Thumbs up! Myron Walwyn and Archibald Christian surrounded by jubilant supporters at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall, Tuesday November 8, 2011. Photo: Aneka Edwards/VINO

“We will start working for the country. We will present ourselves to the Governor today, tomorrow,” he told Virgin Islands News Online at the Sir. Rupert Briecliffe Hall today Tuesday November 8, 2011.

And the next big question of who he will select as Ministers will also be addressed this week, although Hon. Smith jokingly said he has no clue of the individuals that will to be part of his Cabinet.

But according to him, the first thing when the dust is settled is to see how much money is left in the Treasury and “see what the commitments are”.

“It seems that it may be quite significant those commitments and that would determine how we will progress...we will start right now to build this economy, and of course that means concentrating on tourism,” he stated.

Touching briefly on health care, the new Premier revealed that the new Peebles hospital will be finished, and added that a major contract like BiWater’s will have to be reviewed. “We will have to review it, and after that make a decision ...it puts a serious liability on this country,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, newcomer Myron Walwyn, who secured the second highest number of at large votes, graciously thanked his committee for running a very good campaign.

“I felt pleased that the people had that confidence in me,” he said with a grin.

When asked if he will push for a tourism Ministry since it was a crucial ingredient during his campaign, the At large representative replied, “That is up to the Premier...if the Premier wants it I will support it. But I think we did say we will look at a different arrangement as opposed to what it is now.”

Likewise, a very pleased Archibald ‘Archie’ Christian, another elected At Large candidate, thanked the voters for giving the party another chance to put the VI forward.

“I think we were able to convince the voters based on the fact that we apologised for the mistakes we had made in the past, and we also offered them solutions as to how we will improve the economy, education, health care and so on,” he stated.

Pressing for an answer as to whether or not he will make himself available for a ministerial post, the At Large representative stated he has a keen interest in land matters taking place in the Territory, and further stated, “I have to wait and see what Dr. Smith wants to do with his candidates but wherever he puts me I will be happy. But for me naturally the Ministry for Natural Resources and Labour I would love to take if I was given the opportunity.”

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Alvera Maduro-Caines, the 6th district representative, is still recovering from the shock that she whipped Omar Hodge, who held a grip on the district for the last 32 years. She won 612 to 385.

According to her, she will do her utmost to prioritise and improve areas in the district.

Meanwhile, Dolores Christopher divulged that her first order of business is to meet as many of her constituents as possible to pave the way forward for district 5.

Her success in defeating Elvis Harrigan was all about groundwork, she stated.

“The people responded because my work was there, I was in the district before...I was in contact with most of them and I have to say this time I was more interactive with the people,” she disclosed.

And an enthusiastic 8th district representative, Marlon Penn, said he is happy for the people of the district.

“They wanted change and they got change,” he pointed out. “And I think we got to pull the community together and start to work to address the issues that we face as a community.”