Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Forbes in FS seat from June 6, 2017; Smith will not return as FS

The Ministry of Finance, Government of the Virgin Islands, will have a new Financial Secretary from June 6, 2017. Photo: GIS
Mr Glenroy A. Forbes (left) will take on the role of Financial Secretary (FS) effective Tuesday June 6, 2017. Former Financial Secretary Neil M. Smith (right) has been reassigned to a new unit under the Ministry and will deal with Tax Information Exchange Agreements among other things.
Mr Glenroy A. Forbes (left) will take on the role of Financial Secretary (FS) effective Tuesday June 6, 2017. Former Financial Secretary Neil M. Smith (right) has been reassigned to a new unit under the Ministry and will deal with Tax Information Exchange Agreements among other things.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Our newsroom can confirm that former long-time civil servant, Attorney-at-Law and co-founder of Forbes Hare Mr Glenroy A. Forbes will take on the role of Financial Secretary (FS) effective Tuesday June 6, 2017. This is according to our senior National Democratic Party (NDP) sources who confirmed that Mr Forbes “now has his letter.”

According to the same source, it was the hope that Mr Forbes would have started from June 1, 2017 but had not received his letter of appointment and was “unwilling to take on the role until a formal letter was obtained.”

Our newsroom was the first to report an accurate story on May 31, 2017 on the topic. Today June 2, 2017 in a brief staff meeting, acting Financial Secretary M. Alva McCall, whose appointment has been revoked to her substantive post of Deputy FS, made the announcement to Ministry of Finance Staff, according to persons at the meeting.

Neil M. Smith will not be back!

Meanwhile, our newsroom can confirm that Mr Neil M. Smith, who was sent on “vacation” some 2 months ago, will not return to the post of FS. He has been reassigned to a new unit under the Ministry and will deal with Tax Information Exchange Agreements among other things.

The details were finalised in Cabinet, according to the same senior NDP source. It remains unclear why such a senior officer was reassigned from one of the most powerful civil servant posts.

Our newsroom will keep our readers up to date on this unfolding situation and the role of Governor John S. Duncan OBE and Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) in this shake up.

See link to related article:

http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/glenroy-a-forbes-in-as-fs-neil-m-smiths-return-uncertain

 

24 Responses to “Forbes in FS seat from June 6, 2017; Smith will not return as FS”

  • 1 (02/06/2017, 21:26) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    Address White Collar Crimes as this would send a clear message to the gangsters
  • Windy (02/06/2017, 21:30) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    Good move I love it.
    • Agree (02/06/2017, 22:35) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      @Windy, at least we have someone who actually knows what the hell he is doing and can answer some of the Brits inquiries when they come. Hopefully, eventually, with a new set, we can rise again and move our country forward with people who fully understand, respect, and don't think we are all fools.
  • British are coming (02/06/2017, 21:32) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    we are on a well greased slippery slope.
  • belonger (02/06/2017, 21:54) Like (6) Dislike (8) Reply
    Why are you treated Neil like this, he did nothing wrong. Neil time to get the new party together with doc @ the helm. I say no more.
    • Good guy (03/06/2017, 08:49) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      but he had his chance and he keep acting like a puppets for a government who don't give ada#n about us but themselves and their croonies.
      • degree (05/06/2017, 10:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        It was alway my understanding that Mr. Smith has his qualification in Engineering (Civil Engineer). So I dont understanding why he was put in a post that requites a qualification in Accounts.
    • Guess (03/06/2017, 09:31) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      it boils down to that Oath he took. Protect at all cost, even to the detriment of the country and it's people.
    • @ belonger (03/06/2017, 10:45) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      Which doc? I hope you do not mean mr zzzzzzz
    • just ask niel (03/06/2017, 11:04) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      as niel who first went to him and told him the lord wants him to get up from out of his position and run for politics ,god wants u to carry out his vision for the country
  • Who To Blame? (02/06/2017, 21:56) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    SCHOOL CHILDREN SAY EITHER GLENROY OR A UK MAN!!!! HOW DID THE BVI REACH SO LOW?????
  • Wow! (02/06/2017, 22:08) Like (23) Dislike (3) Reply
    Vino. This week been very busy for you guys. Make sure you get some rest and eat healthy. We need you guys around until this nightmare ends with this gang we put all our trust in last elections. Some of us now are only saying - if we had only known that the election was rigged, those 11-2 votes would be a whole lot different.
  • RUN DMC (02/06/2017, 22:53) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    its tricky
  • liberal (03/06/2017, 06:49) Like (15) Dislike (4) Reply
    Best thing that happen to the Ministry.. Orlando must have had some Old Fashion Oatmeal in the past few weeks to do such a great job. But He better be playing with a good deck for Mr. Forbes is a good and clean man with good credit. That spending gonna stop now and control on Finance we gonna hope tighten. However, I do hope he will advise the Premier on appointing some for Accountant General, a local person that is before the Governor do it for him. My people of the BVI we have to get a good party with people for the people and the entire country for we just can allow the NDP administration get back in office to finish the country and allow self rule by the UK to ever take place. The Premier and his crew ain't cutting it and them MUST GO.
  • wize up (03/06/2017, 09:27) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    good to know the post is being occupied by a capiable loacal and not another retired Uk specialist out here on paid vacation
  • Bout Time (03/06/2017, 09:57) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well let me share my Friday experience. After paying all my expenses: house loan, car note, buy little food for the house and allittle other expenses, money done. And here we have this government spending like they plant a tax tree full of money. Rein them in Forbes, we just can't continue like this.
  • Welsah (03/06/2017, 10:04) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Civil servants are not happy. Power hungry unscrupulous people doing a lot of sh^t to people without any regard but like my father use to say "today for me, tomorrow for you" and the last time I check the world still round and karma is a bit€h.
  • question (03/06/2017, 10:48) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    People are worse off under the ndp
  • Same O (03/06/2017, 11:01) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
    If Forbes was an NDP enemy he wouldn't have gotten that Job.... What will Forbes do differently?
    • wize up (03/06/2017, 16:23) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      @ same O: are saying that the commissioner: DPP and the New Aiditor General are friends of NDP....I don't put my neck on the block for people BUT Mr Frobes is no hand to mouth SO you won't bribe him( some the others were broke just before 2011!!!) so dangle a few Benjamin Franklyns and they grab them up
    • Sugar Plum (05/06/2017, 11:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Well for certain, we know what minister has always been vex about Neil in that position. UK now using said Minister like Kleenex. Door now open to put UK in Our money's while beefing up police with additional money's and UK forces. Pay attention folks...it is within our power to.keep this Judas who must pay a debt out of Government. Pay Attention...BVI economy vexing up the Powers.. It has to crumble.. History is not a Liar.
      .Pay Attention!! !!
  • @Same O (03/06/2017, 11:44) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    But Forbes is no pushover. He would not stand for certain things.
  • weed (03/06/2017, 18:22) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    We are a broken people. Partisan politics and avaricious quests for personal gain over civic responsibility have nearly destroyed us
  • high as a kite (11/06/2017, 16:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    see, Government use and use civil servants and work them harder than the work horses do especially the ones that really work, and now nearly twenty years down the road we still cant get a raise, but every year prices going up in de darn supermarkets and stores. banks giving locals a harder time for a loan to own their own home but so easy for expat to qualify. what the hell is going on in this country. I blame Neil, because if he had stand up opened his mouth when them ministers were there spending like crazy, this wouldn't be. being in positions and afraid to speak out ain't cutting it no more. now you see that family and business don't mix, they throw you under the bus to save themselves. premier, it's time to clean up the mess or you might very well slip in it.


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.