Who to believe? Contradictory messages from the Smith Administration!
In his national broadcast to the Territory on December 6, 2016 Premier Smith said, “In some nations, the people are turning against one another and attacking each other on the basis of their race, or their religion, or their nationality. In other nations, they are seeking to cut themselves off from the rest of the world, building walls and fences.”
Two messages; divisive Minister
Dr Smith, the president and political head of the ruling NDP, said “in other nations, they are simply paralysed by indecision and failing to act.”
Here in the VI, he claims “we decline to take any of these self-defeating and self-destructive paths.”
However, ‘action does speak louder than words’, and the policies of the NDP have demonstrated the opposite of what he is saying in terms of bringing the Virgin Islands (VI) together.
Since the 2011 elections, the NDP has created a culture of disrespect for law and order, the courts, members of the Opposition, the media, talk show hosts and residents and businesses they do not like, along with wide scale political, racial and social division in the British Overseas Territory.
All this was done, according to their critics and civil society, to destroy the way of life in the VI and as a strategy for the NDP to maintain power with the ‘divide and conquer’ philosophy; however, the Premier claimed in his December 6, 2016 address “We will not divide – we will unite.”
Some examples of the division caused by this Administration included Members of Government using the House of Assembly to go after businesses, including the media they do not like, and residents who speak out against them.
The most divisive elected official in recent times is the controversial Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL). He was vocal in trying to block a sale of RiteWay Food Markets, a local business, while at the same time already selling his own law firm in a merger deal.
Who to believe?
Mr Walwyn also told the public that we can no longer have laws to protect locals and that local residents only break the laws because “they born here” statements many see as putting locals against other Caribbean and European nationals who come to live among us.
However, the Premier told the public “we will not cast blame – we will take responsibility,” which is a far cry for what his Education Minister Walwyn is practicing.
The Premier and his Administration have showed disregard for the courts and one recent example is the case of the former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority, Claude O. Skelton-Cline, where they have refused to comply with the court order deadline to respond with information.
But Dr Smith told the public “we will not stand still – we will act with boldness and purpose.”
While taking no responsibility for the reckless spending and the financial hardships faced by the middle class and the poor and leaving the country broke, the Minister of Finance told the public “our finances are sound. Our investments are strategic. Our Government is focused.”
Hon Smith also told the Territory in Tuesday’s public address that his Government will not be paralysed by indecision and failing to act while for almost six months the NDP Administration cannot make a decision on who is to receive the Airport Expansion contract or when the Territory will have a 2017 Budget.
He ended his 25-minute broadcast with “Thank you and may God bless the British Virgin Islands.”
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17 Responses to “Who to believe? Contradictory messages from the Smith Administration!”
captain them sleeping..