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Premier Smith made a 'serious error' - Winston E. Nibbs

- said that after the hurricane, the Premier should not have outsourced manpower before checking within the territory first
Winston E. Nibbs, local businessman and social commentator, has lashed out heavily against the government for not managing the territory properly following the hurricane of September 2017. Photo: VINO/File
Aftermath of the hurricane of September 2017 that destroyed most of the buildings throughout the territory. Photo: VINO/File
Aftermath of the hurricane of September 2017 that destroyed most of the buildings throughout the territory. Photo: VINO/File
Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance has been under heavy criticism for not managing the territory properly. Photo: VINO/File
Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance has been under heavy criticism for not managing the territory properly. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - "On the second day after the hurricane, I had a lot of strong opinions and feelings about how the management of things from the security service and I'm talking from the government come right down. I had grave concerns as to which they handled the matter."

This is according to Winston E. Nibbs aka La Fontey, local businessman and talk show host during the radio programme Speak out BVI hosted by Doug Wheatley on ZBVI 780 AM on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 who was dissatisfied with the management following the hurricane of September 2017.

Following the hurricanes, there was widespread looting for days and Members of Government had been missing for weeks.

Mr Nibbs continued to heavily critised the government as well as the people of the territory for not doing their part in managing the country right, while adding that is the reason the territory is being controlled by others.

"A lot of us have the job but are not dealing with the job. I expect of you to do your work and you expect of me to do my piece. That's the way in which we are going to avoid all this about whether England trying to take us over or not," said Mr Nibbs

He also emphasised that the people of the territory "need the spirit of doing" instead of blaming the system, adding that it is their fault the system is the way it is.

'Premier Smith made a serious error'

The indigenous Virgin Islander lashed out at Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance, for outsourcing manpower resources before looking within the territory first.

He said, "Honourable Premier made a serious error where he should not have allowed or even talk about bringing in resources from outside the country before they had try to source to see if their are people inside this country who could have assisted in the type of expertise to get things dealt with."

The Government of the Virgin Islands had notified prospective employers via a press release from the Department of Information on September 27, 2017 that the Department of Immigration was putting measures in place to allow for the quick processing of work permits for skilled craftsmen such as construction workers to help rebuild the Territory.

The local businessman pointed out that persons are allowing personal feelings to cloud their judgement which he refers to as 'greed'.

"So the boogyman all of a sudden shows up and the boogyman is nobody else but us. We the Virgin Islanders need to be proud and stand up and do our work," expressed Mr Nibbs.

14 Responses to “Premier Smith made a 'serious error' - Winston E. Nibbs”

  • >???? (07/02/2018, 09:21) Like (43) Dislike (2) Reply

    What the #$%& is this man talking about? The place is at a stand still because contractors can hardly find SKILLED labour! BVIEC took in all they could locally and still didn't have nowhere near enough. When will we stop the #$%^ and realize as a small Territory with a limited local resource base, we cannot do every single thing on our own?

  • oh lord (07/02/2018, 09:25) Like (28) Dislike (3) Reply
    Ignorance is bliss - why don't you tell all the foreigners to leave so you can fix the island yourself..
    • ReXFeral (07/02/2018, 12:38) Like (6) Dislike (17) Reply

      trust me people here can do just that. Leave tomorrow if your ingrate @#$ wants to. I challenge you.

      • Born Bred and fed BVISLANDER (08/02/2018, 17:02) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        @ReXFeral... What are you really saying family? You talking but not thinking fam! There is NO WAY we could rebuild..ESPECIALLY in a timely manner without expats workforces..NO WAY. I am in the construction industry and if YOU ask ANY contractor here...right now...they will tell you that they need a small army to tackle the work we have ahead of us..JUST to get back to where we were. YES we can do it by ourselves...You have any idea how long that will take? How many skilled local we have? And I am NOT talking about who have a trade license..I mean skilled workers? NOT MUCH..everybody want they child to go to college and university to study law, business, accounting etc...nobody want their child to be in construction..to low class right? Think again! PLEASE BVI..STOP THE BIGOTRY AND HATRED. LET's WORK TOGETHER
  • critic (07/02/2018, 09:29) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    Commission of inquiry into the preparation for the hurricane.
  • chad (07/02/2018, 10:24) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply

    Why don't they give specifics when making these statements? On what basis is he making these comments? In what industry does he think there are locals just sitting around with nothing to do? I would like to know WTF he is really talking about because even locals are complaining that it's hard to get s#!t done because we need help and can't get people, especially with specialist skills, into the Territory fast enough. Ignorance is truly bliss! We can fix all our problems by just screaming "BVISLANDER BVISLANDER BVISLANDER". Try saying it every morning loud and in a week your roof will be back on.

  • ... (07/02/2018, 11:35) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    Speak boss speak
  • i from here (07/02/2018, 11:41) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    I just can't understand why the media give these clowns any coverage! We all have opinions yes but this dude is like night and day to what is happening in this place.
  • chad (07/02/2018, 12:45) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    This guys s an A** the goverment could have done better to control d lutting but most of the other island send ppl here to help
    U wanted the goverment to turn away help and continue to have ppl suffering so local expetise can show up n their own time n dwmand payment, u need to keep off d air
  • Wendy (07/02/2018, 13:43) Like (10) Dislike (5) Reply
    Sounds like a perfect candidate for VIP.
  • ADVANTAGE (07/02/2018, 15:38) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    But these contractors are no better than NDP. Under paying their workers.. Greed and ungodliness is the BVI Sin... A Carpenter or a mason minimum is $140.00 a day.. Up to $160.00 .. Depends on experience.. These skillful people are getting a. Meeka $120 -, $130 a day..not good.. A labourer should be getting minimum $90. To $110 a day depends on wollingness... Not $75 and $80. Not good..
  • 911 (07/02/2018, 21:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Resist and stand firm at least for one more news cycle.
  • The real Boo (07/02/2018, 21:47) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    ooks like every crab dog with a mouth is now a social or political commentator. Take a seat and exit stage left buddy
  • Seriously Man? (08/02/2018, 09:02) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I don't even know how to respobd to this story. I agree, ignorance is bliss and sadly so. Sir, if you took the time to look around, you would realize that locals who could have helped clean up after the flood and hurricanes were missing in action too, just like the government. For them it was not about country, it was about money. Only a few good men push up their sleves and volunteered their heavey duty equipment to help clear the roads.

    Too much small minded and ignorant people here to get on the same page for the good of their own country. Not even their own work place some wanted to come out and help clean up and they still want pay.

    Yes the government made some misteps with this thing but allowing help in was not one of them brother. As as matter of fact it should have been done earlier and bringing in specilized help should become a part of our disaster recovery plans going forward.


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