The Right Honourable Dame Janice M. Pereira DBE continues, on October 22, 2024 Dame Janice paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services Labour and Trade, Hon Lorna G. Smith OBE (AL). Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Right Honourable Dame Janice M. Pereira & Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services Labour and Trade, Hon Lorna G. Smith OBE (AL) are two of the most powerful women in Virgin Islands’ history. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

They are two of the most powerful women in Virgin Islands' history with Dame Janice being one of the first women called to the bar of the Virgin Islands. She recently retired as Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, and was also the first woman to hold that post.

Women power 

In December of 2024 Madam, former Chief Justice, will sit on the Privy Council in London, the final court of appeal for many Commonwealth Countries. 

While the week is about Dame Janice many are well aware of the decades long works of our now Deputy Premier Hon Smith who is a stalwart in her own right.  She was at the late Chief Minister H Lavity Soutt’s side as his Permanent Secretary during some of the most critical development and decision making in the Virgin Islands.

While six men were fighting for power following the last general election of April 2023, all with big egos, Hon Smith put country above self and crossed the floor joining with the Virgin Islands Party's six elected candidates giving Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Weatley (R7) a seven seat majority in the thirteen seat elected Parliament.