Will the Financial Secretary Neil M. Smith return to office?
Almost two months later Mr Smith is still on vacation and his return is still unclear, although a senior National Democratic Party (NDP) member told us this morning that "we are still fighting for him, he might return at the end of this month... hold tight..."
When asked why they would have to fight for an officer who is simply on his annual vacation leave, the source said, "there is more in the mortar," but declined to comment further.
Neither Mr Smith nor Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, who is the Minister of Finance, could be reached for immediate comment.
The British are coming-Hon Fraser
There are also discussions around the British Overseas Territory about the United Kingdom (UK) likely to impose direct rule on the Virgin Islands (VI) because of alleged financial mismanagement. There are unconfirmed reports that two Ministers of Government are under investigation; however, this notion has continued to be dismissed as just "false malicious gossip with no facts."
Former Opposition Leader and Representative for the Third District, Hon Julian Fraser RA, raised concerns last week in a Facebook post about the many UK nationals taking up senior posts in the VI and asked the Premier to "wake up" from sleeping.
Last week the Government Information Services, via a press release, announced that UK national and former Chief Auditor of the Turks & Caicos Islands, Mr Phil Sharman has been appointed to the post in the VI civil service effective August 2017 by outgoing Governor, John S. Duncan OBE.
According to Hon Fraser's FB post, investigations are done by the Auditor General, now a UK national, and the Governor, a UK national, can request an investigation on anything at any time.
"Next step, Public Accounts Committee, whose Chairman is the Governor's personal preference, and his Chief Advisor the Auditor General, a UK national. Then the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), a UK national, can prosecute anything arising from those investigations, deemed in her opinion to be criminal," he wrote.
The DPP is UK national Ms Kim Hollis QC, the Commissioner of Police is Michael 'Mick' Matthews and the Head of the Prison Services is Mr David Foot, both UK nationals.
Are arrests on the way?
Mr Fraser, the veteran politician who was first elected in 1999, also wrote that the Police is the only body charged with executing arrests, and that's what you do with criminal suspects. “And who is in charge of the police? A UK national who answers to the Governor, a UK national. And when you arrest someone, which by the way usually takes place on Fridays, they are locked up, and who is in charge of the Prison---a UK national, who answers to the Governor, a UK national."
There has been no reaction from Government House over these allegations and the ruling NDP has been tight-lipped on Hon Fraser's position, as many residents, talk show hosts, civil society and Opposition Leader Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) continue to say the current Dr Smith-led Administration brought this situation on themselves, hence the country.
Hon Walwyn throws civil servants under the bus
The controversial Minister for Education Honourable Myron V. Walwyn (AL), who some former and current staff alleged that he micro manages everything in his Ministry, threw civil servants under the bus at a House of Assembly meeting in March 2017.
He claimed that the public and others are unfair to be casting all the blame on Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith for the fact that no audited financial report had been presented to the House of Assembly in the last 10 years.
Mr Walwyn suggested that persons at the Ministry of Finance should also be blamed, pointing the finger at Mr Neil M. Smith.
Mr Walwyn, who uses his HoA privileges to go after residents, said the Financial Secretary and Permanent Secretaries are the key persons in the ministries – not the respective ministers. “The key is the Permanent Secretary, the Financial Secretary, and those persons in the system.”
Our newsroom will be on watch to see if the Financial Secretary (FS) returns month end or if a UK national will be appointed FS.
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42 Responses to “Will the Financial Secretary Neil M. Smith return to office?”
us just a reminder. The UK is doing the same thing they are doing to us. So it is time they get their act together before the bus roll over us.
Mr Auditor General, go waaay back to 1995 after Lavity died, and start from there. We the common people will support you in whatever way we can.
Dr. Orlando Smith You failed.
Nobody is being disenfranchised, BVI people realize that their biggest enemies are THEIR OWN PEOPLE! How many qualified locals do you think give a sh*t to work for Government in any senior position where they're ridiculed, chastised and used as political puppets? Why don't you ask whether qualified locals are even applying for these positions? Then and only then you will get the answer. Nobody had anything good to say about Neil in the years he was FS but all of a sudden people acting concerned. The Auditor General was stomped on and called incompetent. How many qualified people do you see standing in line for those jobs, where they can be paid double or more with their qualifications in the private sector and with less stress? Patriotism? BS! Chickens coming to roost, brace up for the shaft because it's coming hard and dry, no lube.
As I know and sending a new soy every few years. That is our money
That we put a professional structure to make, and they continue to try
And knock it down. Now they care about how we balance our books. If
we thieving we thieving our money that we made. They just want our IBC
Business to destroy it and leave us here hungry like those African refugees.
Neil come out and everything come to a hault. Point sh**ting blank
What a bunch of crooks. And these are the people who are advocating independence. The Governor should lock them all up.
Keep the MP's out of the choice making!
One Love!