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What was achieved for VI from Brexit talks?

- Premier & Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith represented the Virgin Islands at first round of meetings as the United Kingdom leaves the EU
Virgin Islands’ Ambassador to the UK and the European Union E. Benito Wheatley (right) only said the ‘discussions on Brexit were constructive, when asked what was accomplished by Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith (left) at the Brexit talks in London. Photo: VINO/File
Group photo of attendees of the first UK-OT Joint Ministerial Council on European Negotiations (JMC OT EN) on February 7, 2017. Photo: BVI London Office
Group photo of attendees of the first UK-OT Joint Ministerial Council on European Negotiations (JMC OT EN) on February 7, 2017. Photo: BVI London Office
LONDON, United Kingdom- Days after the Colonial Power the United Kingdom voted via a referendum in June 2016 to leave the European Union, Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) went public saying that the Virgin Islands (VI) wants to be at the table when the exit is being negotiated.

Well Premier Smith attended a meeting with other Overseas Territories (OT) Leaders, dubbed the UK-OT Joint Ministerial Council on European Negotiations (JMC OT EN) (February 6-7, 2017), to discuss the implications of Brexit on the OTs and their priorities for negotiations.

Government spin?

According to a government spokeswoman, April T. Glasgow, in a press release issued yesterday February 7, 2017 “priorities discussed with UK Ministers were: freedom of movement, international trade and EU funding.”

Ms Glasgow claimed that Premier Smith set out the VI’s priorities for international trade, including market access, stating, “The VI sees international trade as essential to its economic future, particularly in the continued provision of services to international business, but also in goods, in areas such as fisheries.”

According to Government, Dr Smith also highlighted the value of EU funding to the sustainable development of the VI, stating, “In the 11th EDF programming process, the EU has recognised to some degree, their responsibility to support VI and others that are among the most affected by the negative impacts of climate change that places our economy at risk.”

Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Premier Smith said, “I am pleased by the outcome of our initial round of ministerial talks on Brexit negotiations in which we set out OT priorities and agreed in principle to hold two additional Ministerial meetings this year,” according to the state-owned Government Information Service (GIS).

The spokeswoman for GIS told the public that local “officials will be fully involved in the ongoing UK-OT technical discussions on Brexit with the UK Government in the months ahead.”

Still no answers on what was achieved for VI!

However, it remains unclear what substantive items were achieved by Dr Smith for the VI. When contacted today February 8, 2017 in London to asked what was accomplished, Virgin Islands’ Ambassador to the UK and the European Union E. Benito Wheatley only said the “discussions on Brexit were constructive,” but often nothing else.

When pressed to name some achievements, Mr Wheatley, the Director of the VI London Office, dodged the questions and simply said I am “currently in transit.”

Our newsroom will await the return of Premier Smith who is expected to be back in the Territory by Saturday February 11, 2017 according to travel arrangements obtained by our newsroom.

16 Responses to “What was achieved for VI from Brexit talks?”

  • zzzzzzzz (08/02/2017, 12:27) Like (17) Dislike (2) Reply
    He was at the meeting sleeping
  • True (08/02/2017, 13:15) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    all this did was waste taxpayers money, he listened as they spoke, he could of read an email just as well and make the same impact as he did at the meeting. Northern Ireland and Scotland do not even get to put input into the Brexit deal. The caribbean is also funded by the EU separately from the UK so nothing will change there in relation to the BVI. Again just a waste of money.
  • batman (08/02/2017, 13:31) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is the joker right here.

    What fisheries exports?

    Why do you think the EU will want to fund what is a v. rich per capita territory which amasses its wealth through tax avoidance? Why should it?

    Get real
    • where was Lorna? (08/02/2017, 23:01) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Why did Dr. Smith go to the Brexit meeting if he was not prepared. All he did was made the BVI look small
      • Informed (10/02/2017, 05:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        How did he make the BVI look small. Had he not gone while all of the other OT's were in attendance we we would then look small. Pick up a book on international relations and diplomacy please.
  • just asking..... (08/02/2017, 13:46) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    What damm goods the bvi got to trade?
    • .... (08/02/2017, 15:44) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      Trade also encompasses services i.e. financial services.
      • @ ..... (08/02/2017, 22:13) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        There is one easy solution and that is voting with one's pocketbook.
    • Shame On You (08/02/2017, 22:59) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      That sounds like some BS to me.

      The BVI doesn’t even have flash freezing capacity, much less to say we going to to be exporting fish on a commercial scale to another country.
  • Cmon commonsense (08/02/2017, 15:41) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    The Brexit negotiation process is a 2 year process. One that requires the UK to engage with the EU. This won't happen until the relevant legislative process in UK is triggered, sometime in March. What the Premeir and other OTs have done is that they had an initial engagement with the UK on what we would like. When the UK negotiates with EU, it should take into the OTs priorities. The Premier put the BVI priorities on the table. They align with all the other OTs priorities. If.the full press release was reported, your audience will understand what they are... I. e. maintaining EU Funding, free movement throught the EU, and continued market access for trade in financial services and perhaps in future the goods.

    It's really silly to think that the VI will walk away with something at this stage and speaks very poorly of this paper to suggest as much.

  • who went with Dr. Smith????? (08/02/2017, 23:04) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    take a look at the last picture...why does Orlando still have his ID around his neck? This man need help mehson we always getting embarrassed at these meetings, even something simple as a group photo. Poor my BVI
  • in the shadows (09/02/2017, 16:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Doc showed them how to tie a Windsor.


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