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Dr Smith is not 'wearing the pants' – Julio S. Henry

- Open Mic host blasted Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith for this administration; said the Premier taking the people for granted
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith (AL), left, received a severe flogging from host of Open Mic, Mr Julio S. Henry, left, on January 11, 2017. Photo: VINO/File
Talk show host Julio S. Henry agrees with former legislator Mrs Eileene L. Parsons OBE (left) that the portfolio of Finance should be given to Health Minister Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), right. Photo: VINO/File
Talk show host Julio S. Henry agrees with former legislator Mrs Eileene L. Parsons OBE (left) that the portfolio of Finance should be given to Health Minister Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), right. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Julio S. Henry does not agree with the decision by Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith to fire BVIHSA Chairman John I. Cline (in photo) for publicly agreeing that the Finance portfolio should be re-assigned. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Julio S. Henry does not agree with the decision by Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith to fire BVIHSA Chairman John I. Cline (in photo) for publicly agreeing that the Finance portfolio should be re-assigned. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Julio S. Henry on Open Mic on CBN Channel 51 on January 11, 2017. Photo: VINO
Mr Julio S. Henry on Open Mic on CBN Channel 51 on January 11, 2017. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Local businessman and talk show host Julio S. ‘Sam’ Henry came out with a barrage of hard hitting punches to Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), bluntly telling him that his Health Minister Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) ran the finances of the territory better than him.

Henry was on full blast of the Premier during his two-hour long talk show, Open Mic, televised live on CBN Channel 51 on Wednesday January 11, 2017.

The talk show host repeatedly made it clear that he supports the leaked letter penned by former legislator and staunch NDP supporter Mrs Eileene L. Parsons OBE, and first made public by this news site.

Premier Smith received a flogging on a number of issues, including the state of the territory, its finances and his alleged inability to manage it well, the firing of Bishop John I. Cline from the BVI Health Services Authority because he shared an opinion in public that was against the Premier, Dr Smith allegedly “not wearing the pants”, allegedly suppressing the Back-benchers and giving the contract for the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport runway extension to a Chinese company. At the end, Henry appealed to the Premier not to send “anyone to kill him” because of his expressed views democratically.

Stop taking the people for granted

Mr Henry appealed to the Premier to stop taking the people of the territory for granted.

“We got a lot of problems with the finance of this country Dr Smith, you know it, I know it, everybody knows it, you having a lot of problems borrowing money that’s why you have to turn to the Chinese, to the Chinese Bank to borrow money, that’s why you got to give them deal to seal the deal, everybody knows, everybody understands,” alleged Henry.

“I support the letter Dr Smith, there is something wrong if you are not managing the finance of the country, everybody saying so, she believes so then give it to somebody who could manage the finance better. You can’t do it, why? Because you are not wearing the pants, because somebody tell you… that is not going happen, because you too ashamed to do what is right by you and the people of this country. You have got to feel no way, we’ve done it before, it worked, it did good,” said Mr Henry.

He accused the Premier of running a secret organisation, lying and deceiving people by saying Government has been spending money and residents cannot see the result of it. “We still got roads unfinished in this country from time elections start, the campaign work still isn’t complete.” Henry also mentioned the Cruise Pier Project, saying he voted for it but questioned if it is value for the money spent on it thus far.

Continuing his criticisms, Mr Henry pondered, “I wonder if Dr Smith going fire me too or he going be influenced to do something about me because I agree with Ms Parsons, something is wrong in the leadership of the National Democratic Party, there is an internal politics that is hampering the growth of the party, there is something going where it seems like the party is tugging one way, where some of the members want to go the next way when it comes to doing right by the people who elected them, something is wrong.”

Government not doing good by the people

“Something is wrong when Dr Smith has to step-up like he wearing the pants when we know he ain’t wearing the pants to get rid of John Cline to prove a point and you got Back-benchers who totally disagree who were duly elected by the people who elected can’t say what they really mean to say what they want to say because in fear of getting fired,” Mr Henry alleged.

Emphasising that there is definitely something wrong with the leadership of the NDP, Mr Henry recalled Premier Smith saying his government does not believe in protectionism, “They don’t believe in protecting the people of the territory, we going to open up our doors, open your doors to the flood gate, open it up wrong, nonsense. It’s the protectionist attitude/behavior from the early 1900’s, way back in the 1800’s why we are where we are today. What you going do, open it up and give it away?”

Pointing to the letter written by the former legislator Mrs Parsons, Mr Henry said it was pointing out the fact that Premier Smith’s government had dropped the ball, people are bawling and crime is high in the country. “We could attribute some of that as the government doing or we could just contribute it to the fact that people just want to be criminals but when things are good in a country, you got less crime, that’s a fact. When people are doing better and feeling good about themselves you get less crimes. When money circulating in a country you got less crimes, when the people got confidence in the government you got less crime.”

Dr Smith can’t fire the back-benchers

Sending a direct message to the Back-benchers, Mr Henry said emphatically, “Dr Smith can’t fire you. Dr Smith can’t fire none of you. There is six of you in the back bench right now. The people voted you in. They voted you in based on party politics, you ran a good party politics, but they voted you in because they believe you would make a difference for them.”

He further stated that the electorates believed that the Back-benchers would stand up for truth and righteousness, “They believe you going stand up for what’s right for this country and if something is wrong you stand up against it.”

You going to catch hell!

