Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) has stated that the open for business statement was correct because a significant section of the economy, largely the financial services sector was doing business soon after hurricane Irma. Photo: YouTube

Former Permanent Secretary and Businessman, Mr Julian Willock has disagreed with the statement by Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), right, that the Territory is back on its feet and open for business. Photo: VINO/File

Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) was heavily criticised for his 'open for business' statement made a month ago during a press conference. Photo: YouTube

Many expressed that his statement did not reflect the territory's current situation. 

However, Premier Smith sought to explain during a live radio broadcast on ZBVI AM 780 on Sunday, November 19, 2017 what he meant, defending his statement.

The Finance Minister stated that the open for business statement was correct because a significant section of the economy, largely the financial services sector, was doing business soon after hurricane Irma.

He explained, "That sector was up and running within 24 to 48 hours. It was able to be up and running because of the resiliency that was built into the system. The Registry, which is a significant part of corporate affairs, there were backup systems and so they were able to function. Corporate services can operate from anywhere. So they were able to travel outside of the BVI and continue their work."

Hon Smith further expressed that some 70 percent of the sector's employees who left the territory have returned and the financial services sector continues to return to normalcy.

"The point I was making about 'open for business', a large portion of the economy was open for business. Then shortly after we had shops opening, we had restaurants opening," clarified the Premier.

"Comment did not reflect the reality" - Hon Fahie

Meanwhile, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie, Opposition Leader and First District Representative criticised the Premier for his statement, expressing that the comment did not reflect the reality of what the people of the territory is going through, adding that fake analysis could hurt the leadership of the territory.

The Opposition Leader said, "Not building on a foundation of truth will cause hope and respect for leadership to die a quick and natural death. I firmly believe that the best days of the BVI are not our yesterdays, but rather our tomorrows, provided that we allow the new BVI to be built on a foundation of truth."

The reality on the ground

Another strong critic of Premier Smith's statement is former Permanent Secretary and Businessman, Mr Julian Willock.

“Now that is a serious statement. The definition of being back on your feet is that the challenges and issues that you suffer before are now corrected and that is not the case,” Mr Willock stated on Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM radio on Tuesday October 31, 2017.

Giving a feel of what the reality is on the ground for many persons, Mr Willock argued that persons are still sleeping in their cars as well as on boats due to their homes being destroyed by Hurricane Irma.

He added that there is also the issue of loss of jobs, “the issue of a cash economy and the cost of running generators due to the lack of electricity.”

“There are still people who are homeless in our country, there are still people living in homes that leak and they have to mop up every day. There are people driving cars with either windshield gone…there are people with no cars and have to rent if they can still afford.”