They were trying to push me out!
Amid accusations of betrayal being hurled in her direction, Deputy Premier Lorna Smith recently hit back with fresh details on her big decision to form an alliance with the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) after the April 24 general election.
Smith recently revealed that before the election, the leaders of the National Democratic Party (NDP), the Progressive United (PU) and the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) made a pact to be the leaders of the country “at all cost.” She said she was left out of those discussions and didn’t get an honest answer when she confronted NDP leader Marlon Penn.
“I asked my leader (Marlon Penn) whether this was, in fact, the case and he denied it,” Smith said during an interview on the Morning Braff radio show.
“Several other persons who heard it asked him (Penn) and again he said it was not true. It was only when Honourable Ronnie entered the room and immediately said ‘remember we had made this agreement.’ That’s when it came out and my trust was very seriously shaken,” Smith revealed.
“I didn’t say that to the public before but I think it is important that people put this in their minds for context,” Smith stated. Although the secrecy and plot to leave her out of leadership was a sore point, Smith said she made the ultimate decision to switch after hearing Marlon Penn express that it would be best if the Governor got involved to form the government.
“This person (Penn) was also of the view that perhaps the best solution would be for the Governor to form the government. My response was ‘that it would be untenable!’ — a retrograde step that should never be considered,” Smith explained.
She also reiterated that the indecision among the elected leaders pushed her to break ranks and align with the VIP. And she also said she knows of one other elected member of the PVIM who was frustrated by the indecision, although she didn’t name the individual.
Despite the controversy, Smith said she is proud of her decision and wants to focus on the work ahead of her as a representative of the people.
“I really want this to end so I can get on with serving the people of this country as I promised. And I am inviting all the people, I will stay with the people because they are my base, no party. I hope the points I have made have clarified in people’s minds why I made the decision that I made,” Smith said.
During the radio show, many residents called and spoke directly with Deputy Premier Smith. While some congratulated her, others did not hold back their criticisms:
“Good morning Miss Lorna, I thank God to be alive, you is nothing more than a hypocrite,” said one caller. However, Morning Braff host Floyd ‘Heritage’ Burnett deemed the comments disrespectful and the call was axed before he could finish the sentence.
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Lorna and Sindee – Suddenly friends!
Sindee said she would do anything to get the VIP out of government, but her new best friend is propping the VIP up and keeping them in Government.
Lorna would not have given the time of day to Sindee this time last year, but now sits down with her for very staged un-natural chats.
I don’t know which of them is the least trustworthy. It is like trying to determine which of two empty bottles is the more empty!
Lorna its a male domineering world and whatever they do is ok. Look at how they treated Eileene and Delores its a male chavanist party.
That’s why years ago when Eileene jumped ship they couldn’t form the Government because they didn’t want to give Ethlyn and Eileen ministries so Ethlytn crossed with VIP to keep the Government from falling.
One of the ministers had called Eileen down to the lowest personally asking what ministry or leadership she wanted. The same thing played out a few nights ago.
Enough with the lies woman! You are trying every which way to justify your betrayal of your party and the hardworking NDP supporters that got you elected. The VIP team and supporters pronounced you dead on arrival when you announced your candidacy. The majority of the BVI public saw it as a joke when you announced. But the NDP still worked and pushed you and look at what you end up doing. Nobody was trying to push you out of anything. You were only concerned about yourself. Your campaign alone tells how selfish you are and were. Look at your big billboard by yourself without any of your colleagues. You held events by yourself without your at large colleagues. Your colour was orange while the NDP colours are red and white. You hardly encouraged and supported your colleagues during the rallies. You only got excited when it was your time to speak. You used the political capital of the NDP members and supporters to get your dead self elected. You never encouraged the public to support your at large colleagues when you spoke at the rallies. You are a traitor of the highest order. Enough with your back filling lies. You and the VIP deserve each other.
You would have never been in in the first place if it was not for the NDP. After you use them to kick them to the curb. You and your family care about no one but yourselves. You all must always have somebody at the table for your own benefit. People see you all for what you are now. Opportunistic.
Push you out of what? You acting entitled. Madam, you would have not gotten elected on your own. If you ran independent you would have come dead last. If you ran with VIP you would not make it. If you ran with PVIM you would not have made it. The only reason why you win was because of your affiliation to the NDP. Point blank! And you turn around and betray them. I never trusted you and now I know why. You cannot be trusted. I did not want to vote for you and I was encouraged by an NDP supporter to give you a chance. I want back my vote. You wicked bad.
