ROADTOWN Tortola, BVI, May 4th 2011 - A caller told the host Douglas Wheatley that Dr. D. Orlando Smith, leader of National Democratic Party (NDP), was wrong in criticising the remarks made by Colin Robert, Director of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for Overseas Territories, who announced recently that the Virgin Islands (VI) had managed its finances well amidst the economic downturn.

“Mr. Roberts made the statements on his own validation. So when I heard the leader of the Opposition criticising him, I think it was totally wrong because it was a view that Mr. Roberts expressed. He saw it and report it,” the caller pointed out.

He added, “I guess it’s all about political maturity.”

Dr. Smith, in a statement on April 18, 2011, said Mr. Roberts’ statement that the VI is a success story is “completely at odds with the realities” that are facing the VI today.

And while admitting he had no quarrel with Mr. Roberts, Dr. Smith had said he was worried that the Territory continues to suffer from “gross mismanagement” which he said has never been since the establishment of the Ministerial system in 1967.

“Mr. Roberts’s press conference as reported in the various media later in the day regarding this Government’s management of the economy was reflective of some of the views he expressed during a meeting to which he invited me. What struck me most forcefully from his press conference was that Mr. Roberts was pleased with the way in which this Government is managing the people’s ‘affairs’, and, that the BVI is such a success story that there is little else for the UK to offer in terms of how the territory might improve!” Dr. Smith had said in his statement.

The Opposition leader pointed out to various issues in the Territory that he indicated needed urgent attention and questioned where was the success story in light of the many areas that needed attention.

“In the almost four years of this Government’s administration not a word has been uttered about building a modern road network or even putting in place a comprehensive road maintenance programme.  This begs the question, where is the success story here?” Dr. Smith had questioned.

Meanwhile, the host of ‘Speak Out BVI’ was of the view that “it was not a productive thing to attack Mr. Roberts because what good it do for the NDP?”

“If you want to be crucial, be critical of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) which is the party in power. But I would not have gone beyond that and address Mr. Roberts in a critical manner,” he remarked.

Article taken from Virgin Islands News Online

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