’ll take them back. This paranoia about ‘spies’ is more grounded in those that are guilty and currently in power than those who are being accused of seeking to take it!
EXACTLY!!!!!! The UK does NOT need any excuses to take control of the BVI. As a matter of fact, our politicians over the past 10-15 years have given them much reason to do so but why would they? The ones peddling all the fear what do they have in common? They are all talkers that have nothing to say they have contributed… all talk.
I spy terrible roads
The invaders are here
Can’t invade their own country!
We took it from the Arawaks who took it from the Caribs. Time we all got out of here.
Can’t seem to spy these audited financials and the reports on various government cost overruns. Also I am having trouble spying our 7 million dollars that BVI Airways walked away with because they certainly did not fly away with it!
I call this out as total BS and manure! MCW has been ‘working’ on the legislation etc for alternative energy for how long now? Years – as a matter of fact the highly paid (6 figure salary) ‘consultant’ whom is now T- manager was the same person. What exactly was the value in this as we still are no closer than we were 15 years ago to alternative energy. I smell several rats lurking. When these ministers play with our collective futures just so they can swindle a deal for themselves it is very painful for the majority whom suffers. Now, the UK has a part to play which is to ensure the funds go exactly where hey should be going and value for MJ Du is achieved. The question is does the UK and the FCO trust enough the BVI Government to do exactly that? I don’t know but can speculate like all of us – the trust has been long eroded. No amount of spin and media bites will change that fact. We are looking down the barrel of another election cycle without any viable contenders to disrupt the never-ending misappropriation of public funds and unaudited financial accounts. All the while these pirates pilfer the SSB slush fund and raid any other source of funds to continue their lavish lifestyles on the backs of ALL OF US! What really is going on with law and order in this Wild West society that has been crafted on the BVI?
“These rumours came out of the House Of Assembly recently from members of the Premier Smith-led administration.” WOW! The NDP is a HOT, HOT mess. It may be time for a reboot; call a snap election and let the electorate decide who it wants to lead it out of this crisis, as Prime Minister Gaston Brown just recently did in Antigua & Barbuda.
Ok. If the allegations are true that the UK has spies in the BVI, does anyone think Dr. Hon Premier Smith would be admitting it? Of course not. That would be admitting administration failure. Governments deny, deny until they cannot do so any more, ie, our neighbor to the north. On the other hand, there could be spies in the VI posing secretly as others doing wonderful and harmless things. Just saying. It is not outside the realms of possibility. Good spies do not broadcast what they are doing; they work effectively, secretly, clandestinely, deliberatively, patiently ……..etc in the open. What will give the UK cause to work under cover in the BVI?
Could it be 1)ESHS $M wall, 2)BVI Airways $7.2M giveaway, 3)lack of annual certified financial audit reports, 4)$25-30M cost over run on Tortola Pier Park, 5)financial management concerns expressed by a former governor, 6) response after the devastating hurricanes, 7) refusal of assistance from a UK naval ship, 8) misfiring in setting up the recovery plan agency…….etc.
Why would the UK need spies here when it’s clear we have a bunch of incompetent loons elected and in higher ranks at civil service. Can we really brag about how good we are at building the territory and managing our finances? We are 7 months after Irma and look at the f—–g place.
@@Diplomat, perhaps, the UK could be dotting the i’s and crossing its t’s to build credibility with the international community if there were a need to take more direct control of some of the territory’s affairs. Colonialism is a sensitive issue with the international community so the UK would want to show that it was protecting the territory from itself, the government, along with acting in the best interest of the people. They would want to show that any take over was temporary. Of course, this is all conspiracy theory. Lol.
I am only here on holiday and to play golf.
Good going!!. We welcome you. Enjoy the blue seas and turquoise waters to the fullest. Have fun.
The Aardvark is ready to take his lunch & Mable is is the parlour.
Is the count eating kippers with your uncle tonight?
Do not forget the Casino
Just eyeballing the gold chain wearing safe thief and his buddies. They will get their time in the spotlight. Sooooon.
please they have been spying on us before irma. wake up people.
There posing as tourists andkeeping an i to the ground
These spys don’t need to dig too deep. Any person in the streets of Road Town can give a detailed account of the corrupt practices of the BVI Government. Without strict controls that money will disappear into the back pockets of “we all know exactly who”.
In fact, they just need to read this community board.
1)ESHS $M wall, 2)BVI Airways $7.2M giveaway, 3)lack of annual certified financial audit reports, 4)$25-30M cost over run on Tortola Pier Park, 5)financial management concerns expressed by a former governor, 6) response after the devastating hurricanes, 7) refusal of assistance from a UK naval ship, 8) misfiring in setting up the recovery plan agency…….