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Rebel NDP Backbenchers hold their own public meetings
There is no secret that the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) have both private and public infightings.
The Leader himself, Dr Smith, survived a coup de ‘tat last year after party spokeswoman and former Legislator Eileene L. Parsons OBE led an effort to replace him as Minister of Finance with former Finance Minister [2003-2007] Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), who also holds the Health and Social Development portfolio.
Her proposal, detailed in a letter to all NDP elected Members, was obtained and published by our newsroom. One Board Chairman, John I. Cline, who went public with his agreement for a replacement, was sacked by Premier Smith and forced to resign as Chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority Board.
Rebels from the backbench hold own listening tour
Now comes word that some Backbenchers, led by Junior Minister for Trade and Investment Promotion, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), is spearheading a series of public meetings hosted by the NDP backbenchers without the Ministers of Government.
Mr Penn, the second term Legislator who remains very popular in his Eighth District and among the grassroots, told our newsroom that “the backbenchers are just having a conversation with the public and all are invited, including Ministers of Government.”
Hon Penn confirmed that a meeting was held already in the Fifth District and the second conversation or listening session will be held today November 2, 2017 in the Sixth District that is represented by Hon Alvera Maduro-Caines.
The NDP backbencher led public forum is described as a ‘walk through’ the district and will be from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, starting from Purcell Estate, according to organisers.
Our newsroom was also advised that a radio show on ZBVI 780 AM scheduled for yesterday November 1, 2017 hosted by the backbenchers was cancelled.
One senior NDP party member told our newsroom that “this is a shot above the bow for the Ministers as both the public, we in the party, and now the backbenchers, are fed up with them not listening and being out of touch.”
The source asked “Where else have you ever heard backbenchers having public meetings without the Ministers involved or just invited and they have the answers…this says a lot about the party leadership.”
NDP Public fighting
The infighting continues to be in the public domain. On February 28, 2017 in the House of Assembly, many backbenchers openly defied their Leader Dr Smith and opposed the Airport Project saying, now was not the time to move forward with such a costly venture.
The NDP ran on the extension platform of the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport runway as a means of further supporting airlift.
In addition, last year Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL) defied and contradicted Dr Smith when he told the public that his boss, the Minister of Finance, had given wrong information to the public about the cost of a small wall built around the Elmore Stoutt High School on Tortola, which cost $1.6M.
Mr Walwyn months after admitted that Premier Smith’s figures were correct; however, he never apologised for misleading the public about the accuracy of Dr Smith's figure. The same wall is now the subject of an audit investigation called for by former governor John S. Duncan OBE.
Who to believe? Public confused: Does Dr Smith’s words mean anything?
The public infighting continues as Premier Smith has insisted that the economy is robust; however, Hon Delores Christopher (R5) told the HoA last year “the economy is not robust as they said it is.”
Within the last week two other NDP elected officials blatantly contradicted statements made by their Leader.
Premier Smith told the public a few days ago, following two powerful Category 5 hurricanes, Irma and Maria, that destroyed the Virgin Islands, “we are back on our feet and open for business” in a press conference.
However, his own Deputy Premier, Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7), warned of “dark dark days ahead”. Dr Smith also claimed that before the hurricanes there were millions and millions in the Treasury; however the Ninth District Representative Dr The Honourable Hubert O’Neal told residents in his district that “this government is hurting for money...and I am very very serious…and if funds are not injected in the economy it will collapse.”
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