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Dr Neil M. Smith on the job as BVIEC GM; Abraham sues Corporation

Mr Neil M. Smith Phd is now the new General Manager of the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC). Photo: GIS/File
Former General Manager Mr Leroy A.E. Abraham is reportedly suing the BVI Electricity Corporation for breach of contract. Photo: VINO/File
Former General Manager Mr Leroy A.E. Abraham is reportedly suing the BVI Electricity Corporation for breach of contract. Photo: VINO/File
The major functions of the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) are the generation, transmission, supply, distribution and sale of electricity throughout the [British] Virgin Islands. Photo: BVIEC/File
The major functions of the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) are the generation, transmission, supply, distribution and sale of electricity throughout the [British] Virgin Islands. Photo: BVIEC/File
LONG BUSH, Tortola, VI- Just as was first and accurately reported by our newsroom on March 8, 2023, Mr Neil M. Smith Phd is now the new General Manager of the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC).

Dr Smith started in the post earlier this week, according to sources familiar with the information.  

He replaced long-time General Manager Leroy A. E. Abraham, who retired on December 31, 2022, after serving in the post for about 22 years.

A former Financial Secretary, Dr Smith will be at the helm as a regular employee (permanent and pensionable). This means he is not on a contract but can hold the title until retirement.

The good, the bad, the ugly! 

Before taking on his new assignment at the Corporation, Mr Smith was the Director- Programme Strategy at the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA). He also did a short stint as Director of International Business (Regulations).

He appeared before the Commission of Inquiry in 2021 to answer questions over the BVI Airways scandal surrounding a $7.2M scam, where funds were paid out before the contracted time frame, in violation of the agreement, and to date, no plane or direct flights between Miami and Beef Island have materialised.

However, Mr Smith told the Commission that he was instructed by the Dr D Orlando Smith Cabinet to make the payments prematurely.

Dr Neil M. Smith, an Indigenous Virgin Islander, is the brother of Attorney General Dawn J. Smith. He is well-trained and qualified for the position. He holds a doctorate in Business Administration and Leadership. His first Degree is in electrical engineering.

Legal action by Abraham

Meanwhile, our newsroom is working on another story whereby former General Manager Mr Abraham is suing the BVI Electricity Corporation for breach of contract. The case has been filed in the High Court and we are awaiting copies of the document.

We will bring more information on this developing story.

42 Responses to “Dr Neil M. Smith on the job as BVIEC GM; Abraham sues Corporation”

  • HMMM (19/05/2023, 09:20) Like (44) Dislike (17) Reply
    This guy has been a complete failure yet he some how always lands on his feet...at least for now.
  • My Take (19/05/2023, 09:21) Like (38) Dislike (11) Reply
    After his role in the $7.2million plane it is amazing he is still around.
  • me me me (19/05/2023, 09:22) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
    Congratulations ???? do you best and do it right
  • Not a Doctor! (19/05/2023, 09:33) Like (30) Dislike (61) Reply
    Please stop calling everyone with a phd a Doctor.
    They are not Dr. and it is internationally embarrassing.
    That is reserved for medical doctors, only here we need to blow sunshine up our own a….
    The premier is not a Doctor!
    • LMAO YOU LOST (19/05/2023, 12:09) Like (39) Dislike (1) Reply
      Proof you can't believe everyone online, you clearly don't know what you talkin about. Phd is your doctorates, and you get the tittle doctor after completion. And the smart people know obviously they not medical doctors but can rightfully carry the doctor tittle.
    • Seriously (19/05/2023, 13:00) Like (6) Dislike (6) Reply
      You're kidding right??
    • Goblin Eater (19/05/2023, 13:19) Like (31) Dislike (1) Reply
      Tell me you're a goblin without telling me you're a goblin. It's called a Doctorate, the holder is referred to as a Doctor. A PhD indicates a slightly different Doctoral route. 'Doctor' simply signifies that the person has attained the highest level of qualification in their area of expertise. An MD indicates that a person is a Medical Doctor, they've attained the qualification in their area of expertise. And its a global qualification, not just local. The INTERNATIONAL community acknowledges their expertise. So the term 'Doctor' is not reserved for medical practitioners.

      Just because we only know to use a word one way, doesn't mean the entire language bows to our ignorance. At least use the internet to educate yourself instead of being a troll.
    • c (19/05/2023, 13:32) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
      Thank you. Bugs me also.
    • @ Not a Doctor (19/05/2023, 13:40) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
      Phd....Doctoral
      MD....Medical Doctor
      Research and Comoprehend
    • Explanation (19/05/2023, 13:47) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
      Before you run your mouth.
      A PhD entitles a person to use the title doctor.
    • 'Doctor", from the Latin verb docēre [dɔˈkeːrɛ] 'to teach' (19/05/2023, 15:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You might want to take the time to educate yourself, @'Not a Doctor,' on what the title doctor means. This excerpt from Wikipedia might help:

      "Doctor is an academic title that originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning.[1] The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre [dɔˈkeːrɛ] 'to teach'. It has been used as an academic title in Europe since the 13th century, when the first doctorates were awarded at the University of Bologna and the University of Paris.

      "Having become established in European universities, this usage spread around the world. Contracted "Dr" or "Dr.", it is used as a designation for a person who has obtained a doctorate (commonly a PhD/DPhil). In past usage, the term could be applied to any learned person. In many parts of the world today it is also used by medical practitioners, regardless of whether they hold a doctoral-level degree."

      Link to the full article here for your convenience: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_(title)
    • @ Not a Doctor (19/05/2023, 16:01) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
      A Degree doesn’t equal common sense or knowledge/expertise at all.

