Some recommendations in Law Enforcement Review Report ‘simply repugnant’- Hon Smith
According to the At Large Member, there are some good recommendations in the report,t but there is also a great temptation to “throw the baby out with the bathwater”.
Hon Smith was at the time giving her contribution to the debate on the Review of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Bodies in the British Virgin Islands, Volume II: A Roadmap for 2025 to 2035, during the continuation of the Sitting of the 2nd Session of the 5th House of Assembly (HoA) on April 10, 2025.
‘Repugnant’
According to Hon Smith, there are some areas in the nearly 300 pages of the report that could redound against the economic good of the territory, but there are others “that are simply repugnant, and that is why there is that great temptation to just ignore the report.
“In fact, not only repugnant sometimes, it borders on xenophobia and I could use other forms of language that you, Mr Speaker, will tell me are inappropriate for the House.”
Hon Smith also said she “strongly” supports the position of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) that “in some ways this report and specifically the recommendation that the Customs Department and the Immigration Department should be combined and placed under the governor’s authority is a colonial step.
“As my colleague said, it’s a retrograde step, and I could not say it better, it is retrogressive and totally unacceptable.
Hon Smith made it clear that she does not take the matter of immigration and border security lightly and that the need to combine Immigration and Customs may be critical, “but I do not understand why they need to be under the authority of the governor. This is the issue for me.”
Hon Smith said HM Customs would be better served within the purview of the Minister of Finance.
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17 Responses to “Some recommendations in Law Enforcement Review Report ‘simply repugnant’- Hon Smith”
True, Hon. Lorna Smith junior minister of the current local government, (Al) representative. I too do agrees with you that the UK'S 300 plus Volume 2 recommendations without it junior partners input is an arrogant, and repugnant over bullying actons of a rasist government mindset, even though you have not used the words in this comment, but I did because of your response to the topic issue shape disagreement between the B.V.I government's the UK'S government's position.
Unlike you, and some other the acting like we cannot survive without the UK'S headshipa, Many and I will never accept the UK'S infringement on our God given right to choose our destiny, our social, and political partners affiliation wisely, I hope moving to the future.
However, the non ending mismanagement of the people of the B.V.I finances, and other evil behaviors, etc., by our local government leaders over decades, and other reasons not mentioned as yet or never will be, have embolding the UK'S government to and is acting as it is its rights to play the role of God over us, our children, and grand children destiny.
No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no. No. No. No.
No, no, no. *Sing with me)
No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no. No, no, no
No, no, no.
Never, never no, no. Never, never no, no. Never, never, no, no. Never, never no, no, will we agree.
Did our actions contribute thereto ?
Do we need to do some self examination?
It is one thing to complain and reject, but we must show that we are capable rectifying our problems and failures on our own