'BVI Platinum News misrepresented me' – Jamal S. Smith
Mr Smith said he felt the need to make this clear since the pro-government news site BVI Platinum News had misrepresented him a couple of months ago when, in his personal capacity, he had called for transparency to the project. BVI Platinum News had wrongly quoted him as speaking on behalf of the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) of which Mr Smith is Chairman.
However, the BVICCHA Chairman said the news site had also gave the impression that he was not in favour of the project, which he said was not the case.
“It’s been said that I oppose the Cruise Ship Pier. That not true,” Mr Smith told Virgin Islands New Online in an exclusive interview.
Providing a copy of the document containing what he had indeed said, Mr Smith emphasised that he is certainly not opposed to the Cruise Ship Pier Project but that he has a major concern about the matter of transparency, or the lack of it. “What I said was we have to be transparent in the process of awarding the contract, Mr Smith stressed. “I made no opposition to the cruise ship pier itself. The Cruise Ship Pier project I believe is important to help us get to where we need to be in the cruise tourism industry, and that is what I said but I am deeply concerned in the process.”
He said that he had not gone public before to strike a disclaimer to what he alleged the BVI Platinum News had falsely reported because at that time, “The position of the Chamber was, leave it alone. Speaking about it constantly will not help the situation,” claimed Mr Smith.
Bringing his concerns more current, Mr Smith referred to the recent address to the Territory by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith. “Now the Premier indicated that the UK Government has found the process as acceptable. I think some clarifications need to be made as to whether the UK government investigated "the process’ and they made a determination that the process as acceptable.”
According to the Attorney at Law, nowhere has he seen any statement from the UK that the process was acceptable. “What they were concerned about was the financial ramifications of the project and what I know they have said is that the project is necessary to improve the economy. That’s something we have been saying all along.”
He reiterated that the process is one of major concern but is not convinced with what Premier Smith had said in his speech. “I am not sure that the UK government said what the Premier claimed they said about the process. Some clarifications need to be made on it,” Mr Smith insisted.
.png)
Follow Us On
18 Responses to “'BVI Platinum News misrepresented me' – Jamal S. Smith”
Any reporter with professionalism and good sense would have known to at least tape the man then report from the tape….
VINO keep your high standards and objectivity cuz anything else is not true reality.