UK Press ‘vilified the people of the VI’ over $250m drug bust - Cromwell Smith
Speaking on the November 16, 2020, edition of the Umoja Show, the host further questioned why drug bust photos belonging to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) were not first released to the local media but were instead made available to the UK press.
“Pictures that we couldn’t even get here in our local paper, is in the Guardian in the UK… pictures gone to the UK and come back, and we can’t get it here yet,” he said relating to the November 6, 2020, historic drug bust.
Mr Smith said the media reports also shone a negative light on people of the territory through the reporting style.
“Told in a way that they want to tell it, vilifying the people of the BVI and the territory, making us look like we a bunch of corrupts.”
UK protecting or harming VI?
Mr Smith continued, ‘These are the kind of issues that we have to start paying attention to when we are talking about representation from Her Majesty, in relation to our security and our public image in the international community.”
According to Mr Smith, an attack on the territory's international image could be harmful to the VI national security, “Creating that kind of aura for the BVI internationally is harmful to our national security that she is supposed to be in charge of.”
“You are protecting my national security and then attacking my economy,” he said
Mr Smtih also raised concerns about the perception that the VI must be engaging in nefarious activities to be able to afford certain economic gains.
Apparent attempts to harm VI's reputation
The talk show host is one of several to have spoken out against the apparent attempts to tarnish the reputation of the Virgin Islands.
The Governor made the statements during a Tuesday, November 10, 2020, joint press conference with the Commissioner, following VI's historic $250M 2,353 kilos cocaine bust on Friday, November 6, 2020, and according to Henry, the comments have possible implications on VI's investment future.
Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) in his 2021 Budget Speech of November 12, 2020, called the Governor’s statement irresponsible and asked for a retraction, which to date has not happened.
“This latest bust does not show that our system is corrupt, but rather it shows that our system and our officers stand up for what is right,” the Premier said.
He said the statement was a well-calculated attempt to stain the good name of the many hardworking law-abiding citizens, the local law enforcement agencies and the VI economy, “The irresponsible statement made will not deter your Government from investing in the advancement of our people in all aspects of local law enforcement.”
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33 Responses to “UK Press ‘vilified the people of the VI’ over $250m drug bust - Cromwell Smith”
The ‘social commentators’ in the BVI have nothing useful to say but just love the sound of their own voices. PSTFU !
Do you think you can change it through radio shows?
1 hard.
Which school you went to?
Until the drug bust!!!
Now we know!
The World knows.
Times like this is when I know that there is a Higher Power.
Arrogance and stupidity is not a good mix.
Tie up your own feet and pointing fingers is beyond ridiculous.
Sack whoever is responsible for Public Relations
The governor trying to kill the bvi before he leaves? he acting like trump so sad
This been the agenda.
It look like they think we don’t read the UK news and would not have seen that article with the pics.
Do you know how stupid you sound? This sh** about UK being our parent only resides in the minds of SLAVES. Get a damn life or else hold a corner til you learn some sense.
But as mentioned above - the Guardian does not represent the U.K. they have a specific far left socialism agenda and that includes attacking London, Cayman, BVI, Bermuda... everyone who doesn’t fit their Chavez-esque virtue signaling. We should ignore in terms of whether to get het up but we also need to get more clever about showing their narrative up for what it is. For what it is worth, the Brits residing here and Cayman think at least as lowly of that rag of a paper and it’s fake news as anyone else.
But, remember it’s also a very serious drug bust. It is not realistic or desirable that it is ignored. Same week, I think Guyanese shipments caught in Portugal and something big in the US if I am not mistaken.
the way to deal with this is to get our house in order. to stamp out the illegal drugs and people trafficking business. remove the idea that the bvi is a stain on the world. one way to do that is not to refuse assistance from overseas.
My last comment were not posted .. but it’s all public information am stating!
‘‘Tis our fault , get over it