What kind of a defense is that? Does that make any sense?? It was for the leaders to make the decision and for her to know her place, was it not? I see a common theme here. Good riddance. Alas, nice sparkly water under a bridge as the sun rises for a new, beautiful day. No snakes in the garden of the opposition. What a beautiful day. Lorna’s legacy is having lost all respect and relevance in all but a millisecond. World record! Maybe we can invite an official from the Guinness book of World Records to give her the crown. Headline news.
So it really was about her then. In her own words, they were trying to push me out.
Marlon has always had challenges with the truth. What this also confirms is Marlon has sold us out to the colonial masters for his freedom. Hold on we will soon hear and understand. He is a disgrace of a leader.
Lorna could not stand Cindy. But all of a sudden them in love because Cindy is of use to her. I sure Cindy got her share of the deal. People ain’t blind. Lorna is a user.
The election is over. Done with it now. Time to move on and do the people’s work.
This lady singled handedly put back in the VIP government when most of the population wanted them gone. Look at all the terrible things that the VIP did from 2019 including the arrest of the former premier on drug charges. Recount all the wastage of government money and all their other shenanigans. Recall how they called her own husband a thief over the 7.2 million dollar plane. Recall how they call her brother a thief over the pier park overrun of nearly 40 million. Yet, Lorna Smith for her own benefit put these people back in government. Imagine this after she spoke so bad about them just days before. All of self.
I wish I could like one million times!!!
Did you ever realize for a minute she started her campaign as an independent candidate? So hence the billboards was that way.
Lorna isn’t thinking straight and recalling facts that are not accurate or dofferently than they occurred. Nobody said anything about a pact for leadership. Nobody said the Governor should appoint the Premier. The possibility was discussed and she did say that it would be a retrograde step.
Oh please that woman brought money and energy to the NDP campaign. The party won three seats because two of the districts the 6th and 8th VIP contenders were running with blemish records. Other than that Lorna got the confidence of all party voters. You all need to stop spreading propaganda. The NDP needs leadership that Marlon does not have the capacity to give.
The people criticizing Deputy Premier, does not have any idea about how things work on the inside of politics. We all know that politics is tricky. I say THANK YOU Hon. Lorna Smith for being a strong, determined and courageous woman! In a man’s world, we need strong women who aren’t afraid to go toe to toe with men and their egos. Don’t put these imperfect humans on pedestals. I applaud her decision to get up from a table where she had no seat and would not be afforded an opportunity to serve the people properly.
P.S. People of the BVI, learn to be more respectful of the elected leaders. They are not your buddies or friends to talk to how you want.
I believe the Hon lady. #8 is liar personified. However jet me warn you lady slow man is worst. Marlin has proven that he is not a leader. It is time for Hon Walwyn to take over. I would encourage Hon Smith that with a matter of urgency push out slow man. There were some dead weight in the kast house. We got rid of two. We sent home useless, cl1ueless #6 and a sheep. The others should have been Marlon but the alternative would have been worst. We should home #9 the only place in the world, check it out, think about it that Wheatley could be a minister of health in tortola. But in all fairness he could have been a sheep much much worst.
Delilah is now InCharge of work permits and trade licenses….MAY THE LORD HELP US!
Cry, baby, cry. Stick yuh finger in yuh eye and tell the people why (or lie).
In the next four years not a soul going to the polls to vote. It’ll be the election officer there waiting.
The vote turnout was already low, after this stunt, not a soul will come out.
Who do we serve?
who hands are we in?
who owns this world?
How long we have on the earth?
Why all the fretting get rid of the fretting spirit
and disrespect for those whom is elected name calling. We need to stop think learn and pray to Jesus Christ he will direct our part and we will have peace
The 3 leaders were meeting. Mitch not Budhha was going to be in the room and neither Myron. So why newcomer Lorna felt she HAD to be involved? At that level? Trust your leader! just like the other elected men trusted theirs! But you power hungry so despite winning on the backs of NDP supporters, you jump ship at the first chance to get power! Sided with the same people you criticized for years and campaigned against! Even found a friend in Cindy who you tried to kill when she was Tourist Board and for her remarks! Sorry Lorna but you are as cr**ked as they come! Your mbe means absolutely nothing and should be taken back from you. You have no integrity or honor.
lorna enough is enough….stop trying to look for ppl to be sorry…u done your nasty wuk now carry on lets see wa u cud do for this dead country…ain dieing no more it dead
I hope now that you are in charge of work permits that none of these trust company managers will try to get majority of their workforce from outside the BVI. Some of them really lobbied hard for you, I wonder why?
