Smith confirms re-election bid with government
Smith
Junior Minister for Financial Services Lorna Smith has confirmed that she will seek re-election and has signalled that she intends to remain aligned with the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government, dismissing months of uncertainty over her political plans ahead of the next general election.
Smith, speaking on the Talking Points radio programme, gave an unequivocal answer when asked whether she intended to contest the upcoming polls.
“I have been asked that question quite a few times recently. And I don’t understand why. I’ve been working steadily,” Smith said.
“And of course, yes, I will be contesting the upcoming elections with God’s help. I’m in good health right now, and with His help I will continue to be in good health. I will continue to work for the people of this territory, as I have been doing for the last, what, three and a half years?” Smith added.
Asked which political colour voters should expect to see her representing, Smith stopped short of making an official party announcement, saying that was a matter for the party chairman.
“Well, I’m with the government at the moment, and I don’t expect that that would change, but in terms of colour and official statements about that, I would expect the chairman of the party to make that statement,” Smith said.
“But I’m very much with the government. I work with them, I support them, I enjoy working with them, and I think they’re doing an excellent job, and there’s no reason to go anywhere else,” she added.
Her comments follow speculation about where she would contest the next election. Earlier this year, commentator Claude Skelton Cline publicly suggested that Smith could align with a new political organisation being formed by her brother, veteran politician Mark Vanterpool.
Vanterpool rejected claims at the time that Smith was joining any political movement associated with him. He later launched the People’s Leadership Movement (PLM), which is preparing a slate of candidates for the next election.
Smith entered the House of Assembly in 2023 after contesting as a Territorial At-Large candidate with the National Democratic Party (NDP). Following an election that produced no outright winner, she aligned with the VIP’s six successful candidates, giving the group the seven members needed to form the government. She was subsequently sworn in as Deputy Premier and a government minister.
Smith was later fired, losing the Deputy Premier post to Julian Fraser after changes to the government, but has since rejoined the government benches as a Junior Minister.
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Lorna need to go home. Chupes
This Family know how to triangulate for sure and I repsect any player that is strategic and a long termm thinker . As much as th 30 or so bloggers may sya I believe there is a non vocal majority that is comfortable with Hon. Smiths competence and will vote her back in .
I don’t care which party you running with. You WILL NOT WIN !!! People in the BVI are no fools.
and i dont even play it .
anyways we know you are going to jump ship regardless of which party you run with. Your decision to run with VIP is simply this you are hoping that natalio is out then by default you will be the most seasoned person in the bunch so that you get that office
This is the same game plan of Fraser … you’ll planning on a man downfall…….. what is it about political power that you’ll so thurssty for
Give Lorna the middle finger this election.
more like 2 birds
This one requires further analysis.
One question, where are the fees and taxes collected from tokenized securities going? BVI is now the World Leader in tokenized securities e.g., Crypto. Lorna owes everyone a detailed accounting of where and what the money is going to, first and foremost
You are trying to sound smart but you are really not saying anything. What taxes and fees? Show me the framework where BVI is taxing these entities over and above their usual FSC licensing fees and registry fees. You are making a statement as if is facr so please show us what this is based on?
she will not get back in, i personally can’t wait to vote against her
She’ll go where her bread is buttered but we need her for Financial Services at this time. Sowande nor Fraser can handle that imo. And if her brother wins, which I doubt, then she’ll cross the floor to be in gov. She’s kept her options open and hasnt closed any doors.
All 3 of them are going home after election.
it is an illusion that the people are being fed that they need this one for this and that one for that NO we don not need her and we dont need any of them of them for anything except to do what they were elected to do
this is not to say she does not have knowledge or experience because she does but what she does not have is truth she does not have a genuine heart for the people she wants power and will say whatever it takes to fool ayo so no, she needs go go siddung. and only in the BVI you give away 10 million dollars in a bank that was basically non operational and walk around with your head held high in the sky
LORNNA IN YA CAAARNNAAAAAA