Too much focus on negativity in the territory — Smith

Government legislator, Neville Smith

Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly Neville ‘Sheep’ Smith says there is too much focus on negative things in the Virgin Islands and not enough focus on celebrating positive things that have happened since Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Captain Owen G. Harrigan Visitor Centre at Gun Creek, Virgin Gorda earlier this week, Smith said people take too much time to look at negativity and not enough time highlighting the positive things many government agencies have done to help put the Virgin Islands back on its feet.

“I am saying that because if you realise what happened, a lot of the buildings were damaged that Ports Authority were in charge of and if you go around Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke, you see the kind of work that Ports Authority have done to get these buildings up. They need a round of applause,” Smith said.

The Deputy Speaker said some people try to make others forget about where the territory is coming from with the devastation that happened in 2017. However, Smith said the floods and the hurricanes were real to everyone.

“So, let us not forget it. Some people want us to forget about the past and only focus on what is happening now and they say we are finding excuses. We are not finding excuses. I want you to go back to Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria, talk about the floods, talk about the war on our hands, talk about the pandemic. God knows what else and every time we speak, we speak negatively. Not a positive we say. We must start being positive and talk positive to each other,” stated Smith, who is also a Territorial At-Large Representative.

He noted that after hurricanes Irma and Maria, the people of the territory banded together to fix the Virgin Islands as one people without division.

“That is what we are about, that is what built the Virgin Islands — togetherness. We can not let anyone and nobody come and try to separate us, divide us and conquer us. We must continue working together to build these Virgin Islands,” Smith said.

“Ports Authority, I really tip my hat off to you all because you have done tremendously, and we need to recognise that. There are a few things that need to be done but look at this building. You don’t need any air conditioning in here. Little by little we build, and things will be fixed shortly with time,” the Deputy Speaker continued.

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