VIP won 6 seats, the other two parties got 3 each and Fraser was the last 1. Does this look like the people voted against VIP? If you ask me, the VIP are the winners to garner 6 seats when everyone was against them and all the stuff that happened with their former leader etc.
Not truth,Ethlyn was one of five in the opposition, what ministry you talking about. It was her second term in the opposition, she joined VIP govt after a few months in her second term in the opposition as she felt it was a way to get things done in her district.
You too damn lie. Billboards went up long after she joined the NDP. Myron was the first to put up billboards and Lorna Smith was as on it. You lie just like Lorna.
She was in anything to get push out of? Tells you how high and mighty she thinks of herself. She was one of the least politically experienced between the coalition group so she knew she couldn’t call the shots that she wanted. So instead she go by the least qualified party of the all the parties where she could get what she wanted. Only days before the election she called them all sort of names and highlighted their incompetence.
Who does Lorna Smith think she is fooling? Look how she drag down her husband. Pull the founding chairman of the NDP to watch her get sworn in as part of the VIP government that tried to get him in jail for the 7.2 M he lost on the plane.
This tells a lot to me.
I hope she notice how the VIP cult turned on Shereen after she started to speak out about their wrongs. They will deal with her the same way. She think she gone anywhere noice? Get the popcorn ready it will be fun.
this “lady” is a traitor
What you said there about Delores and Ethlyn is not so Ethlyn join the VIP because she wasn’t getting anything done on the opposition side so she came to the people of the 5th district and told them what her intentions was and the people agreed to it so stop spreading bad news and telling lies. I am from the 5th and I was to those meetings and they never treat Delores any way because she was the only one in her district that you can see what she has done and that was done Under the NDP Government. Juggy was there for 4 years and all he built vwas a rest room by Ifield Hodge place so when you talking get your facts
I could have never said it better myself. You are right on target
No one can Get a Trade license that will compete with her family and friends businesses they will now go back to the Hl Stoutt Ways you must Join with who have Business already..Stay Tuned people Barry say Ayo will Hearrr.
I respect Dr. Orland Smith so I am going to be careful with what I say here.This woman here is dangerous and she gives all women a bad name. IT’S A MAN’S WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We KNOW that. We live it every day. But for the life of me, I can’t call a woman’s name who BETRAYS her trust because of the way she is, or was treated. That’s any reason to be a Jezebel? That”s any reason to be a Delilah? But then again, look at the stock she comes from. They will betray for power and the almighty dollar. I just keep wondering in all of this if she EVER gave a thought to the women who voted for her BECAUSE they understood that the aim was to rid us of the VIP? At any time did she give any thought to her husband and how he would feel? Clearly not. Quit coming to the press and trying to justify your actions. You keep digging a bigger hole, so as a woman I’m saying “it’s time for you to shut up about concerning this subject.” You’re made your be so please, go lie down in it.
If you ask me, the people voted for the Coalition. In reality, NDP and PVIM are the same. So it’s really fair to say that NDP won 6 seats and VIP won 6 seats with PU winning one seat. That’s my analysis. Fraser was always the one to be the tie-breaker. Any other move to form government on either side would have had to be a back-stabbing, traitorous move, and that’s exactly the move that Delilah made. THE END !
Correction, Lorna opened as an at large and only aligned with NDP because she needed a team, she clearly made a mistake, she should have aligned with VIP from the outset considering how her “team” treated her. And, she’s not VIP, she is independent and therefore part of a coalition government, NDP and the other “also ran” parties were underhanded and underhanded politicians are the last thing you want in government.
Lorna’s candidacy was solid and the stench now is attached to her appointment. The only way she can disguise the smell is by doing her work (a lot of stuff in that portfolio) … Crack on Crack on. The people are watching.
Stay strong Lorna and just do what you have to do to prove that you can make a difference. May God Bless you and Guide you every step of the way. You will be great! In the end it is the people not the party who are great leaders.
I didn’t push you… Or any one…
Honestly nobody could of push you anywhere but your two foot Dem!!! Good luck on your journey!
You sound a like a paid blogger of course Ethlyn was on the opposition and Eileen left VIP to cross with the Opposition then when it did not work out as they knew Ralph would call an election Eileen went back like nothing happened but Ethlyn came over and Ralph fired Eileen.
That is how Ethlyn joined the VIP. During the process when they were deciding who will get what a male candidate call down Eileen to the lowest when she asked for Leadership and a good seat.
But time will tell and for those of you who are paid to destroy this woman’s Lorna’s name with these nasty and unfair blogs and those of you who allow it O beyond to you. The NDP had a nasty power struggle last time that created PVIM and it has continued into this election.
