Smith concerned about VI’s political stability
Following her dismissal from the government, former Deputy Premier Lorna Smith has voiced serious concerns about the direction and political stability of the Virgin Islands.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley removed Smith from her position as the Minister for Financial Services, Labour, and Trade and replaced her with Third District Representative Julian Fraser. During a recent press briefing, the former minister expressed disappointment over the decision and highlighted the potential instability it could create.
“I do feel concerned about this move and that it could create the further appearance of instability for the country,” Smith said while responding to reporters.
Smith said she was informed of her removal at work and was surprised by the timing. She noted, “I was informed of my removal from the position… at approximately 8 am.” She added that the Premier cited her alleged lack of support for the Commission of Inquiry (COI) obligations as a reason for her dismissal, a claim she strongly refuted.
Throughout her statement, Smith stressed the importance of stability in the territory’s governance. She expressed concerns about the direction the government is heading and described the situation as “challenging the notion of responsible governance.” Smith criticised the slow pace of implementing the COI’s recommendations, which she believes has caused friction with the United Kingdom, creating an environment of instability.
The former minister argued that her dismissal was prompted by her vocal objection to wasteful government spending and other positions she took. “Now, contrast my record with that of the Premier’s and ask yourself who should truly be held accountable,” Smith stated. “I have consistently advocated for addressing our failing infrastructure and I have been a staunch critic of wasteful government spending. I firmly believe that my removal stems from these and similar positions I have taken.”
She drew attention to issues that have plagued the government’s ability to execute vital projects, pointing out that she has been dismayed by the lack of action in critical areas, such as infrastructure, communications, tourism development and economic support for residents.
Smith also questioned the Premier’s leadership, accusing him of being selfish and trying to preserve his hold on power in the territory. “In my opinion, it is the public’s view that under the Premier’s leadership, our country is not progressing for the good of the people,” Smith said. “I was faced with a statement from the Premier that if the vote of no confidence succeeds, the House of Assembly would be dissolved. I found this to be a rather selfish threat, aimed more at preserving power rather than fostering the well-being of the Virgin Islands.”
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Bvi political atmosphere went down the drain beginning with
Hon Parsons influencing
Kedrick Pickering
Ronnie Skelton
To split NDP when the convention voted Myron as the head of the party
The split into PVIM and the rest of the NDP weaken the effectiveness of protecting the infrastructure of the country
You Lorna did not wait but jump
You are part of the problem
Fraser is the perfect man for the job…We needed a no-nonsense guy like him to head that ministry of labour and immigration a long time now
For some reason I saw this was coming.
That’s the thing about the heads you don’t support their foolishness then they sack you.
It’s the old people in the House of Assembly who are causing the most problems and most instability. The three of them need to be retired.
Ronnie Skelton:
Because he did not win the NDP elections he broke up the party to make way for Andrew Fahie to cause a mess for us. He had a second chance in 2023 to join back with the NDP and he refused and he made way for Natalio to have us in more mess.
Lorna Smith:
She ran on the NDP ticket. She could have never won an election unless she was on that party. She crossed the floor before she even got on the floor of the House of Assembly. She gave power to Natalio to mess up our country the way it is.
Julian Fraser:
Fraser cares about himself alone. He helped the opposition to form up the Vote of No Confidence and then went to join the same party that the vote was against.
Think about it. It is the old people who are messing up this country. They need to take their pension and go siddung.
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The old people are the ones making a mess politically. All over 70 years and causing pure confusion. Eileen Parsons, Ronnie Skelton, Julian Fraser and Lorna Smith. Eileen Parson encourage Ronnie to leave NDP because Myron won the election. And it was all downhill from there.
Didn’t you know that when you decided to jump the fence?
Lorna sell out T* T* and H* workers, now we supposed to feel for her? She did nothing as the minister but believe what those heads of companies told her! If she even did a little digging she would’ve realized they wasn’t telling the truth, or they already paid her off. Good job Sowande, she now acting innocent keep this lady out the news and politics
Somebody please bring the Bayrum or Balwolte’ for this senior citizen
let the old people dem do their ting
I HAVE FLORIDA WATER, YO WANT THAT?
Even if we get an election sooner than later, who do we get to vote for? The same old fools fighting for the purse strings. Intelligent, thoughtful leaders are absent. Or too smart to play in this kindergarten snake pit.
While I respect the former Deputy’s abilities and supported her choice to join the Wheatley administration, I do believe she miscalculated here. The best way to ensure that the Territory was on the right path was by being part of the Administration—providing the necessary checks and balances.
