Smith calls abrupt dismissal from ministerial role a hurricane

Former Deputy Premier and Minister of Financial Services, Lorna Smith, compared her recent dismissal from the BVI government to a hurricane.

Smith, who was speaking in support of the BVI Business Companies Amendment Number 2 Bill 2024, made the comparison while reflecting on her abrupt removal from office. During a debate in the House of Assembly, Smith highlighted the significance of strong leadership in the financial services sector. She recalled the sector’s resilience in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in 2017 and likened her sudden dismissal to another storm. “I mentioned the hurricane of 2017, and I have to mention another hurricane that struck last week when I was dismissed from my position as the Minister of Financial Services,” Smith stated on Tuesday, sitting in the Opposition benches of the HOA for the first time.

Smith, who has served in various instrumental roles in the territory’s financial services, reflected on the numerous calls and messages of concern she had received following her dismissal. “Since then I have been receiving so many comments, whether in the form of letters, telephone calls, and so on, about the fragility of our financial services and the importance of strong leadership,” she said.