      These online quick degrees going like hot bread.
      • HMMM (19/05/2023, 19:24) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
        Spoken a like bona-fide dinosaur. As someone has had done both face-to-face and online tertiary studies at top-tier universities, i can attest to the fact that there is nothing inferior about the online mode. It presents an option for many people who cannot physically attend classes and can also be much cheaper. Covid should have taught us about the virtues of virtual spaces, but some people are just hopelessly negative.
    • Please. (19/05/2023, 17:36) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply

      You are a complete jack ***. Medical doctors are physicians. You can earn a doctorate in almost every field of study. It is the highest academic degree in most disciplines or professions. Physicians are doctors, but so too are people who have doctorates in non-medical fields. The sad thing is that you are so passionate in your state of ignorance. Congrats, DR. SMITH. Smith.

    • @Not a Doctor (19/05/2023, 17:44) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      To Not a Doctor
      Without a doubt,for certain, no need to Google
      You are an imbecile !!!!
    • No Man (19/05/2023, 17:45) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
      I feel real pity for the person who wrote this post and I am absolutely terrified that so many people liked it! That, I dare say, is "internationally embarrassing". I did not know that so many idiots were among us.
    • dnd (19/05/2023, 18:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      you’re wrong - a phd entitles you to ‘doctor’ a phd is a doctorate
    • x (19/05/2023, 18:16) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      If you knew the history of the term, you would know that the term "doctor" comes from the degree one holds. Medical doctors are really pysicians.
  • vex (19/05/2023, 09:33) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Everybody suing
  • herbs power (19/05/2023, 09:33) Like (50) Dislike (8) Reply

    22 years as Gm and never was able to give a raise only buy a set of new vehicles. the BVIEC should be suing him instead. 

  • jack (19/05/2023, 10:09) Like (15) Dislike (5) Reply
    From bad to worse
  • bvi (19/05/2023, 10:09) Like (34) Dislike (12) Reply
    The BVI will never forgive this man & his sidekicks for what they did to assist in the major $7.2 million plane heist with taxpayers money in the BVI Airways deal. This continues to go unaddressed because all of them sold out to the colonial masters for their continued freedom but time will tell.
  • NezRez (19/05/2023, 10:33) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    He has a Ph.D. degree. He is NOT a Medical Doctor. A doctoral degree (Ph.D.) is a degree that one earns after a master’s degree. A Ph.D. entitles a person to use the title doctor. These are the social and physical scientists who conduct and evaluate published research. A Ph.D. degree is normally obtained after six to eight years of hard work past the bachelor’s degree.
  • johnny (19/05/2023, 11:14) Like (15) Dislike (13) Reply
    Let see how long this would last where is the money for the plane we dont see a plane and where is the money
  • musa (19/05/2023, 12:28) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    great news
  • getting (19/05/2023, 12:54) Like (2) Dislike (8) Reply
    FROM BAD TO WORST
  • only in BVI (19/05/2023, 13:45) Like (7) Dislike (5) Reply
    So he S**t the bed on BVI Airways so that’s who we want in charge of BVIEC? How? Why?
  • Finally (19/05/2023, 14:25) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    The BVI has put common sence before friendship. Mr. Smith is worthy of the position.
    Lets see electrical engineer at the helm, ofcourse the Virgin Islands will be very proud of the future results to come. And no, this one cant be manipulated.
  • PT (19/05/2023, 16:11) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    "A former Financial Secretary, Dr Smith will be at the helm as a regular employee (permanent and pensionable). This means he is not on a contract but can hold the title until retirement."

    Why should he be put on contract? HE IS A BVISLANDER. ALLYOU MUST STOP BEING SO CRABBY AGAINST EACH OTHER!!!!
  • HMS Expat (19/05/2023, 17:54) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    This family of Smiths' are consistent in their contributions to countries and Governments in every country and Continent where they settle.
    I've done research and inquires on select families of the BVI and other Caribbean locations.
  • WHATS AMAZING IS (19/05/2023, 19:41) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    A WHOLE SET OF ARISTOCRATS JUMPED ON ( NOT A DOCTOR ) LIKE A PACK OF PIRANHAS , AND NOT A WORD ABOUT , MR SMITH'S NEW JOB , ON WHETHER HE CAN DO THE JOB OR NOT ????
    • WHY? (20/05/2023, 11:14) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING? While the stupidity of “@Not a Doctor” resulted in a number of comments, the article itself and most of the responses refer to Smith’s background, credentials and experience, including the BVI airways debacle. On the face of the information provided in the article, Smith would seem capable of the job. Time will tell.
      • @Not a Doctor (22/05/2023, 12:18) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
        Additional confirmation that these VI in addition to everything else, is plagued with new
        inhabitants as contributors of ongoing deterioration of intellect ,rampant illiteracy along with the resulting poverty. A massive downward spiral effective with the excessive numbers import of poor and illiterate immigrants .
  • Strupes (20/05/2023, 07:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am not a big fan of Neil Smith but who was the Minister of Finance then. Isn't he responsible for the financest finances? We sit here condemning him as though he should never be employed again. Ask Dr. Smith for the 7.2 million.

    As a matter of fact, this is where this guy started and should have never left. This is his field of expertise but at some point in life, we want to explore a change in career. You people are wicked and unforgiving.
  • one eye (21/05/2023, 10:33) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Great move
  • herbs power (21/05/2023, 19:54) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why is noyone mentioning Lorna in the 7mill Bvi Airways corna. This is a Frig.


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