Premier’s wife Lorna G. Smith, a retiree, back in Government
Mrs Smith, who retired years ago, will take on the role of Interim Executive Director of BVI Finance with effect from May 11, 2016 to December 31, 2016.
It was this news site that first and accurately reported last week that Julien N. Johnson had left the post of Executive Director where he was seconded for a year from the Financial Investigative Agency, a post he eventually resigned from, leaving Government all together.
History since retirement
It was between the NDP’s 2011-2015 Administration when controversy erupted after the Premier hired his wife as a consultant to advise him. In addition, Mrs Smith, who has more than 30 years of experience at the highest levels of the public service, was also hired for a short time to head up the newly created Asian House.
The public, civil society and the media were critical of that move and Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith took on the media for criticising his wife.
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office, Mr Brodrick Penn stated in a press release that “Mrs Lorna Smith brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise regarding the financial services industry, and we are confident that she will be able to lead BVI Finance at this time.”
Give someone else a chance!
Mrs Smith previously served as the Director of BVI International Finance Centre from 2002 to 2004, and from 2005 to 2013. She also served as the founding director of The BVI London Office and BVI House Asia. Currently, among other areas, she serves as the Chairman of the Financial Services Business Development Committee which provides government with strategic advice on Financial Services policies.
Many critics claim that it is a conflict of interest for her to serve as Interim Executive Director while her husband is Premier and holds the portfolio which BVI Finance falls under. They also said there are many young people in the civil service who should be given a chance to serve, as Mrs Smith, who is over the retirement age, had her time in government and now owns her own consulting firm.
Smith was instrumental in helping to bring Bank of Asia to the Virgin Islands. It is unclear her role in the bank.
When our newsroom asked Governor John S. Duncan OBE if he thinks it would be a conflict of interest for Mrs Smith to serve as a Director of the bank, he said he had no comments.
According to a Government Information Service (GIS) press release, the BVI Finance is the principal organisation within the territory charged with promoting BVI Financial Services, as well as maintaining and building BVI Financial Services brand. Additionally, BVI Finance is in the early stages of a fundamental structural reform where it will be established as BVI Finance Limited, a private company limited by guarantee to fulfill the role of financial services promotion and business development in a public/private partnership.
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69 Responses to “Premier’s wife Lorna G. Smith, a retiree, back in Government”
You'll would love to continue keeping our people in the dark and oppressed wouldn't you. I hope you are fully read up on Sun Tzu's classic The Art of War, because there is much more to come until what is in this link happens to this NDP white collar gang: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/brazils-senate-impeaches-president-dilma-rousseff/ar-BBsTRq8?li=BBnb7Kz?ocid=ansmsnnews11
So the BVI is in the midst of a firestorm regarding financial services, Johnson quits BVI Finance and we should take 3-6 months to interview/find a replacement all while our bread and butter goes to sh*t? Stop trying to find an issue where there's none. Nobody else could be called upon last minute to sit in that seat and she is more than capable. It says she will hold the position temporarily while they seek a replacement. If the seat remained empty you would ask why Government is so irresponsible to not have someone there with experience at this crucial time.
@LOL, if anyone is talking sh*t all day it is you. Stop being such an A!! kisser.
You seem like you want to be in the NDP inner circle so bad that you are willing to put your own people down trying to make your own people look like they are dumb. You need to get your sh*t together.
Mrs. Smith is the perfect person to be named as interim director for BVI Finance. She has unequalled relevant experience in this country, she has perhaps unequalled international contacts in both the private sector and government worldwide. She is well versed in the realities of what is now a new paradigm in finance services. She has the fortitude and strength to confront the dynamic and troubling issues that we are currently facing and she has a conviction and love for BVI that is unquestionable.
BVI is facing a toxicity in its name and branding that requires the best of hands on deck. All of you that are speaking about better choices... name 3, infact name 1. Truth is not even persons in the private sector has command of the breadth of global issues and diplomacy that this job requires at this time.
Lorna unquestionably does. She has reluctantly accepted to help BVI finance navigate through this storm and should be appluaded for that.. as she did so knowing how some of you will attack her.
Instead of tearing her down... she requires the support of all BVI Islanders so that we can rally and rebuild our industry. Otherwise you can forget about BVI as we know it...
@Friend from afar- What about Kevin Malone, not the one there now, the young man who is related to Benito Wheatley? He is certainly qualified, internationally trained, has the experience, knows the industry, progressive, and has also worked in Finance on Wall Street. Find him and make him an offer to fill the position. We pull out the red carpet for others, what about our own? It’s time to start bringing our people back home. People like L*** are why some of them left in the first place. Some people just need to get over themselves and stop trying to be forever Kings, Queens, and Lords of Our Lands. Begone!