There’s no unity among Opposition members, says Smith
Junior Minister for Financial Services, Trade and Economic Development Lorna Smith has posited that there is no unity among members of the Opposition, saying that’s the reason she chose to form a coalition with the VIP government after the 2023 election.
“While I was on the Opposition bench, I sensed that there was a split in the Opposition. All kinds of stories have been in circulation, but I need to make it clear — I didn’t create that split! At the time, I made the observation that there was a split and my words were, ‘I am not prepared to support either side of the split’,” Smith explained after declaring that she has never publicly given her reason for jumping ship after the 2023 polls.
While admitting that she didn’t mind being an Opposition member, Smith said she admired the unity she observed among VIP members and made the decision to join them soon after.
“As I sat on the other side (Opposition) and thought of why I was elected to serve the people and put country above self, I saw unity on this side – the side on which I sit. It’s the kind of unity I was not seeing on the Opposition bench,” Smith stated.
She revealed that the lack of unity among Opposition members is part of the reason she didn’t support the motion of no confidence recently filed by members of the Alliance. Like other members of the government, she deemed the motion “divisive”, adding that the BVI is in no shape to battle a no-confidence vote amid the numerous international forces that are coming against the territory.
“We all know that financial services contribute significantly to the GDP. We know that due to global conflicts, we are in a very delicate place. Sometimes I think of us being on a knife’s edge. One wrong move and our numbers could go down. Should we be in this House debating a motion of no confidence? I say no! What message are we sending to the industry, investors and the people of this country? Only one of instability,” Smith said.
In the meantime, Smith said she is still happy to be serving under Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley’s leadership, saying he should be commended for successfully navigating the BVI through turbulent political times after the COI imposed an Order in Council over the territory.
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This roach hard to catch! Defend the party that allowing you to cripple our financial services. Your husband done kill health
Is she wrong though? You have attacked her personally but did not refute what she stated.
What are you looking for an opposition made up multiple parties? We do know they work for His Majesty.
so there is unity among the government Lorna? Your only loyalty is to yourself.
There is no unity with the dishonorable folks in the HOA and the VI people.
You are not representing the people.
Independence for one is not a thing the VI people want.
What they do want is.
Accounts
Reports
Roads
Water
Government Buildings
A new Government
Coral and mangroves not landfill
Affordable Internet
Affordable Food
Independence and opportunities for more corruption we do not want.
Poor BVI people!
Yes, I agree, there is no unity amongst the opposition. It is disheartening and to the detriment of the people for sure.
However, the current ruling party is not bound by loyalties, or commonality of agenda. You are bound by the fact that you are nothing more than a ‘den of thieves’ held together by the glue of nefarious and underhanded actions that fleece the BVI public’s purse, all while your obvious ineptitude takes our economy, our youth, and our infrastructure into the sewer.
The glue that binds the current ruling dictatorship is not loyalty, love of country, or vision – it is purely an overwhelming fear (spiced with greed) that if one of you speaks honestly, your entire cartel will be taken down, arrested, and hopefully put away in a deep dark prison cell for the rest of your natural lives.
You disgust me with your childish press conferences that even the most ignorant amongst us can see through!
But, to the VIP’s cartel’s credit, you guys continue to get away with it, and you get away with it often, and you’re never held accountable, and your actions swept away and forgotten quickly, so I suppose if you look at it that way, you’re doing very well. 😉
Who would want to be a team player with you who show no loyalty but to yourself. You ran with a political party and double crossed them the very next day after winning. Then the VIP kicked you to the curb like a bag of thrash yet you beg back and took a junior minister position calling yourself a minister of state. Such a clown! You know nothing about unity. All you know about is yourself and your quest for power. The same Premier that you called incompetent after he fired you you are now fully in support of his incompetence. Tell this evil granny to take several seats.
No need to go there we know what linage you cut from. Did the Action man did that same thing a few times. So what make you different.. I know for sure my vote is not for you again. Your not in no body corner but yours.. talk that
Fraser too had to come out from amongst them
MACK DONE TOOK YOU TO SCHOOL ( MR X DPEAKER ) @ A BIG CHUPES ( DO HOW ABOUT YOUR OLD TIME PATHNER FROM THE 3RD DISTRICT – SHE CROSSED THE FLOOR , ( YEP ) AND WHAT DID HE DO ( BOUNCED ) ? LEH WE HEAR YO HOLLER NOW , THE OTHER SIDE AIN’T GOT NO UNITY EITHER , THEY ALL ARE JUST DOING AN SCTING JOB ( OR READING FROM THE SCRIPT AND IF YOU USE A LITTLE COMMON SENSE , YOU CAN SEE THEY ARE DOING A FINE JOB OFEXPOSING THEMSELVES ALL BY THEMSELVES
I am convinced more than ever before that Lorna Smith has zero shame!
This ain’t the same woman who left her team that got her elected and moved over to the VIP just for power the morning after election? I know she change the wig but ain’t the same person? So how the opposition going to be together when you ran with the opposition and did what you did the very next morning?
Whether you like Lorna or not, she is correct. There is no reason why we should have had a VIP administration when we essentially voted for other people and VIP ended up with 6, the minority. The fact that the Government now sits 8 to 3 to 2 says it all. The Opposition dropped the ball and they should answer to the people. Alliance blaming NDP and NDP quiet, while the country goes to sh*t. The Loyal Opposition should be there to serve the people and hold the government accountable. They made all this hoopla about vote of no confidence and look at them. Who had to step out to come back, who had emergency, who abstained, who didn’t show up at all. These people look like they care? We should have the same energy for the Opposition like we do for the government. They were elected to serve not to dodge.
Pure political theatre dressed in recycled justification. Hon. Lorna Smith’s latest attempt to rationalize her coalition with the VIP government reeks of revisionist spin. Everyone familiar with the political landscape knows the Opposition is fractured, so what’s new? That division didn’t suddenly materialize, nor is it some revelation exclusive to Hon. Smith. Let’s not forget she was removed from her ministerial and Deputy Premier posts precisely because she refused to defend against a prior motion of no confidence. Now, she conveniently labels the current motion as “divisive,” while embracing the very administration she once distanced herself from. This isn’t principled leadership, it’s political reincarnation with a title downgrade. Her claim of “unity” within the VIP is laughable. Unity without integrity is just synchronized self-interest. And her metaphor of the BVI being on a “knife’s edge” due to global pressures? That’s precisely why accountability matters. Stability isn’t achieved by suppressing dissent – it’s earned through transparent governance. Smith’s alignment with Premier Wheatley may be comfortable for her, but it’s a betrayal of the electorate’s trust. To support a government under scrutiny while dismissing legitimate calls for accountability is not putting country above self, it’s putting ambition above principle.
This isn’t leadership – it’s political regression masquerading as pragmatism. The public deserves better than recycled allegiances and rhetorical acrobatics. Principles should guide decisions, not proximity to power.
Lorna is an opportunist. I wish politicians would just be honest and say they support whoever pays them more
his face look like saying “W T F YOU MEAN” Hers look like “look at this Donkey(wink Wink)”