As the second-in-command, she had a duty to back the Premier without hesitation. If she felt she couldn’t stand behind him fully, then the responsible choice would have been to step down.Dissent in the party needs to be private. Leadership requires clarity and conviction, especially in times like these. In that regard, Fraser deserves commendation; he made it clear to his colleagues and the public exactly where he stood.
If, in fact, her concerns about the direction and stability of the Territory were genuine, and I believe they are , then the position she held offered the greatest opportunity to make an impact. To stay in that role, however, would have required a much clearer and more robust stance on the no-confidence vote.
I think if the HOA assembly dissolved before the removal of the Order in Council that would revoke all progress the country has made in its efforts to recover. And it was announced that the OT minister is coming very soon. Strategic planning for the benefit and stability of the country would’ve been to wait until after then to proceed with a vote of no confidence. Lorna herself has spent some government $$$ without all the details or vetting the information to see if it made sense. This has happened regularly without the glamourous headlines that Wheatley likes to generate. Wheatley has not guarded or protected the people’s finances as frugally as we would have hoped and has not listened to good advice concerning it. Excessive and unjustified Travel and loosely granted sponsorships & investment in entertainment. But when Lorna crossed the floor it was for position & power not for stability. So why is she so concerned about it now? Is it because she lost her position and was replaced. The crossing of the floor is too flippant & occurs without any consequence. Ideologically Fraser & Wheatley are more aligned on the surface level. Lorna had everything to gain by crossing again & her brother has already crossed the floor twice so the precedence has already been set. And would’ve caused the same instability that she is saying she is concerned about. So her words about it are empty in my opinion.
you are right on track and I would go a step further, I believe that has she aspirations for the Premiership – nothing worng with that- but sometimes its prudent to wait our turn , instead of all the crossing the floors like you mention, for positions.
Why inst the system allowing me to like your comment.
Let us look at
TRUST
LOYALTY
LOVE FOR COUNTRY
In every country, there is a measure of underhand behaviour , discrimination and hypocrisy .
However, these attributes have now reach to a level
Of 80 percent of Government leaders in the VIP administration.
The country is slipping at a rapid pace into more cries of desperation from business, more of people cannot make ends meet
People in all sectors
Indigenous
Belongers
Work permit holders
The VIP leader not listening but moving pell -mell
With a set of inexperienced people in his cabinet
The UK will not lift the Order in Council
We cannot sink lower than now.
Take over the country UK
We keep electing the same names over and over- it is not party that matters, it’s the FACT that if you do not support those in power, you get no contracts, no favor and no benefits. Those names get richer and we have no water and (un)holy roads.
The games they play with we the people are worse than the games they play with each other. This is no way to live.
WAKE UP.
BVI people are just DUMB and have no idea what they want for this little place. That’s it and that’s all!
The HOA is doomed to dissolve next month for one reason or another with NO election scheduled while the UK runs the BVI.
Every government probably has some element of corruption and faulty governance in it because no one is perfect. “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) “All have sinned…” (Romans 3:23)
But in the BVI we can do better! There are just too many churches and “people of God” in this country for us to be in such a mess. Pride, greed, jealousy and envy, anger, unforgiveness, power-plays and much more are among the many reasons we are WHERE we are today. Our behaviors have become unscrupulous! We KNOW better!
The solution: REPENT — individually, as well as collectively. Seek God for His wisdom and guidance and THANK HIM for His grace and mercy! “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”. (Titus 2:11-14)
Yep. I think that you are correct. I also think that in the end Lorna will get the last laugh.”That Kortel Show will not happen” Either he is too sick or he need the rest of his money before he gets on that Plane from Jamaica”. They won’t have it..I am bot a fan of Lorna, she is just the bla bla promising queen, no meat..
Mrs Smith you should also give up the little apartment you allegedly have Anegada disguise as your office which is not needed.
Problem is that it’s the same rotating cast in government. No one sensible wants to step up and deal with a mess that has been decades in the making. And here we are…
She needs to be concerned seeing as she sold out. That response she gave about automation was an obvious lie to everybody in the sea ridden company and whoever been there before. But she carry forward the lie without speaking to anybody but her white boy who brags about having her in his pocket. If she really cared about the bvi she would have investigated the matter of 30 bvi ppl losing them jobs over ppl in other countries to access a system that you’re not allowed to access outside the bvi.
The fix was really simple, tell the fact to shut off their vpn privileges and force them to access the system only from the bvi, then you going see de fowl bottom.
Stop selling out and do your damn job.
Wasted vote
Shame you! You should have known that as an adult
Good thing is
You can expose their lies, stupidity and indifference.