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Deputy Premier Smith confident in Premier Wheatley

- the Deputy Premier said while $20M deficit is a serious matter it doesn't call for Premier Wheatley's resignation
Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade, Honourable Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL) has expressed her confidence in Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley and Minister of Finance and his handling of the discrepancies with the compensation for public officers once it was brought to his attention. Photo: YouTube
Opposition Legislator Myron V. Walwyn (R6) called for Premier Wheatley’s resignation following the revelation that there was such a huge deficit between the budgeted amount for salary increases in the budget passed last year, 2023, and the actual amount needed upon a compensation review in April 2024. Photo: YouTube
Opposition Legislator Myron V. Walwyn (R6) called for Premier Wheatley’s resignation following the revelation that there was such a huge deficit between the budgeted amount for salary increases in the budget passed last year, 2023, and the actual amount needed upon a compensation review in April 2024. Photo: YouTube
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade, Honourable Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL) has expressed her confidence in Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley and Minister of Finance and his handling of the discrepancies with the compensation for public officers once it was brought to his attention.

Hon. Smith was giving contributions during the Seventeenth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) on Friday, August 16, 2024.

“I myself was shocked, outraged, and disappointed to put it mildly when I heard about it. I was present when the Premier expressed his shock [and] his horror. I was present when the Premier himself said to the Governor who is responsible for public service that an investigation must be carried out,” Hon. Smith explained.

She added that should the outcome of the investigation not be what she is expecting, it would mean to her the “quintessential absence of accountability” as senior public servants in the ministries responsible for public service and finance be making these kinds of “grievous mistakes”.

$20M deficit a serious matter but does not call for Premier Wheatley’s resignation

While Hon. Smith admitted that a deficit, in amounts such as the twenty million dollars in compensation for public officers, is a serious matter, it does not call for the actions proposed by Opposition Legislator Myron V. Walwyn (R6).

Hon. Walwyn in his contributions in the HoA, called for Premier Wheatley’s resignation following the revelation that there was such a huge deficit between the budgeted amount for salary increases in the budget passed last year, 2023, and the actual amount needed upon a compensation review in April 2024.

“It is not one I am going to say at any point calls for the action that he proposed but it is a very, very serious matter, and as I have said before we have to deal with it, and we have to deal with it expeditiously… those who are responsible in the ministry responsible for the public service must be held to account,” Hon. Smith said.

27 Responses to “Deputy Premier Smith confident in Premier Wheatley”

  • LOL (20/08/2024, 15:26) Like (41) Dislike (10) Reply
    Just remember this next time we vote, do not vote for anyone again that says he should not resign
    • Possible Tax Increases???????? (21/08/2024, 09:04) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
      Who in their right mind would support anyone who defends such a serious blunder that may affect the income of the population with possible tax increases???!!??!!

  • smh (20/08/2024, 15:27) Like (51) Dislike (3) Reply
    She is confident in the premier an the people of the BVI are not
  • Of course you do (20/08/2024, 15:44) Like (44) Dislike (3) Reply
    You supposed to be in our cornah and you siding wid the Hon Party Thrower
  • Political kiss of death (20/08/2024, 15:59) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Deputy leader forced to have to state her leader has her full confidence, when the wake ,will there be food!
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (20/08/2024, 16:06) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hon. Deputy Premier, Minister Lorna Smith, in reference to the Topic Issue I perceive that you are trying to play down or downplay with words a very serious miscalculation, probably, or possibly not an error, by the VIP Government in power of a $20,000,000.00. deficit that was pasted last year 2023.
    You shouldn't be trying to defend the Premier. His and your duty were to ensured that all figures were in order before passage.of the budget estimate.
    The revelation of such a huge amount of cash, in reference to the budget estimate show incompetence of true leadership of especially you both, moreso especially him, our Premier.
    This huge discrepancy amount of money cannot be easily swept aside with defenceless words of party association,.

    Much help is needed now for the people of the BVI, especially in this time of high rising cost of basic food items.

