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‘OJ’ goes to TRC; Named number 2

- Former political candidate Kevin C. Smith is new Chief Operating Officer
July 11th, 2018 | Tags: OJ Kevin C. Smith TRC COO Telecommunication
Mr. Kevin C. Smith aka ‘OJ’, 2 time NDP Third District Representative, has been named Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC). Photo: VINO/File
The Telecommunications Regulatory Committee, headed by Guy L. Malone, is a statutory body responsible for regulating the telecommunications sector of the Virgin Islands (VI).
The Telecommunications Regulatory Committee, headed by Guy L. Malone, is a statutory body responsible for regulating the telecommunications sector of the Virgin Islands (VI).
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Former Third District candidate with the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) Mr. Kevin C. Smith aka ‘OJ’, an indigenous Virgin Islander, has been named Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC).

What is the TRC?

The TRC is a statutory body responsible for regulating the telecommunications sector of the Virgin Islands (VI). It also establishes and monitors the implementation of national telecommunications standards and ensures compliance.

The body is responsible for the regulation of licensees and authorisation holders and ensuring fair competition among licensees and all other operators of telecommunications networks or providers of telecommunications services.

Mr. Smith's last stint was a government consultant in the Ministry of Finance. He will now report to the TRC Chief, Guy L. Malone, and will be the second in command at the agency.

It’s unclear what his job description is as the Telecommunications Act, 2006 does not call for a COO, or if he is grooming to take over from Mr. Malone, who is expected to leave by March 1, 2019, according to a senior NDP source.

Political job?

'OJ', as he is affectionally known, had other assignments in Government. He was credited for turning around the Post Office, and also ensuring that locals have access to obtaining trade licences.

The new TRC COO, ran two times unsuccessfully [2011, 2015] against Hon Julian Fraser RA for the Third District seat and many political observers said, with this new job that he started last week, he will not be a political candidate in the next elections due in 2019.

Mr. Smith's contract is for 2 years with a salary of over $100K, according to the same senior NDP source.

25 Responses to “‘OJ’ goes to TRC; Named number 2”

  • Chi chig (11/07/2018, 23:18) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    Hello! He sell out!
  • Political Observer (PO) (11/07/2018, 23:39) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Does OJ’s assignment as the COO, a new position, of the TRC means that he will not be competiting in the next general election in D-3 against the encumbent, Julian Fraser? Or will he taking a leave of absence or sabbatical to contest the election and if he is unsuccessful, he returns to the TRC, assuming that NDP is returned to power? Has the NDP given up on capturing D-3 this go around? Is OJ being groomed to be the next Director of the TRC? This is a sweet deal but it is not unusual for a party to take care of its own.
  • Luvz (12/07/2018, 06:15) Like (15) Dislike (9) Reply
    Congrats OJ in your new role.
  • Seriously (12/07/2018, 06:52) Like (34) Dislike (5) Reply
    He was credited for turning around the Post Office...it’s still a 3rd world service and that’s being generous
    • biker (12/07/2018, 15:47) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      Yeah, he turned the Post Office from pretty bad to completely incompetent! The 'turned around' Tortola PO still won't deliver the mail nearly a year after Irma.

      Let's wait and see how he'll destroy the TRC. Hopefully the TRC's decline will take only a few months so the government can save some of that ridiculous $100k annual salary
  • hey (12/07/2018, 07:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ok. Good thing
  • BRAD BOYNES (12/07/2018, 07:08) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    So they created a job that is not a part of the trip regulations and givery it to OK for the status quo? Wow, NDP still at it.
  • Well Sah (12/07/2018, 08:02) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wow, They are not doing anything to improve the services in this country. Slow Over Priced Internet, These three companies holding the economy back for years and these three companies regulating themselves. Every minute CEO racking up frequent flyer miles and not doing what he suppose to do with this sector and how can you justify a salary of over 100k. For doing nothing? Wow Wow. They need to be held accountable for the state of the economy as well.
  • Resolve Your Issues! (12/07/2018, 09:52) Like (33) Dislike (1) Reply
    While you sit here and look at the small things there is a much bigger picture at hand! I am so tired of seeing the same people being selected and rotated around for the benefit of carrying out NDP’s underlying dirty deals and also for their own personal pockets!

