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Hon Turnbull slams his Boss Dr Smith & tells him ‘We are not open for business’
The latest came yesterday December 6, 2017 while Hon Melvin M. Turnbull aka ‘Mitch’ was speaking to a local reporter for ZBVI 780 AM radio station. It came at a time, in fact the same day, when his NDP Administration was welcoming the first cruise ship to the shores of Tortola, post hurricanes Irma and Maria.
The first term representative told the world that it was a mistake to invite tourist back to the territory now and made clear that despite his boss, the Premier and the Minister for Communications and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool's (R4) position, neither he nor his constituents in Cane Garden Bay “will be supporting the move.”
The young politician said his own government was “lowering the usually-high standard of the BVI tourist brand.”
Not ready as yet, slow down
A few months ago after Hurricanes Irma and Maria destroyed the Virgin Islands, leaving death, destruction, and many people still homeless and jobless and with the infrastructure demolished and many businesses and households still without water or electricity, Premier Smith said, “we are back on our feet and open for business.”
This statement brought ridicule from civil society, the Opposition, the media and ordinary citizens since mothers and children are homeless, roads are still very bad and residents have to endure a curfew and price gouging.
Well, Hon Turnbull lambasted his Leader, Dr Smith, and publicly disagreed with him, telling radio station ZBVI’s Zan Lewis that “it must not be dumbed down that we have to say that we are open for business and we are ready to receive people when in fact that we are not,” Turnbull passionately stated.
The first term representative also came to the defence of his people in the Second District, especially those in the Cane Garden Bay area. He told ZBVI, “I will not allow for the businesses in Cane Garden Bay to set up tents to serve any of our tourists. We have a standard that we have to uphold in this territory of the Virgin Islands.”
For years, the cries of the critics of the NDP have been, they are not listening to the voices of the people and voters. Well it was confirmed, by one of their own Member, Hon Turnbull, who stated, “I am a bit disturbed, that government was making decisions without consulting residents.”
He also chastised the NDP and Dr Smith for ‘rushing’ to get visitors back, though his badly affected Cane Garden Bay constituency, a major tourist destination, is still in need of attention.
No Help from NDP Government
In lashing out against his administration, as others within the party has done, Hon Turnbull stated, “No one has come to Cane Garden Bay to help with clean-up from a governmental standpoint.”
However he noted, “If we have to do it ourselves, I am going to stick with my people… we get to a place where we are comfortable and helping businesses to get back to where they can serve our tourists, as well as those who live in this territory, in excellence. We will keep our standard,” said Hon Turnbull.
Yet again disagreeing publicly with Dr Smith and even the Minister for Communications and Works, who claimed that we are ready and open for business, Hon Turnbull said, “I don’t think we are ready, I don’t think the BVI was ready.… I will stand my ground and I will make my voice known for the people which I represent.”
History of embarrassing the leader
The infighting within the ruling NDP is nothing new. Between 2011 to 2015 the Premier was claiming that the economy was robust while many was hurting; however, Hon Deloris Christopher (R5) stated that people were hurting and the economy was not robust as Dr Smith is saying it was.
A few years ago, Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL), the Minister for Education and Culture, claimed that his boss had given the public false information about the cost of a small wall around the Elmore Stoutt High School. However, the Premier stuck to his figures and it turned out those figures produced from the Ministry of Finance of $1.6 M, the cost of the wall, was correct.
In the 2015 snap election, one of the projects that the current Government ran on was the extension of the airport runway at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport. However, in the House of Assembly (HoA) some four backbenchers publicly ridiculed Dr Smith and stated they cannot support the airport extension at this time, as the country cannot afford it. This was even after Dr Smith claimed that there was a lot of money in the Treasury.
Hon Smith, following Irma and Maria, said we were back on our feet; however, his Deputy Premier and Minister for National Resources and Labour Dr The Hon Kedrick D. Pickering (R7) told the public, not so fast as there are “dark, dark, days ahead for the VI.”
The NDP caucus was debating post Hurricane Irma and Maria about laying off civil servants, even through Dr Smith said no decision has been made as yet. Even without a final decision, Hon Walwyn jumped ahead of Dr Smith saying he will not “support the laying off of civil servants.” However, Dr Smith had said at a previous press conference that no civil servants will be laid off, before he flipped flopped in the HoA, following a question from the Opposition Leader.
Recently, the backbenchers spearheaded by Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), the Junior Minister for Trade and Investment Promotion, has led a group holding public meetings without the Ministers of Government. He said it is more of a listening tour, confirming that Dr Smith and his Ministers are not listening to the voice of the backbenchers or the people of the Territory.
Finally, Dr Smith survived a coup d’etat aimed at making him surrender the portfolio of Finance to Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL). The coup was reportedley supported in private by many of the rebel backbenchers. NDP Spokeswoman and cultural icon, former Legislator Eileene L. Parsons OBE, was the Leader.
The coup d’etat failed, and many believe Hon Smith has started to isolate Hon Skelton, his Minister for Health and Social Development. At one point, the caucus had to demand that the Premier take Mr Skelton- a former Finance Minister (2003-2007)- on a trip with him to meet with the International Monetarey Fund (IMF) and World Bank, according to Members who spoke to our newsroom last month.
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37 Responses to “Hon Turnbull slams his Boss Dr Smith & tells him ‘We are not open for business’”
I hope he can get all them old cars from down the bay removed because the police is silent on this. Look like a real ghetto driving through there.
Mitch I hope they don't make you resign like they did your uncle.
We will pray for you.
On another note Mitch is correct but the NDP will not listen for they are accountable to no one other than themselves.
Now that is appalling too
This is a democratic society BUT that doesn't mean government needs to consult people for everything like Mitch said, that would be counterproductive and plain old silly of leaders who were put in to lead.
Finally BVI IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS. like one blogger said BVI is not just one spot. If it were an oil spill in CGB would that mean that the entry ports shoud be shut to all tourismbusinesses? No! Does he even realize the 90% of his district constituents don't work directly in the district?
The mentally displayed by Mitch of 'if I'm not getting you shouldn't get' is just why we can't forge ahead with the necessary speed and efficiency.
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