ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, November 11th, 2011 – Premier Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE and his Cabinet had their first formal day in office yesterday and immediately began moving forward with fulfilling their commitment to the people of the Virgin Islands (VI).
Premier Smith told the Department of Information and Public Relations that his Government right away began focusing on the financial condition of the Territory.“Our first priority is the economy and we must get it back on track,” Premier Smith said.
He added that their first order of business is to establish a Small Business Bureau because small businesses are central drivers of the economy; they help to circulate the money generated from tourism.
He explained that immediate attention will be given to tourism so that the VI takes the number one spot as the pristine destination of choice.
“This means boosting tourism through providing training opportunities to enhance customer service throughout the industry,” he said.
Additionally, the Premier stressed that making the VI beautiful with the assistance of a City Manager is critical to ensuring that the Territory gets the attention it needs “thereby making home more pleasing for residents and attractive to visitors.”
“There is a lot to be done and we can’t afford to sit around. We have to make it happen, all civil servants, the public and the Government working together toward a common purpose,” Premier Smith said.
This was also his commitment made to the Territory during an official swearing-in ceremony of the Premier and other Ministers of Government on Wednesday, November 9 at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Premier Smith called on all persons in the Territory who care about our Virgin Islands to join in moving the country forward.
"Our beloved Territory needs the ideas and assistance of all its people. There is much work to do and we will need your help, your input, your ideas and your involvement," Premier Smith said.
His Excellency the Governor Boyd McCleary, CMG, CVO appointed Dr. The Honourable D. Orlando Smith as Premier of the Virgin Islands; Honourable Kedrick Pickering as Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour; Honourable Ronnie Skelton as Minister for Health and Social Development; Honourable Mark Vanterpool as Minister for Communications and Works and Honourable Myron Walwyn as Minister for Education and Culture.
During the ceremony, Governor McCleary congratulated the new government and explained that the people would be watching them as they do their work. He also commended the people of the VI for ensuring that the elections were free and fair, and peaceful.
Deputy Governor Mrs. V. Inez Archibald chaired the proceedings; Pastor Howard Simon of the BVI Seventh-Day Adventist Church gave the invocation and Ouida Nisbet sang ‘Oh British Virgin Islands’.
The Premier and other Ministers were appointed by His Excellency the Governor in accordance with Section 85 (1) (2) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007.
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British Virgin Islands News