Political strife within the National Democratic Party hit a fever pitch last week when Second District Representative Mitch Turnbull broke rank and publicly called for Premier Dr. Orlando Smith to resign from his position as minister of finance.

“Members of the caucus, [the] majority have said, inclusive of our Deputy Premier [Dr. Kedrick Pickering], have said that there needs to be shift in the way we do things in government,” Mr. Turnbull said on Dec. 13 during a House of Assembly sitting.

The lawmaker indicated that he wanted to bring a long-rumoured issue to public ears.

“I am no longer staying quiet,” Mr. Turnbull said, adding, “I am saying it publicly in front of this honourable House and the people of the territory: I am saying to my honourable premier, as we have all agreed before, that this is time where we need someone for this time of uncertainty, … where we need to chart the way forward [and] to lead the Ministry of Finance. I am saying it publicly to my honourable premier that that person should be honourable Ronnie W. Skelton.”

 

Background

Mr. Turnbull’s statement came after a tumultuous two weeks for the governing NDP. After cruise ships returned on Dec. 6, the Second District representative reportedly criticised the premier on the radio for allowing tourists in too quickly.

The territory, he argued, was not up to its normal standards and thus was advertising a subpar tourism brand. Cane Garden Bay, Tortola’s most-visited beach and the most populous area of Mr. Turnbull’s constituency, suffered extensive damage during the storm and is still in the midst of rebuilding.

Instead of shepherding most tourists there — as was the standard before Hurricane Irma — taxi drivers have been taking cruise ship tourists to Long Bay on Beef Island and other locations.

 

Premier hits back

Five days after Mr. Turnbull’s initial comments, Dr. Smith (R-at large) hit back via an official statement on government’s website.

“If we forgo this season, we stand the chance of losing many locally built and respected businesses,” he said. “As we’ve seen with other destinations, it can be very difficult and expensive for our destination to benefit from future seasons. What is worse is that if we close our shores, we leave employees and tourism industry partners without the means to earn a living and the ability to contribute to the rebuilding of the Virgin Islands.”

Dr. Smith also criticised Mr. Turnbull’s handling of his district after the storm.

“The Ministry of Communications and Works in particular worked with each district representative to mobilise the necessary equipment and resources needed and chose to work with district representatives so that clean-up efforts [were] done at the community level,” the premier said. “Specifically in the Second District, after unsuccessful attempts to clean up faster using this strategy, the ministry directly deployed manpower and equipment to support efforts in the Windy Hill area, Brewers Bay and along the Cane Garden Bay stretch from Quito’s to the Callwood rum distillery.”

 

A ‘misrepresentation’

At the HOA sitting last week, Mr. Turnbull disagreed.

“The day after Irma, Kirby Hodge and Melvin Hodge in Cane Garden Bay took their machines and put them on the road,” he said. “They asked me what needed to be done; I said, ‘Let’s clean it.’ To date, no other heavy equipment has come down. … The report that my own premier gave was a complete and utter misrepresentation of the truth.”

Additionally, the Second District representative again criticised the premier for prematurely bringing tourists back to the territory’s shores.

“If we want to continue to serve in excellence, the facilities must be first class,” Mr. Turnbull said, adding, “What we cannot afford to do is lower our standards.”

He then called for Mr. Skelton to replace the premier as the minister of finance. Such a switch would not remove Dr. Smith from his position as leader of the territory — he serves jointly as premier and finance minister.

 

Party responds

Later that evening, Education and Culture Minister Myron Walwyn condemned Mr. Turnbull’s remarks.

“I remember Romans 13: to respect those in authority, because those in authority were ordained by God,” Mr. Walwyn (R-at large) said, adding, “The premier is the leader of the country. If the premier has deficiencies, it is our responsibility — all of us here — to hold him up. To hold him up! Not to insult him.”

He also threatened to leave the party if the “disrespectful” behaviour continued.

“If this is the direction of the National Democratic Party, to be disrespectful to their leader like this, Myron Walwyn will leave the National Democratic Party, because this is not what I am here for,” the minister said. “And I am not going to stand for it. It is wrong. It is disrespectful. The country needs its people. If the premier is weak on finances, we have businessmen here. Go and help him. If I am weak on education, come and help me.”

While closing the sitting, Dr. Smith also chided the Second District representative.

“I must say that I’m rather disappointed with the comments … which basically demonstrate lack of respect for the leadership, for the premier of this country,” he said, adding, “I’m really tired of the tantrums of some members and I think it is important that we all continue to work together for the good of this territory. If we cannot work together we are not going to be able to have the recovery that is needed.”

 

Other calls for resignation

Mr. Turnbull is not the first political figure to call for Dr. Smith to resign from leading the ministry of finance.

In January, longtime NDP member Eileene Parsons reportedly distributed a letter to her party’s lawmakers calling for Mr. Skelton — the minister for health and social development — to replace Dr. Smith as minister of finance. Mr. Skelton (R-at large) served as minister of finance from 2003 to 2007.

Shortly afterwards, then-BVI Health Services Authority Chairman John Cline publicly supported Ms. Parsons’ request. Days later, Dr. Smith asked for Mr. Cline’s resignation.

During an HOA sitting this summer, Opposition Leader Andrew Fahie (R-D1) motioned for a vote of no confidence in the premier’s capacity to serve as the minister of finance.

Neither Mr. Turnbull nor any other member of the House — including Julian Fraser (R-D3), the only other member of the opposition — seconded Mr. Fahie’s motion, preventing it from going to a vote.