We’re not ignoring Trade Department – Smith
Facing criticisms over sidelining the Trade Department because of her overwhelming portfolio, Deputy Premier Lorna Smith has countered with evidence of a balanced leadership approach.
“It takes some time to get everything in place, but I don’t think it’s fair to say that we are ignoring Trade,” the Minister said.
Smith, who serves as the Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade, responded to comments that public sentiment suggested that her focus was on the financial services sector, while the Trade Department and other areas under her portfolio were left ignored.
The Minister said she appreciated criticism but said the comment was particularly unfair in light of a statement she had given about progress within her various ministries.
Smith reiterated that a Business Development Manager will soon be hired at the Trade Department and mentioned the upcoming business expo. She also commented on revitalising the National Business Bureau and an advertisement for an Investment Promotion Officer.
Meanwhile, Policy Analyst and Strategic Advisor at the Ministry, Lizette George, agreed that the comment was unfair. She said the department conducted a staff audit that allowed it to hire more technically inclined staff, such as the Business Development Manager, to address new areas.
George also advised that a recruitment exercise is underway for a Deputy Director to bring new focus to the trade licensing, business development and investment areas.
“I believe that some persons who have recently applied for trade licenses would realise that they are able to receive their trade licenses within even a week,” George said. “What we are doing is streamlining the process by marrying the business licensing policy in terms of restructuring some of our processes.”
George said much of the restructuring processes are internal and could not be made public at the moment but advised that they will be shared once completed.
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We are speaking specifically about the Trade Commission that you single handedly suspended which was the Entity to help the people with regulated costs of Goods. Food prices are killing US daily with No relief in sight. On one Hand you are saying that you in our Corner Yet by another Breath you are trying to Smuggle our growth by keeping Us in Poverty. Put your Money where your Mouth is by doing what is fair to US. Your Campaign performance was Great only to find out it was just a Folly. We are No Fools. If you don’t shape up WE WILL send You back in Your Corner to eat Oatmeal while knitting your Crochet..
There is a lot to be done to modernize the thinking in many Government departments, but you’re on the right track in Labour and Trade. It’s not easy to end the dependency culture of laziness and lack of personal responsibility, and instill modern work practices and systems, but you’re going in the right direction and many support you for this.
What is funny to me is that we seem to think that 8 people in Government can change 30+ years of an inefficient Civil Service System which is ironically propped up and promoted/supported by the UK by way of the Governor/Deputy Governors who are resopnsible for the Civil Servants. There is no recourse for non-performance so nobody gives a s**t and that’s why nothing moves in this place. The elected reps are sitting ducks as all they can do is talk every 4 years, they have no teeth when it comes to the Civil Service and its function. When you wonder why no matter who are elected we go through the same cylcles of nothingness, dig deeper. We can hold elections every year if we want but nothing will change under the current system. To make matters worst we now have elected a bunch of bloviating, know-nothings who are just happy to be someone of importance, be able to travel etc. for without this position they couldn’t even go to Puerto Rico for the weekend. The place is f**ked coming and going.
Waste of time.
ARE THE CIVIL SERVANTS RESPONSIBLE FOR PASSING LAWS?
DID WE ELECT CIVIL SERVANTS TO LOOK AFTER OUR AFFAIRS?
DOES CIVIL SERVANTS COME TO US EVERY FOUR YEARS TO BEG FOR VOTES?
DOES CIVIL SERVANTS CONTROL THE TAXPAYERS PURSE?
DOES CIVIL SERVANTS DECIDE HOW MANY MUSIC FESTS AND OTHER NONSENSICAL EVENTS PER YEAR?
SO IN OTHER WORDS IT IS MR. ARCHER WHO HAS THE TERRITORY IN THIS MESS AND WE BLAMING SLOWANDE?
EXPLAIN PLEASE. ALTHOUGH I MUST SAY A FEW YEARS AGO A SENIOR MANAGER IN LABOUR TOLD ME POINT BLANK
“IT’S WE RUN TINGS. WE CAN SHRED DOCUMENTS IF WE WANT”. CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS REALLY TRUE. THAT IS THE WORD ON THE STREET. IS OUR SYSTEM REALLY BROKEN BECAUSE OUR CIVIL SERVANTS HOLDING THE TERRITORY HOSTAGE?
Sick of seeing this particular member of the Green Clown Show.
Simple you are like Baron tree that bares no fruit, just in the Garden looking looking all nice and attractive but non productive…You need to vive Cindy a salary or hire her because she is your biggest most bias supporter and she has the platform. I used to root for Cindy but I am done, her bias too much for me..No wonder she and Herritage couldn’t get a long she is very stubborn in her bias..The premier is always wrong but Lorna who is an obvious failure is always right.
Luarna in the Corna needs to stay home. She looks like she needs that nap and oatmeal. She has no business heading up these vital industries and areas of focus. Between her and S!0w W@nde and the other members of the A$$ C!0wn Brigade they will sink this place
i graduated from the british virgin islands high school june 1985. i borrowed 12000 from development bank of the virgin islands in the british virgin islands to pay my college tuition at valencia community college in orlando florida. i earned a total of 48 credits but i never did graduated. in 2002 unesco awarded me 15000 to pay my college tuition at seminole state college in sanford florida. i earned a total of 24 credits but i never did graduated. i also attended americare shcool of nursing and matrix education center in fern park and winter garden florida and i earned a home health aide and nurse assistant diploma. i attended mildred elley in albany and i earned a practical nurse diploma. i tried to enroll into farmingdale state college to obtain a bachelor degree in nursing but i was unsuccessful.
from january 19 2002 i lived in orlando florida until march 2010. i moved to new york city march 2010 and then i moved back to orlando florida october 2017 and i slep outside on the sidewalk for seven years without any help until my sister took me into her apartment in lakeland florida. something is definitely wrong some where along the line. somebody or some group is constantly committing terrorism towards innocent people.
Still giving illegal venders trade licences to operate on crown land and on private property. Trade doesn’t even check if the squatters have a lease or own the property. Craziness… Of course you must be a belonger who claims they born here.