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Chi-Ching! Hon Mark H. Vanterpool is Acting Premier of the VI

Minister for Communications and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) is the Acting Premier of the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
The Government of the Virgin Islands advised on October 12, 2017 that Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE is away from the Territory from Thursday, October 12, 2017 and will be away until Sunday, October 15, 2017. Photo: VINO/File
The Government of the Virgin Islands advised on October 12, 2017 that Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE is away from the Territory from Thursday, October 12, 2017 and will be away until Sunday, October 15, 2017. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) is currently the acting Premier of the Virgin Islands.

The Government of the Virgin Islands advised on October 12, 2017 that Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE is away from the Territory from Thursday, October 12, 2017 and will be away until Sunday, October 15, 2017.

The Premier will be attending a high-level Caribbean Round Table Meeting.

In Premier Smith’s absence, Hon Vanterpool, the brother-in-law of Dr Smith, will act as Premier due to the absence of the Deputy Premier, Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering, who will also be away from the Territory on duty travel.

According to Government, this is in accordance with Section 55 (2) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007, which states: “If both the Premier and the Deputy Premier are expected to be absent from the Virgin Islands for more than forty-eight hours, the Governor shall authorise another Minister designated by the Premier to perform the functions of the office of Premier; and the Governor shall revoke this authority on the return to the Virgin Islands of either the Premier or the Deputy Premier.”

Meanwhile, the Minister who would have most likely been appointed to act as Premier, Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), is also out of the Territory on official business.

Controversy

Hon Vanterpool has in the past come in for criticisms following millions of dollars in overspending at the Tortola Pier Park (TPP) and for delivering substandard roads costing tax payers millions of dollars.

He was also reportedly in the forefront of the non-renewal of Claude O. Skelton-Cline as General Manager of the BVI Ports Authority, a controversy that has seen Mr Skelton-Cline, a former National Democratic Party (NDP) “soldier”, suing the NDP cabinet members as well as the Attorney General.

It was reported that Hon Vanterpool had guaranteed Mr Skelton-Cline, prior to the 2015 snap elections, that his contract would be renewed; however, this did not materialise.

It was earlier this year that Hon Vanterpool had seen it necessary to tell the public while in the House of Assembly that he is not a thief and that his mother had taught him well.

The second term Communications and Works Minister (2011-current) said on February 28, 2017 that “they are saying that we thieving the money and going with it; we wheelbarrowing it all over the place. I heard that and it hurts me when you are here working so hard….”

‘I am not wheelbarrowing your money away’

The Minister did not elaborate on who are making those claims but said he is not a thief or does not have any interest in the “government’s coffers, my interest is in a place called One Mart and my real estate business," he said.

In a speech that surprised many, he accused some in his “own ambit” of spreading the notion that he is "wheelbarrowing the money away."

The Fourth District Representative claimed that the unfortunate thing is that some members of the public buy into the allegations.

While the Minister was speaking it appeared that some House Members found it convenient to leave the Chambers and the Minister had to warn his colleagues that he needed at least seven for a quorum.

15 Responses to “Chi-Ching! Hon Mark H. Vanterpool is Acting Premier of the VI”

  • hah (13/10/2017, 09:05) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lol @ chi ching
  • wize up (13/10/2017, 09:23) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    some of you will take in because of this appointment(pure talk)
  • Really (13/10/2017, 11:33) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Is the Cuban building a new basketball team? The First Lady has spoken I guess.
  • Lorraine (13/10/2017, 12:02) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Heavenly Father God I ask that you take a good look at these BVI the people sufferring under the hands of the unrighteous so long. Corruption, greed, lying, stealing, murdering, backstabbing, suppression, oppression, poverty everybody are weary. Oh lord hear my prayer. Save your people oh lord. Do not forsake your people oh lord. Restore your precious land. Thank you lord for sending help but father god only you can help your people. Hear my prayer oh lord. Rebuke every serpent, pestilence come Father God. Don't send no warriors come Lord our lives in your hands. At your mercy oh lord Amen.
    • hey Lorraine! (13/10/2017, 20:39) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
      ARE YOU JOKING? You start out by saying we been suffering at the hands of the unrighteous for so long then end by saying we are at your mercy oh Lord????
      Don't you know that we are blessed? We are not helpless! We have already been given the tools and strength to make our home a better place- we just don't use them.....we prefer to sit and rock callin on Jesus, callin ourselves oppressed and giving away our votes for a refrigerator or right-of-way.
      The Lord didn't make this mess- we did. It's time to stop this hand wringing and use our God-given gifts to rise up from this mess.

      And while we're at it- One of our gifts is abundant sunshine and wind. Time to stop this burning diesel nonsense, stop adding to man made climate change and power ourselves with the energy God has seen fit to surround us with.
  • EastEnd Guy (13/10/2017, 12:06) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Well Irma has let a Dream Come true hahahhaaha. Mark is PM.
  • Mr. James Blind Bat (13/10/2017, 13:10) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is f@#%g ludicrous. Get out of here! Clearly the new governor's appointment should be delayed. How resilient a people are we if we cannot speak up against injustice and corruption. This is very bad news day.
  • virgin gorda (13/10/2017, 14:00) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Ok thanks for accounting for Ronnie as I almost got a heart attack
  • voter (13/10/2017, 19:14) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    at least he better than Myrun
  • pat (13/10/2017, 21:22) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Relax people its only for a couple of days
    • too long (14/10/2017, 09:28) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      He can move a lot of the monetary donations and aid in a few days....
  • Irma Diaz (14/10/2017, 11:30) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    All you sit back and watch mediocre theifing mongrels lead all you to destruction. Keep chastising the little looters when the big fish is in your face.
  • Cha Ching,hello (14/10/2017, 23:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    wheelbarrowing, carting,stealing. Same thing


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