Smith pens letter declining Junior Minister role, questions Premier’s leadership
Lorna Smith has confirmed she was offered a junior ministerial position for Financial Services following her dismissal as Deputy Premier and outlined her reasons for rejecting the role.
In an October 28 response letter to Premier Natalio Wheatley, released this morning, Wednesday, November 13, Smith responded to the offer while expressing her concerns with Wheatley’s leadership.
She wrote: “I formally thank you — but decline — your extraordinary and confusing offer to me subsequent to dismissing me. Despite dismissing me publicly as Deputy Premier, removing me from Cabinet, and removing me as Minister for Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, you offered me those same portfolios but as a Junior Minister. I declined this offer then, and now do so formally.”
Smith noted she valued her roles as Deputy Premier and a minister but declined the new offer for three reasons. First, she said the Premier’s offer reinforced her belief that he still considered her the best-qualified candidate for the roles, showing that her dismissal was based not on performance but, in her view, on Wheatley’s “increasingly tenuous grip on power and support within Cabinet.”
“You stated my dismissal was because you felt a possible lack of support in the imminent vote of No Confidence against you. I want to address that clearly: The House represents democracy at work. It should never be used as a mechanism for a premier found wanting to ignore the voice of the people, expressed through a no-confidence vote of the House, and remain in power. Despite my position and concerns, I indicated as recently as Wednesday, October 16, that I would stand with you in the interest of stability for the country,” Smith wrote.
Smith also argued that a junior ministerial position would not align with the significance of the Financial Services ministry, which accounts for 60 percent of the territory’s income. She felt the role required a senior minister to represent the BVI effectively, both domestically and internationally.
Her final reason was that she could no longer support Dr Wheatley as Premier.
Smith also refuted Wheatley’s claim that she had prior knowledge of stepping down as Deputy Premier, stating, “There were numerous ways in which your actions could have been implemented; however, you chose to dismiss me by stealth and surprise, informing me only after securing Julian Fraser’s agreement to cross the floor and assume the roles you’ve now assigned to him.”
In a recent appearance on Talking Points, Premier Wheatley cited concerns over Smith’s potential stance on a no-confidence motion as the primary reason for her dismissal.
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Play stupid games, win stupid prizes! Seems like a Netfilx episode….Island PoliTRICKS on display for the world!
stealth and secret? that’s the same thing she did when she accepted the position and allowed that man to stay Premier. Even he know he shouldn’t be there that’s why he so scared to face the vote of no confidence.
“Premier found wanting…
*** Mrs Lorna Smith
,
“..her dismissal was based on increased grip of power and support within Cabinet”
The Lady has no match when it comes to class,intellect,sincerity, dignity and luv for these VI.
THAT’S WHAT THEY ALWAYS SAY
Come off the internet talking nonsense and clean the household…sour grapes! They both deserve each other! Now they trying to sway public opinion on the selfish games both (him & her) been playing behind the scenes. Both ah dem lust for power is what got them in the hot water….now they both trying to jump outta the boiling pot to save face…
You got the same treatment you allowed the foreign director of pitchfork trust to do those 15+ employees, stealth and secret!
Karma works very quickly for some people, treat others like you want to be treated!
Such small minds
is pitchfork a coded reference to trident?
Sometimes, we become so shortsighted and obsessed with personal grievances that we miss the larger threat. Earlier, I read another article where the Premier essentially admitted that Hon. Smith was effective in her role; however, he fired her because she would not pledge blind loyalty to him personally. Regardless of how one feels about Hon. Smith, this should alarm every person in this territory. If the Premier were running his own business, such behavior – while unethical – would only harm his private affairs. But this is a democratically elected government, entrusted with the sacred responsibility of serving the public good. Expecting blind loyalty in this context is not only a recipe for corruption but a betrayal of the principles of good governance and democracy itself.
As a businessperson in the Virgin Islands, and as a citizen who has grown weary of seeing successive governments squander the prosperity that past generations worked so hard to achieve, I am deeply concerned.
Now look at us! Fighting over the scraps, scrambling to maintain power only to misuse it further, eroding both the reputation and future of this beautiful place.
We should all be concerned!
In the largest and most complex Economy in the world (US) this is common practice. Why do they change Cabinets positions when a new President is elected? It not because the previous Cabinets members are/were incompetent it simply because they are not aligned with The president . This is no different . This happens in Politicas and in Business so lets not fool ourselves and become too pious or self righteous about this decision .
Some democratic systems, including the BVI, do allow for the appointment of individuals to ministerial or other key government positions. However, these appointees are not bound by personal allegiance to the individual that appointed them. In systems like that of the United States, for example, officials swear an oath to uphold the Constitution, pledging themselves to the just stewardship of the nation rather than loyalty to any single individual. There are many instances, such as attorneys general defying presidential directives that conflict with constitutional principles, where appointed officials act independently to protect democratic values.
No system is perfect, and I recognize this. But it doesn’t mean we should simply accept actions that undermine democratic values because they happen to align with personal or self-centered political agendas. Isn’t that precisely my point? Actions that contradict democratic principles should be scrutinized, not ignored.