  • Interested (20/08/2024, 16:39) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    What else is she going to say ? She is beholden to him
  • @ OF COURSE YOU DO (20/08/2024, 16:46) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    LOOKS LIKE THEY SLIP ( SOM AH DAH KOOL AID IN HER DRINK ) GIRL WATCH YO BAK side
  • Break it Down. (20/08/2024, 17:01) Like (26) Dislike (2) Reply
    Make it makes sense. No one is making it makes sense...Just the usual I have your back obligation...I really think they want Britain to come and take over. They are doing all they can to make sure it happens.
  • Strictly Business (20/08/2024, 17:57) Like (30) Dislike (0) Reply
    Imagine for a moment that the government budget was the budget of a large corporation. At the head of that corporation is someone called the CFO. This person is ultimately responsible for the financial management of the corporation. Now imagine there was a $20m shortfall uncovered. What do you think would happen to the CFO? Here’s the issue folks. We have people in our govt who are grossly unqualified for their positions. Termination is likely warranted here after a reasonable investigation.
    • @SB (21/08/2024, 00:08) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree with you and as much as I am not pleased with this govt handling of many things, the CFO in this instance is the Financial Secretary. The FS and other seniors in the Ministry of Finance are responsible and these are the people that the Premier and Ministers rely on. This is exactly what Hon. Lorna is saying as well, someone or some people MUST BE FIRED!! Either eay the Territory is in big trouble with this one.
  • Common Sense (20/08/2024, 18:01) Like (3) Dislike (8) Reply
    The good lady is absolutely correct, a leader operates with the information and figures he / she is provided with, that’s where the problem will emanate from, if, there is indeed a problem.
  • Not surprised (20/08/2024, 18:56) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    Honestly not surprised. When you fail to hold your Premier accountable he will continue to think that the foolishness he is doing is alright. He will see nothing wrong while we voters suffer. If I could go back in time NONE OF YOU would be in power. Sickening to the bone man
  • math not mathing (20/08/2024, 21:34) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    it was not the premier fault directly, most people in office go off of advice of the so call professional in the area. nevertheless it is very important to have some kind of knowledge in areas that you are the head of. From day one I know the math was not mathing there is no way 10 million was enough for the raise in salaries which was well deserved, there was a miscalculation, or a misinterpretation of how price waterman wanted it to go down. It was not clear. so they did what they thought they understood. Nobody thief the money is just simple bad analysis bad math's and that's it.. second mistake was raising every single person salary equally you just cant have one person that just entered the public service one year ago earning the same as a veteran that has 20 plus years. it is just wrong regardless. Experience must be worth something mon lets be real!!
    • Boo (21/08/2024, 18:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The person in charge is responsible for checking the facts given to him.
      If he is unable to do this you should not hold the position.
    • @math not matching (22/08/2024, 07:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      What is the purpose of managing or being in control of something if you can't speak intelligently about it? Ok so just take what comes and represent, no questions no say. Ok. Great to ho minister is finance just push it through the house but say this and say that. We are in trouble
    • @math ain't matching (22/08/2024, 07:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Please Find in the history of these Virgin Islands that such a big blunder was made and post it. This is absurd and quite frankly frightening.
  • FACIAL EXPRESSION (20/08/2024, 22:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    IS SAYING )> WALLY ) GIRL YOU CAN'T SEE YO BOSZ JUST GOING THRU DE MOTIONZ , YOU IS GONNA HAVE TO GET OUTA THE CORNER AND TEK HIS SOCKS OFF HIS SHOES AND PUT THEM ON HIS FEET HIS SOCKS
  • Bold (21/08/2024, 00:20) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    My thinking is this.
    How long ago sloman was aware of this blunder?
    Who inform him of it?
    Why didn't he call an em.ergency meeting before taking it to H.O.A?

    Now he ask the Gov.to investigate did he also

    ask for a time frame?The I have Vincent/Sharie/Lorna all were involve when this was passed in house with all agŕeeing months ago.You guys were flying high not taking care of business and to hear Sharie cry out she didn't get enough for her ministry but she will make do,Vincent aint say shit because he aint doing shit in his ministry.I see this Govt.looking to scape goat someone and through them under the BUS
    WATCHA WATCHA
  • Forbidden Truth (21/08/2024, 03:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Stop Bamboozling people. You said you will not do it.
  • Confident Why? (21/08/2024, 06:16) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    My question is what is this confidence based on? What has this man ever done to inspire confidence? What has he ever done to demonstrate that he is capable of what is expected of him in the capacity of minister of finance? I not even trying to be rude or bash him unjustly I really can’t think on where this confidence in him coming from. Is it because he made her deputy premier while the ndp boys were looking to put her on the side even though she got more votes than them? If you keep defending this man blunders he is going to sink the entire VIP ship maybe the BVI ship as well.
  • Herbs Powa (21/08/2024, 06:24) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lorna went against the people for election and still flexing against the people today.
  • lorna shut up (21/08/2024, 09:15) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    you confident in someone who has us suffering and cant make ends meet....yall breaking down buildings and not fixing them back....what yall really doing... education is the key and the schools cant build back as yet....yall for yall self and maybe yall family....lorna u need resign tooo
  • Yola (21/08/2024, 09:59) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    She was drunk when she say that the whole of tola see this dude is a joke ain't ready.. Just traveling wasting money, partying, looking woman, getting fat off tax prayers, don't reply to the public with message he and he ugly friend kye, big waste
  • time will tell (21/08/2024, 10:16) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Here we go with the Collective Responsibility BS!!!
  • HAHAHA (21/08/2024, 14:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Oh sweet lord take me to hospital....me gut split laughing.
  • got to be (21/08/2024, 14:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    u got to be confident bcuz is he give you the job when yah cross the floor

    spineless

    power hungry

    money hunger


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