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Premier Smith defiant; ‘No public registry for VI until global standards’

-unclear what was accomplished in London by Hons Smith & Fahie
On Monday, May 21, 2018, the House of Lords let stand an amendment made by the House of Commons to the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill demanding that only Overseas Territories located in the Caribbean have registers of beneficial ownership which could have an adverse impact on the offshore financial sector of the Virgin Islands and the VI economy in the wake of its tourism sector being ravaged by the hurricanes of September 2017. Photo: VINO/File
Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), left, and Opposition Leader, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), right, traveled together to attend a series of meetings in London, the capital of the United Kingdom (UK) to discuss the ongoing efforts by his Government on the UK Parliament’s decision on public register. Photo: VINO/File
Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), left, and Opposition Leader, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), right, traveled together to attend a series of meetings in London, the capital of the United Kingdom (UK) to discuss the ongoing efforts by his Government on the UK Parliament’s decision on public register. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - The showdown between the United Kingdom (UK) and the Virgin Islands (VI), an overseas territory over the UK’s Parliament decision to kill the offshore financial sector is heating up.

The last straw was yesterday Monday, May 21, 2018, when the House of Lords let stand an amendment made by the House of Commons to the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill demanding that only Overseas Territories located in the Caribbean have registers of beneficial ownership.

We will not comply- Dr Smith

No one else in the world or countries in the offshore sector not even the UK or their Dependencies of Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man have to comply with such rules.

In response to the decision, yesterday by the House of Lords Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) issued a fiery statement. He made clear the VI will not comply with the Bill because “they are not required by any global standard, and we will continue to defend our right not to have a public register until such time that they do become a global standard”.

The Premier in his strongest language yet stated, “Our view on public registers of beneficial ownership has not changed".

Meanwhile, it remains unclear what was accomplished by Premier Smith and Opposition Leader Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) who journeyed together to London last week to fight the amendment to the Bill.

"God will do the rest"-Hon Fahie

In a brief statement on social media, Hon Fahie who is also the Chairman of the main Opposition Virgin Islands Party added, “the Premier and I with God’s help, have done our part. God will do the rest".

Hon Fahie, a former Minister for Education and Culture, who could be the next Premier also further stated that “The Premier and I have made our position clear and both agreed that this is a constitutional overreach. We stand united on protecting the constitutional rights of the Virgin Islands".

 

16 Responses to “Premier Smith defiant; ‘No public registry for VI until global standards’”

  • Fran (22/05/2018, 17:30) Like (38) Dislike (5) Reply
    The Premier has spoken strong words. Fahie needs to stop talking about God will do the rest. All the praying in the world won’t help us unless we get off our behinds and find another income fast. We have limited time and need to stop acting like ostriches with our heads in the ground.
    • jake (23/05/2018, 06:16) Like (4) Dislike (7) Reply
      @fran, you hypocrite, did Fahie say anything wrong? Talking hard isnot a solution to the problem. Ask yourself where not complying will lead us, are we prepared for the outcome. Get up and find another income is so easy to say but can you give a recommendation.
      • Fran (23/05/2018, 12:12) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
        @Jake, how am I a hypocrite? You have absolutely no vision at all. Here are some recommendations :
        1 sport fishing
        2 medical marijuana
        3 gambling internet included
        4 regular fishing industry
        5 recooperative medical facilities on outer islands for rich
        6 corporate fatigue outer island for people to recover from job stress
        7 reboot our agriculture
        8 using festival grounds east end and Road Town every weekend with vendors instead of every festival only
        9 district specific tourism products , each area is unique and should promote their own tourism product
        10 buying shares in regional tourism.
        11 regional collective cruise ship tourism
        12 VI lottery

        Now Jake, what are your ideas if all else fails? Then we can put you on display as what not to be...which is negative.


        • NezRez (23/05/2018, 15:50) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
          Fran you are so right. Not only your good suggestions, but also we should have invested in Cuba. Once the U.S. dropped the travel ban, people who have wanted to go there for years are now visiting and bringing good income their way. We should have had a hotel or anything towards tourism in place. The possibilities are endless if our leaders open their minds. Prayer is a personal choice, but it cannot control politics. Malcolm X said it correctly “By any means necessary “. Now with all of your good suggestions, I hope something comes into play here because that is the only thing that will save us. We cannot wait for our oppressors to bury us. If anything positive does change with the UK, then we will be steps ahead of the game for our survival.
        • Reminder... (24/05/2018, 05:20) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
          Everything that we do must glorify God
  • BRAD BOYNES (22/05/2018, 18:00) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    Defiant. Then what?
  • Chess 101 (22/05/2018, 18:55) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    The next move by our UK is to suspend the constitution. Send a public prosecutor and start making the territories accountable to Virgin Islanders.
  • What!! (22/05/2018, 21:54) Like (14) Dislike (19) Reply
    Sorry Hon Fahie but you you can never lead a country relying on your god to fo the rest!
  • Nice (23/05/2018, 00:50) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    Go smith! We agree. This is the only way to handle this. Make them
    Listen to your point so some common ground can be reached. They have families to feed and so do we.
  • God (23/05/2018, 08:22) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    Don't obey people when they are wrong. Its that simple. In this matter the UK is wrong. Must I explain further?
  • Vg man (23/05/2018, 09:53) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Premier Smith, Do you want me to tell the BVI people the truth? Stop fooling the people them.
    Few of us already know what is going on with that NWO by 2050.
  • trrefdrfds (23/05/2018, 10:54) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    What are we doing to secure other source of income UNTIL it becomes a global standard eye rolling


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