‘Honourable O’Neal placed country before politics’ – Premier Smith
“Mr O’Neal as a legislator was able to look at things from the perspective of the country and not just politics,” said Dr Smith while giving his tribute at Saturday’s November 14, 2015 Gala Dinner held at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex for Honourable Ralph T O’Neal OBE, Member Emeritus of the House of Assembly and former Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party, in addition to being former Chief Minister and former Premier.
Honourable O’Neal was being honoured for his milestone achievement of 40 years of elected office in the Virgin Islands, having first been elected to represent the people in 1975.
Premier Smith said that such was Honourable O’Neal that if there was something in the House of Assembly to be passed that would be of benefit to the country they could count on his support.
“Everybody knows the story of Social Security when the Opposition supported the Government in taking Social Security forward. We also know of financial services in which Honourable O’Neal led his colleagues to make sure that there was cohesion between Government and Opposition.”
Premier Smith said that despite the best efforts of others, Honourable O’Neal kept being returned to office because of the way he represented the people of his District and the sympathy he had for his people. He added that it was only when Honourable O’Neal decided not to seek office at the last election that someone else – Dr The Honourable Hubert O’Neal – was able to ascend to the office that he sought four times before.
“And so I wish him continued good health as he retires from the [House of Assembly]. I want to congratulate his family for allowing Honourable O’Neal to do what he did, [because it meant a lot of time away from his family],” he said.
The National Democratic Party (NDP) led Government has been severely criticised for calling early elections this year and ending the life of the Third House of Assembly thereby robbing Honourable O’Neal of the opportunity of receiving the proper send off from the floor in which he sat for some 40 years.
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7 Responses to “‘Honourable O’Neal placed country before politics’ – Premier Smith ”
Don't get me wrong he was a good politician but he could have put more into the infrastructure and the schools of the BVI in his heyday so now we aren't left with 3rd world facilities and too many young people without jobs or a decent education. He did help make many people in these islands rich with over inflated contracts, we can only hope now they put that money back into the country.