    No offense and I don’t have a personal issue with Mr. Smith, but again please tell me what qualifications he has to offer TRC Regulations? Is his qualifications in the field of law/ policies? Is it in the field of spectrum? Is it in the field of IT? Is it in the field of customer service complaints? Is it to get the archives department going? Is it to carry personal information about the day to day operations to over reaching executors? What is it? And don’t tell me he is getting paid 100K to manage, when there are several Chief executives within the organization that manages their subordinates under their portfolio and then there is also the CEO!

    If you don’t want your CEO, terminate his position, tell the people why you are doing such, and give Mr. Smith with no real qualifications to handle such an organization the job!!!! All dirty dealings must come to light!

    This government is wasteful, and continues to suppress people who are not in affiliations with their attitudes, likes and dislikes! People you hold the will and the power for change! Let your voices be heard and your annoyance be felt! Put an end to the madness!
  • Crap (12/07/2018, 09:56) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    The TRC is just a hoax. It's useless and meaningless. shut it down and put the money in the schools and education system let's see if we can mold children with some kind of common sense and effective brains because this government sure ain't got none
  • must be nice (12/07/2018, 10:04) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wow!! And you wonder why hard-working civil sevants get no increments or are rewarded for their hard work!! Nothing against OJ personally; but how many $100k + contracts have been given out to individuals whom would never attain that kind of salary scale outside the BVi? It’s no wonder the place looks like a big crapper! $200k + for doing what? What will be the benchmark for this new position and the TRC which in the public’s view is an utter failure and waste of time!! More milk left back in the BvI Gov. treasury it seems!
  • Interested (12/07/2018, 10:47) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    He should be CEO,We just waiting for some pople’s Contract.................
  • chad (12/07/2018, 11:37) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    wonder who else was interviewed for the job
  • ReX FeRal (12/07/2018, 13:56) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    "you don’t want your CEO, terminate his position, tell the people why you are doing such, and give Mr. Smith with no real qualifications to handle such an organization the job!!!! All dirty dealings must come to light! ".

    The same bs they did in immigration with that Ritter woman. What happened to her? What's new?
  • just maybe (12/07/2018, 14:30) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mr. Smith will be in office doing some real work because general always busy doing nothing but catch him up the ghut by the bar or by the gambling booth.
  • Resolve Your Issues! (12/07/2018, 15:53) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    @Rex FeRal:

    What’s new?

    This is the underlying issue, people like you and I have sat aside and watched for a very long time the ills and the injustice that has been bestowed upon families, co-workers, friends and loved ones all in the name of providing kick-backs, and making pockets fat by black-balling others just so that the government of the day can carry out their dirty agenda!

    What we need to make as the NEW TREND: is to stop living in fair of victimization, stand up to unjust behaviors, use the social platforms to bring awareness to what is wrong and going on, so that persons who don’t know or understand can hear both sides.... use your X to do the right thing!

    We need to stop giving an X base on who is popular or who is going to slip a $3,000 white envelope in your pocket now and again! Stop making these political cronies (love to ball they have a love for the country SING & all but draining every penny out of the territory’s piggy bank to make their PERSONAL POCKETS FAT) feel like they have more power than they really have, stop allowing these people to step on you and make you feel less than!!! We have the power to make the change, and this time is now more than ever!!!!

    Let your voices be heard and your annoyance be felt, vote to put an end to the madness!!!
  • Webster (12/07/2018, 17:02) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Social Security has a COO now too and National Bank is advertising for one as well. These two institutions already have Director / Managing Director /CEO. That’s a lot of salaries to be paying out for these positions when it appears that both institutions are belt - tightening. Just an observation !
  • musa (13/07/2018, 05:46) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    cool this guy working hard look how many job he get in the pass year he must be good


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