Smith: UK has launched a relentless campaign against us
Junior Minister for Financial Services Lorna Smith has described recent international pressure as a “relentless campaign” by United Kingdom stakeholders aimed at undermining the territory’s financial services industry.
The UK has directed all Overseas Territories to establish publicly accessible registers within their financial services sectors, allowing company owners to be easily identified — a measure London says will help combat a range of financial crimes.
The BVI’s decision not to implement a fully public register has prompted renewed calls from several UK stakeholders for an Order in Council — a legislative tool that would compel the territory to comply.
“For more than six weeks, there has been a sustained and intense period of attacks at every level — from government bodies to civil society groups,” Smith said in the House of Assembly.
She added that her team has been inundated with early morning alerts from major UK media outlets carrying narratives critical of the BVI’s financial services.
In response, Smith said a highly qualified BVI envoy was dispatched to the UK for a two-month engagement with members of parliament, the House of Lords, and civil society representatives. The envoy’s mission was to highlight the strengths and offerings of the territory’s financial services industry and counter negative narratives.
Calling the challenge a “battle royal,” Smith stressed the need for unity and consistency among leaders. “This is the time when we should be speaking with one voice.”
The minister also pointed to recent legislative measures aimed at addressing transparency concerns while safeguarding client privacy. She said the government’s approach to public access registers of beneficial ownership was constitutionally sound and shaped through extensive consultations with industry stakeholders and UK non-governmental groups.
Despite the heightened scrutiny, Smith expressed confidence in the territory’s position.
“We have very strong legal advice and are comfortable with the balance we have achieved,” she said, emphasising the need for measured and principled responses to international demands.
The government has pledged to do everything within its power to defend the financial services sector, which it says has significantly raised the standard of living and brought long-standing prosperity to the territory.
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IT LOOKS LIKE THE WIGGED ONE WAS RIGHT ABOUT YOU / YOU ARE SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF BEING ” SOME PLACE ELSE ” OR ARE JUST READIND FROM THE SCRIPT / LIKE UNCLE VINNIE WHO HAS BECOME A PASTOR OVERNIGHT
you need to go by uncle Wiggie so he could plaster yo behine wid some ood ood.
Yes wiggie Cindy and she fell out the rest is history
And you have launched a relentless campaign to protect yourself and to get power at all cost. Imagine that Natalio kicked you to curb over the first vote of no confidence because he was not sure how you would vote. You begged back for your job at a much lower post and now you are singing his praises like he is the best thing since sliced bread when all the problems that were in the first vote of no confidence appeared also in the second. Your relentless pursuit of power is all that matters to you. You should be ashamed of yourself. I want back my vote. Politicians like you show that you are against the people. Why couldn’t you stand up for what was right? If you are against us then you expect the Uk to be for us? Charity begins at home. You failed the people!
Buckingham Palace has noted your position Madam
Where is our 5 million? Who approved it?
Blame the crooks. Oh my bad, it’s you guys smh
Relentless campaign of personal enrichment. I know which one l approve of . where’s the $5,000;000 the public knows you know it’s now in private hands we can guess who’s doubt it’s traveled far!
We on a relentless campaign to find out why our 5M get deposited into a bank that wasn’t in compliance and who authorized it. How we going to have a Battle Royale with the UK holding one head and we can’t even trust ayo.
You all don’t listen to Delilah. She is of No relevance. A Fr!gging Snake got she fooled. Hush Delilah, We have No use for you. Crawl back under your Rock and stay there. No matter how much of our 5 Mil is distributed during Elections wouldn’t get you back in the Door.
She talking everything except saying what happen to our 5 million dollars. That’s what we want to hear about.
Why is our business the ruling class people in UK’s business?
Why is the handling of our money, which they do not assist us in making/creating, their business.
Isn’t that neocolonialism over-reach with bad to deadly seismic intentions, such like invasions and take over of a financial system that does not belong to them?
Those shifts in the daily life of the local people that the UK politicians are deliberate, and are identical to the objectives of the colonializing era from the 12 century forward.
Ms. Smith and Mr Wheatley, you both must fight tooth and nail to keep what our ancestor have built and left for us to manage and live off of.
Fight by all means necessary!!
Screw these people.
Think we need the truth about the $5million before we hear any more from you about faults of others.
just like bvi politicians relentless campaign against the people whenever we complain about our poor government services lol.
None of this is happening by accident y’all better wake up to the game that is being played.
English and UK people, you can gang up upon daily on every comment that speaks the truth about your country, its people and their truths in general, but you will never quantify truths in the minds that know truths with your thumbs down to truths.