The hypocrites are the people who bragged about Lorna’s resume and begged us to vote for her but now deem her unacceptable because she switched from red to green. Did she now somehow become incapable of doing all the wonderful things she would do as a member of NDP. Is she no longer an asset to the territory or is it just political games as usual. Then again Myron told us in 2029 that anybody that wants to be Premier should run at large but got amnesia when he endorsed Marlon as Premier of NDP won. No wonder why people don’t care to vote. It’s too much politicking. Both sides say anything that sounds good at the time to get votes.
It’s a matter of simple Math. After election results came in after 10pm:
– VIP had 6 and needed 1 to form the Government
– NDP had 3 and needed 4 to form the Government
– PVIM had 3 and needed 4 to form the Government
– PU had 1 and needed 6 to form the Government
Look at the above and tell me if it’s shocking that the VIP came out the victor. What’s all the hoopla about?
To all the people talking about winning because of NDP? If NDP was such a big deal why isn’t Kedrick in the HOA? Why did Independent late comer, one man show Daniel Davies beat Allen Oneal, a member of the NDP At-Large team? If the people wanted VIP out as they said, why did Ronnie beat Sheep by only 330 votes? The stats are there for all to see. Ronnie rode Mather’s wave that’s why he got elected.
Man you just vex that Daddy didn’t become Premier so that you could get back your TB job or some other big Government job. Why not talk about PVIM drama and struggle for power? Talk all or do not talk at all buddy.
The VIP called her names like drunkard and call her brothers thieves and her husband was ridiculed by the same VIP that she badtalked and called down now she in bed with them….BIRDS OF A FEATHER
From all that you have just said, it just goes to show you that she was never an NDP, so get over it. Don’t mind the noise, Deputy Premier, Smith. If NDP was in power, you would be a sitting duck as a back bencher
Oops! You meant to say she came out from amongst the male dominant snakes. Now she is with a team who will respect her. Guhsiddung
Were you there? Obviously not. because your grammar and writing style sucks.
It’s her billboard. She didnt have to put nobody else on it. Did they contribute any money to it?
Yes but I sure she didn’t contribute to the billboards of her district colleagues that had her on it. It tells you that she is not a team player. Selfish woman.
The NDP had no call picking her up. Many of us had done smell her deceitful and traitor ways from long. I hope the Senegal man grab her backside and wash her foot like he do the rest. Welcome to the VIP you power hungry Jezebel.
The PVIM and NDP are NOT the same hence we are in this predicament. They each couldn’t field a full slate of candidates which is shameful given that they had an opportunity to merge months before elections. Allen Oneal of NDP called PVIM a wannabe party live at on of the NDP rallies so explain that if they are one in the same? They are one in the same when it suits them and independent otherwise? If PVIM and NDP were one, the Government would’ve been formed by midnight, so you better go analyse it properly.
Mrs smith is a new elected member not because she has been around heads of goverments means an automatic ministry waite yur turn matter or what his name had the most votes overall and he humble himself let the party”s heads iron out what is to happen and if aint what she like after hearing them then go back to the drawing board or call on the voters to get it straight these mature people shame a dem
They are more intelligent and less petty and more worldly. When it comes to our Financial Services Lorna’s got it hands down. Watch and learn Ms Piddle.
we are going to have work together not against eachother ( if you amqant war go fight with your evil mind , leave the lady alone / who is you and jokers like you to judge her , has she failed to perform her duties to the people ? and if she don’t do the right thing , we now have an opposition that will straighten her out , in the meantime stop your gutter momentarily
Both Lorna and Cindy are using each other until they dig out each other’s eyes.
VIP has 6 chessmen on the board and lost 7
PVIM has 3 chessmen on the board and lost 6
NDP has 3 chessmen on the board and lost 6
PU has 1 Knight
VIP was not what the people wanted. Most persons voted for a coalition Government. People keep saying VIP won 6 seats, but they had a full slate and fell short. They were the first on the board. A coalition without a VIP member could have formed the Government, they didn’t need anyone else, however, the VIP King huffs the NDP Queen and checkmates for the Government
GOD IS IN THE MIDST!WE BETTER BELIEVE IT.
Haters live in thr BVI. It only shows how many wanted VIP out and yet they got in.
Election is over move on people. Too many of you guys are too bitter.
Leave the lady let she focus on her job no mehn
Most of you who commenting ain’t even voted for the lady
I think BVI’s people are confused and they dont really want progress for their country, they just love to quarrell amongst themselves about the least worthy things..one minute they are with you another they are ready to jump ship..Lorna did the best thing in my eyes for the country.