The emotional and electrified talk show host reminded the Back-benchers that they had promised the electorates during campaign period that they were going to bring changes to help improve their lives. “Not Dr Smith, Dr Smith supposed to help facilitate that because he is the leader. So, don’t feel no way the people who vote you in got you back.”

They were also reminded that despite what, at the end of the day, they too have to live right here in the VI. “If you ain’t doing right by them while you in there (Back-benchers) they going to always scorn you when you come out, you going to catch hell when you out here, think about that, think about where you got to live if you make decisions that going to affect people’s lives that are not good,” Mr Henry warned.

21 Responses to “Dr Smith is not 'wearing the pants' – Julio S. Henry”

  • BV Islander (12/01/2017, 10:28) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
    Truth be told Sam
    Who have ears to hear let them hear
    Ting NOW start
  • next (12/01/2017, 10:44) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    But sam is not saying anything we do not know already
  • Scary Mary (12/01/2017, 10:45) Like (24) Dislike (1) Reply
    Sam is not my favourite person, but he makes a very good point about the back-benchers. NOW is the time to stand up and be counted. Majority rules on any vote in the house. If you truly believe in what your party is doing, then by all means, vote for it. However, do not allow yourselves to be pressured into voting for something your constituents DO NOT WANT!

    You are part of government. You are there to represent the PEOPLE OF YOUR DISTRICT, not yourself or the 4 head haunchos and their agenda. You have a voice and the people expect you to use it.
  • Mmm,mmm (12/01/2017, 10:46) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ting to talk!
  • Thing to talk (12/01/2017, 11:11) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Sam be careful you get Fired now.
  • voter (12/01/2017, 12:04) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    Elected members we voters put you all in the HOA to represent us not to abuse us .If the premier fail to do the right thing then i am appealing to the opposition and ARCHIE , MARLON .CHRISTOPHER, CAINES and TURNBULL to vote against the ministers . We cannot allow the CHINESE to come in and take over our little ISLANDS we are to small . I am begging the residents to stand up and fight back before its to late. It seems as if the /////// lost his mind .No accountability and want to put us in more debt .
    • island man (12/01/2017, 14:17) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
      you all was complaining about the island man coming here to take over, those same islands man generation that helped build this country from way back when, now let me see you all stop these Chinese, i know the Chinese, they going asked for belongers status for all their people, all sort of concessions, bvi now belongs to them, Chinese soon going contest the next election.
  • Very Concerned! (12/01/2017, 12:12) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    I Applaud Sam for coming out and standing up for what is right! We made Noel Lloyd a hero; Why? He stood up for the Country; he put country above self. Our Premier, R.T.O'Neal traveled all the way to America to Noel's bedside, (his dying bedside) to pin on his "Medal Of Honour" Was it for just the one act, that of returning Wick hams Cay and Anegada to the people?. Noel recognized the fact that they who control the land, (and resources) control the wealth. What would Noel Feel and Say about the direction of the BVI today. Who are we building the BVI for if its resources and opportunities are going to others who don't really know and care about our history and culture.
    The count is heading in the wrong direction and Dr. Smith and his team knows it; and to borrow their a line from them; "Its Crystal Clear. Vision, Leadership and Integrity matters. I pray that God will remove the Fear and Complacency from the hearts of our people and Replace it with Courage, Determination and Defiance.. God has always been with our people....and he will continue to be; if We will but Trust in him.

    Perhaps the Serenity prayer is in order: "God grant Us the serenity To accept the things We cannot change;
    Courage to change the things We can; And wisdom to know the difference".


  • running scared (12/01/2017, 12:16) Like (4) Dislike (9) Reply
    shawonde a no show
    • Wait! (12/01/2017, 18:40) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      @running scared. Was he threatened too? Give us the heads up, please…
  • The Doctors Party leave 1st lady out. (12/01/2017, 12:20) Like (9) Dislike (5) Reply
    Sam you know that the Doctors run this thing.. Smith has to discuss with Kedro everything, once he gets Kedro approval done deal to hell with the rest.. Lorna had nothing to do with it...
  • Becareful (12/01/2017, 12:26) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    mayson take care doc don't renue your trade license
  • Ok now (12/01/2017, 12:41) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Do some of us have selective memory loss? I seem to recall that Hon. Skelton was Minister of Finance and Health his first time out and he was primarily because of mismanagement. I agree that Premier Smith seems to be out his league but going backwards doesn't make any sense either
  • voter (12/01/2017, 12:43) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Set of oppresors
  • hah (12/01/2017, 12:45) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sam was definitely on fire last night!!!
  • my run (12/01/2017, 12:49) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    So who is wearing the dress?
  • Yes (12/01/2017, 13:41) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Real talk Sam! careful he fire you lol
  • Vg man (12/01/2017, 18:42) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Boy Sam I thank you.Ive been saying this for years.This is just the smoke,the fire behind.G.O,I hope you reading this about your NDP lmao
  • God don't sleep (12/01/2017, 19:08) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Look out I'm coming in the ring I believe I have something to contribute to this territory. We playing the fool. Little Cameron who have a heart for people will lead us. Take note the bible must be fulfilled he said the little children shall lead us. Sam it is time we wake up don't worry with who don't like you for what you did or say. Truth must come out
  • coed (13/01/2017, 06:47) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Sam you are a real Opportunist. when you cant suck the marrow out of the bones any more you balling out. stop trying to bite hands that feed you.( this is not specifically referring to. political favors) thats what you do at all times. .we know , but we still like to here you.
  • Jay (16/03/2017, 12:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    I hope SAM IS WEARING HIS PANT. 



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