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Smith Africa trip off, but will go next year!
In a Government Information Service (GIS) press release dated September 25, 2018 it stated “The proposed trade mission to visit Africa in November by Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) and a team from BVI Finance has been postponed until early next year.”
The Government did not give a new date for “next year”, however, they claimed that “Premier Smith will instead direct all necessary resources towards supporting the territory’s financial services sector after a further review of the timeline relating to the EU’s assessment of international finance centres.”
Long-time Interim Executive Director of BVI Finance Mrs. Lorna G. Smith, OBE said although the team was looking forward to embarking on the mission to Africa, BVI Finance agrees that the Virgin Islands’ focus and firepower needs to be directed toward the issue involving the EU.
Why and cost?
Critics of the African trip said, it was too costly, as the government failed to say what was expected to be accomplished and also did not reveal the full list and role of the delegation accompanying the Premier Smith. Many had also saw it as a last trip on Taxpayers' money for a ‘lame duck’ Premier Smith in his final days in office, after no attention was placed on Africa for some seven plus years while in office.
The 2018 Virgin Islands Africa Trade Mission was planned for November 5 to 16 2018 and would have covered three countries and four of Africa’s major business hubs namely: Cape Town, South Africa; Nairobi, Kenya; Abuja, Nigeria and Lagos, Nigeria.
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9 Responses to “Smith Africa trip off, but will go next year!”
this election:I think this administration going right down to the wire unless the Great Britain demands a sooner election...keep the faith because I personally believe whom ever “we” elect is going to walk the same road