My concern here is not rooted in piety or self-righteousness, but rather in a sincere commitment to the overall welfare of the BVI.
Recently The Ministries Headings were re-shuffled.
Questions: Which NDP Ministers frequented the Islands up East and North years ago? well if you wish to know which VIP Ministers will frequent the Islands across North, Goup Beef Island Dock and watch as they hop on the Boat. The Ministries were Reshuffled for a reason. Power is as Power does.
BVI gone to the Dogs.
Life will get frightening for the BVI
Wheatley reshuffled so he can be surrounded with loyalist to his party whims.
His advisors are not thinking about the country it is keepin their bread and butter.
He will prove to end up as
A dictator
When the hammer of raised taxes come down on the people it would be a rude awakening.
Economy
When a society cannot see past dollars and cents suffering will happen at all levels
There will be no middle class top stabllize the economy
Wait until the monthly public loan has to be oaid back
“Smith also argued that a junior ministerial position would not align with the significance of the Financial Services ministry, which accounts for 60 percent of the territory’s income. She felt the role required a senior minister to represent the BVI effectively, both domestically and internationally.”
This makes absolutely no sense but OKAY!
Reading some of these blogs, I’m saddened by how unwilling many are to look beyond their political biases. Hon. Smith joined the then VIP government not because of any allegiance to it but because the opposition – including Hon. Frazer at the time – was too divided to make a unified decision.
Let’s reflect on where our country stood back then. Globally, our reputation was under severe scrutiny. Allegations of drug trafficking and money laundering involving our former premier had cast a shadow over the BVI, resulting in a perception of deep-rooted corruption, only worsened by the constitution-threatening COI. At the same time, our financial services sector – a cornerstone of our economy – was/is under intense international pressure to make potentially devastating changes. There was no time to indulge in political ego power plays when the BVI’s stability was on the line.
Hon. Smith’s choice, whether one agreed with it or not, reflected her commitment to quickly addressing the critical needs of the people. It became clear to me that “Lorna in your corner” meant something more significant: she was willing to make tough decisions to represent the entire country’s interests, not just her own.
Many of those questioning her political loyalties now fail to realize that they, too, are caught in the ineffective cycle of our political system. I may disagree with Hon. Smith’s decision, but one thing is clear: she made it with the territory’s best interests in mind.
What no one – including the Premier – has questioned is her effectiveness and remarkable work ethic. She never served as a “cushion for mediocrity.” When she disagreed, she voiced it loudly, and let’s be honest, that’s the real reason she was sacked – she spoke truth to power. Watching the opposition fumble their recent vote of no confidence confirms for me that Hon. Smith’s decision to support the government at that time was likely the right one.
Now, more than ever, we are each called to think objectively about what is truly best for this territory. If we continue to indulge in political biases, we only have ourselves to blame for the outcomes that follow.
she got outplayed
Getting his last , first class travel in before the old heave ho out you go
Folks like the. Honorable Lady, who has been thoroughly blessed with government and other resources should now dedicate her life to fixing growing problems like gangship, before we begin to see gang warfare..
Her whole life’s effort now shoul be about using her office to help the lesser of us by creating incentives to attract young people. Then creating initiatives to get them trained and started.
They know this, and they know that the tiny tiny marae of gangship is due to lack opportunity. They see the rich horde as much and more than they need and never offer a stingy penny. They see the rich want to employ themfor slavewages of which they have long since rejected.
Hence, politicians should stop their greediness, get rid of the greedy Bill, and use that money to build centers of learning and training for the youth.
Indeed, they should become more wise, more giving, more caring and more creative in reducing the gap between adults and mis guided youths.
The problem can be easily solved if there was a genuine will to solve it..
GO NDP! Better roads then.
I hope they each get zero votes next election. Sowande, Lorna and Frazer! None better than none and only loyal to themselves and power.
Sowande fired Lorna and found Frazer so he could retain power! Bottomline!
Lorna first crossed the floor to gain power! Notice she didn’t agree to a jr minister of back bencher role. It was Deputy Premier or nothing at all. She wanted power! Now her very own strategy was used against her and now she is poisoned by her own venom. She never gave Ronnie n Marlon a chance to form the government. She knew she wouldn’t be Deputy Premier and wouldn’t get that kind of power.
Frazer crossed the floor and formed a new dead party when he couldn’t get the power away from Andrew under the VIP. Crawled back to VIP with his tail between his legs, only to get a taste of power again! I bet if Sowande only gave him a small Ministry of asked him to be a back bencher, he would never agree. He only agreed if he could become Deputy. Poor Kye, the loyalist, got shyt on by Slowande for his loyalty.
None did anything for any political stability for the country! They all did what they did for power and for their own self interests!
Why are you surprised Lorna? You are the one that said you were in the corner, you should not be surprised that Natalio is putting you back there. We TRUSTED you and you made a power move that backfired in our faces, now look at us. We no longer have a voice of reason sitting on the other side, at the big boys table. You were the biggest heartbreak.