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BVITB will be restructured, says Premier Smith

Tourism is one of the pillars of the VI. Photo: VINO
Neil Blyden (left) is currently the BVITB chairman. Also in photograph is former Premier Ralph T O’Neal. Photo: VINO
Neil Blyden (left) is currently the BVITB chairman. Also in photograph is former Premier Ralph T O’Neal. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Boosting the tourism industry is crucial to the newly elect National Democratic Party (NDP) government, and to ensure top results Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith will be evaluating the structure of the BVI Tourist Board (BVITB).

At his swearing in ceremony on Wednesday November 9, 2011 at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall, Hon. Smith told Virgin Islands News Online, “We will look at the whole make-up right now of the management of the board to make it more effective”.

Tourism is one of the pillars of the Virgin Islands economy, and is seen by the new Government as one way to generate revenues in a fledging economy.

The current TB chairman, Neil Blyden since his appointment in December 2010 has initiated several programmes to lure potential tourists to the VI shores. Using the slogan ‘Brand BVI’, the board’s latest venture was the collaboration with US talk show diva, Wendy Williams.

When asked to rate Blyden’s performance, the Premier said, “I am sure he is doing a good job...has done his best over the past few months since he has been appointed to the board.”

Blyden was selected to take over the helm of the BVITB following Myron Walwyn’s resignation earlier in the year. Ironically, Hon. Walwyn is now the Minister for Education and Culture.

The current chairman had previously served from 1995-2000.

25 Responses to “BVITB will be restructured, says Premier Smith”

  • billyb (11/11/2011, 13:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    “I am sure he is doing a good job…has done his best over the past few months since he has been appointed to the board.” Boy the Premier chosing his words carefully, after realizing how Walwyn had to pull out da tape on Uncle Ralphy, lol,lol,lol,lol
    • fact (11/11/2011, 15:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      you mean NDP still paying blogers...the TB is one of the best ran under Ward and Mellee man and that is a fact
      • sad (11/11/2011, 22:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        too lie. A bunch of BS. The facts will soon come out
      • Cici (12/11/2011, 01:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Whoever you is get your facts straight...you need to talk to whatever few sensible staff it have left on the inside or the plenty that left over the years. In there you had better kiss a__ quick to get ahead and that former premier and hi inside crew run the show with no respect for posts.
  • xray (11/11/2011, 15:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    well saw with the vitmization that has started blyden and Ward could pack dem bags yall
    • the heat is on (11/11/2011, 18:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      funny man going after hadasaw and you know dem will force out Neil...
    • Cici (12/11/2011, 01:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Victimization started when that former premier took the realms. Who feels it knows it
  • Country Gal (11/11/2011, 15:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well Tourist Board....De ting start for you now....
  • Talk Bring Talk (11/11/2011, 16:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    hmmmmmmm them gonna start reshuffling early.......but tis you people vote them in....DEAL WITH IT!!!! You all aint see nothing yet. Lots more to do before the end of the year. 2003 - 2007 gonna come like a re-play...you all want new government; take your licks. Just now the downsize of the public service will come...From out here it seems OVERSTAFFED in my view! Send them ton of lazy people home so they stand up and call bi-election....i want to laugh and at all of you who couldnt see beyond the 2011 power hungry crew.
    • T2DB (12/11/2011, 09:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      BOOO MAN take your damn loss! VIP didn't know how to generate a penny of revenue for the BVI which is why they couldn't get the CDB monies to spend. Elections are over, you have a new Government, DEAL WITH IT!! You know Ralph and his daughter run the TB like it's theirs but it's pure envy and jealousy, pure IGNORANCE you're talking right now!! GO SIT DOWN!!! If civil servants are not pulling their weight, send their asses home yes, just like they would do in a private firm. Why pay people who are not working? SCHUUPS!!
      • ILuvDaVirginIslands (12/11/2011, 17:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Welll said.....VIP was gonna turn us into another Haiti
  • Voter (11/11/2011, 16:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I feel that with all the so called "hault" on projects and now the restructuring of the TB this will put us more in debt than what good. Mr. Premier, before you act on vengeance, please put country first.
    • Seeking Truth (11/11/2011, 19:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Please use some common sense if you could find some. Every new government has to evaluate what it meets before moving forward. If you don't know what you're working with you won't know how to proceed. Some of you are so blind and foolish that you can't even understand simple matters. Whenever someone takes over a company that person must first do an audit to determine what exactly the situation is then report on the findings. Based on the findings they move forward. With the nonsense that some of you blog no wonder you were being bought out with white envelopes and other things.
      • sad (11/11/2011, 22:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        the audit started before NDP got elected and thats a fact. heads will roll. An this is a new audit
    • Cici (12/11/2011, 01:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Vengeance....you people are a set. Always talking when you never wore the shoes don't under the former Premier had to wear. Too much muckery going on up in there for the longest while. You didnt see a poster on another site said the HR Manager hired her sister to work in TB New York Office
  • Candy Cane (11/11/2011, 19:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Get rid of Neil. He is an embarrassment to the BVI.
    • Cici (12/11/2011, 01:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Wid his lam a__ commercials. If you make a mistake Niel start the commercial over....sound so ridiculous
  • Inside TB (11/11/2011, 23:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Neil said that he was resigning from the board if NDP got in.................I can't recall seeing a resignation letter.
  • Inside TB (11/11/2011, 23:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Neil said he was resigning when NDP got in.............where is the resignation letter Mr Blyden?
  • release (12/11/2011, 08:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    All the NDP cronies going in dey now to the TB to pad dem pockets…sad!
    • What a shame (12/11/2011, 15:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      And how is that any different to VIP's padding their pockets while in there????
  • Jasmin (12/11/2011, 19:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    There need to be fairness to employees. To much unfairness has gone on.


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