Premier open to working with Lorna Smith on financial services
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has expressed openness to collaborating with former Deputy Premier and Financial Services Minister Lorna Smith on financial services and other shared interests despite her recent dismissal from his administration.
In a recent interview on ZBVI radio, Premier Wheatley acknowledged Smith’s expertise, stating, “Honourable Lorna Smith is someone I respect a lot… She’s very good at what she does and she was a great asset to the team.” He further noted, “I’m open to working with her moving forward, on financial services and other matters of interest.”
Smith was abruptly removed from her ministerial roles in October 2024, with Premier Wheatley citing concerns about her commitment to his administration amid an impending no-confidence vote against him in the House of Assembly. “She did not give me the confidence that she would remain with my administration for the duration of this term,” he explained after announcing her dismissal.
Following her removal, Smith declined an offer to serve as Junior Minister for Financial Services, questioning the Premier’s leadership and expressing concerns about the territory’s political stability. “I formally thank you — but decline — your extraordinary and confusing offer to me subsequent to dismissing me,” Smith wrote in response to the Premier’s offer.
In the meantime, Premier Wheatley said he remains focused on advancing the BVI’s financial services sector. He highlighted the territory’s commitment to transparency and responsible information sharing. “We have a regime where we’ve been sharing beneficial ownership in a very responsible way… assisting UK law enforcement, their competent authorities with whatever investigations,” he said.
In preparing for the upcoming Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) meetings in the United Kingdom this week, Premier Wheatley emphasised the importance of presenting the BVI’s progress in financial services.
“We want to share all the good work we’ve been doing in terms of transparency, but also the fact that we are really best practice as it pertains to responsible sharing of information,” he said.
While Smith’s departure has led to changes within the government, Premier Wheatley expressed confidence in his current team.
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Sowande may be lacking in some areas but the man understands politics. He did what he needed to do to retain his Government and can benefit from Lorna’s FS experience and connections. She will get over the burn of being replaced and assist as needed I’m sure. The sad part here is that the government obviously has some issues with planning/executing but we have no viable alternative as the opposition doesn’t even have their act together.
The man outsmart himself, typical!&.
Sounds like Lorna did all the paperwork so he wants her back.
you don’t need her but you might need her.
Country above self, right? LMAO
More unnecessary travel. Less road work. Come on elected officials, stop travelling first class, staying in first class hotels, and talking about nonsense. Spend that money to fix the roads, and actually look after your constituents!
Hope she says no thanks and move on and out. Her talent and knowledge unmatched by any in the current Admin is out of place there and will be abused and misused.
Best of Sowande is to use w***n. Look he face.
She a big sell out to them yt ppl and trust companies
SHE IS GOING TO HEAD BACK AS SOON AS PETER ISLAND REOPENS…SHE IS MISSING ALL THOSE PERKS….SHE CAN’T WAIT TO HOST A CONFERENCE OVER THERE
Trust me, LORNA ain’t missing any damn perks.
Ayo stop making these poppy show power hungry of a lady feel important. The country will move on with or without Lorna. If she wanted to help in the best interest of country she would have accepted. She said no because she was given some humble tea to drink. No one likes to be demoted. All she had to do was show loyalty but she was planning a coup to with the evil opposition. Nuff said by Fred.
It’s the majority of people like you why we are in this pigsty of a country. PERIODT!!⁶⅖
Lorna said she crossed the floor to work for the people, so why is she refusing now to work for the people.
She is not refusing to work for the people and will continue to work for the people. The Premier and his new Deputy plotted on her and terminated her services. Let Premier and Fraser brain storm and figure out how the Financial Services works. Both Wheatley and Fraser are useless SAMPLE MEN IN SUITS.
Obviously the Premier is L**ng the the cock & bull story that he is giving makes no sense.
If you you are afraid of me skipping ship why do you want me still in your ministry doing all of the dirty work, the man is inc***etent.
This a prime example of what the people of the BVI does when they need something – USE YOU UNTIL THEY DONT NEED YOU ANYMORE- TREAT YOU LIKE CR*P BT STIL EXPECT YOU TO HELP THEM. Same thing was done when irma happened – cry for help of the caribbean people to build back and after it was all done to a livable state, they wanted to kick them out.
If the premier was listening instead of spending money his leadership would not of been a topic of interest. Its because he doing Sh*t why he got rid of her; not even Ryhmer wants to be under his leadership but he is humble and holds his tongue; make no sense to fire someone via letter and expect them to stay to do the same work when he know she is the best person suited for the job. He has to be sick in his head.
PS: Tortola now looks like trash- FIX IT!!!!!
Ms. Lorna tell the Premier to go and kick hot rocks. Is he trying to save face after what he did to you?
Then the learned gentleman needs to reinstate Lorna to Deputy Premier and minister for finance, correct the mistake he made, or, live with that decision and suffer the consequences.
Oh yeah, he is going to suffer the consequences alright.
The global financial services industry, which powers the BVI economy, trusts Lorna to deliver on excellent services and financial innovation. It doesn’t trust the joker who is Premier. Lorna can easily use her skills to benefit the territory without assisting the Premier directly. After all, if you get shafted once, why would you go back for more?
The global financial services industry, which powers the BVI economy, trusts Lorna to deliver on excellent services and financial innovation. It doesn’t trust the joker who is Premier. Lorna can easily use her skills to benefit the territory without assisting the Premier directly. After all, if you get shafted once, why would you go back for more?
Our beloved Premier is moving in the right direction, very proud of him, put country first before politics. All those brilliant minds on the other side should rally around him and help to move this country forward, because they are been paid! We want to see results.
for a rude awakening , according to the
kinda games thats being played here / to do what he did and how he executed it (is one , is another thing ) then prince CHARMING showd up and slide into the deputy seat and it’s business asusual .(that’s another story again ) well he X boss said that the dredded COI was causing RETARDATION , “so wah happend to dat ” ❓️ perhaps he should have consulted CSC and have it to RETARDATION & *MOONWALKING * instead
. and some say the dude who agreed with the LADY on the KARTEL show , was left in LIMBO ,and has become so silent , that it has become DEAFENING / since (DAH – FELLO ) cut off he scarecrow hair style and came back to reality , all he needs now is a pipe to balance his new look , ( just a thought
Leh he stay deh!Smart enough to out smart he self and leave we in deh mud!!
Lorna in the first place should not has cross the floor and gave natalio the government when he was the loser, it reflects diplomatically wrong on her husband a former premiere, and now if she go back to make natalio exploit her she is been screwed,beside her financial expertise is to only bring in cash so natalio can fly around the world and have parties and pay Vybz Kartel. So it’s futile serving in his administration that’s not going benefit the BVI.
Why the hell would he even dream of asking her to help! You had her full help and fired her. Really, what freaking planet are you from….His leadership is so so bad it is almost comical! Wake up BVI, get rid of him!
Sponge Bob square pants is running the Territory.
dude burn a bridge now trying to get back cross the creek with out a paddle
Lorna doesn’t do it that way premier that’s why you were $20,000,000 short .
It would be interesting to hear Lornas reply.
Two words I suspect.
WIGO YOU should put ( herbs poo poo . because your mind is full ot it , you just continue to disrespect people every opportunity you get , you cannot walk in her shoes . What the BIG youth did is appalling and is boldfaced enough bto try and add insult to injury , seems like you and the hypocrite share the same mentality
Obviously, Ninja Turtle aka The Mouse has already failed so Wheatley is seeking to exterminate him.