‘Press conference’ astounds, confuses
Shortly after returning from an official visit to London, Premier Dr. Orlando Smith shocked the territory by holding a media gathering known as a “press conference.”
When Dr. Smith summoned reporters to his office in the Central Administration Building Tuesday, most of them didn’t know how to react.
Many journalists expected a trick, and wore tennis shoes in case they should need to make a quick getaway. For the first few minutes, they stood around a table, nervously making small talk.
“I feel extremely out of place,” one of them whispered. “What business could the media possibly have in the halls of the Virgin Islands government, where everything is top secret?”
When Dr. Smith arrived, he did his best to put them at ease. Then he proceeded to explain in detail how he had spent his time in London during the Overseas Territories Consultative Council last week.
At first, reporters were dumbfounded, and sat with blank expressions on their faces. Some of them put their fingers in their ears lest they should become privy to unauthorised information.
One journalist briefly passed out from surprise, slumping to the floor before a colleague splashed water on his face and he regained consciousness.
“I assumed we wouldn’t be allowed to take notes or anything,” he said later. “I blacked out when I realised that the briefing was on the record, and I could go back to my office and report on it. It was awesome.”
When Dr. Smith stopped talking, there was a long pause.
“Okay,” he said finally. “Now you can ask questions.”
One courageous reporter responded, “Questions? As in, more than one? And you’ll answer them?”
“Yep,” Dr. Smith said.
A reporter yelled, “hallelujah!” and burst into tears of joy.
“My job just got so much easier,” she explained after the press conference. “No more speculating and reporting on rumours. The premier just came out and explained what he had been doing in London. Just like that. Now, I might even get home in time for Dancing with the Stars tonight.”
Other places
In most democracies, press conferences are a common way for elected leaders to connect with the media. But here, they have been increasingly infrequent in recent years, and many residents simply forgot they existed.
When the former government came to power in 2007, then-Premier Ralph O’Neal promised to hold the sessions every month. But after he called a few at sporadic intervals, the initiative fizzled.
The territory soon became accustomed to major decisions — such as the signing of the no-bid Biwater contract — being made behind closed doors.
And when press conferences were held, reporters often had to follow peculiar rules, such as one-question limits.
‘New age tactics’
This week, some members of the public expressed concern about Dr. Smith’s actions. One resident questioned what he called “new age tactics” he said might disclose more information than the public needs to know.
“I don’t see the purpose of the press conference. Isn’t government supposed to operate in secrecy?” she asked. “If I read the news reports this week, how do I know I’m not learning classified information that could put my life at risk?”
A Road Town resident was entirely baffled.
“What’s a press conference again?” he asked before hurrying away. “I don’t get it.”
A business owner warned that increased government transparency could mean that residents will be forced to take an active role in the territory’s affairs.
“That could be a lot of work,” she said. “Before, we could just turn a blind eye and blame everything on the government’s failure to communicate. We couldn’t be expected to take responsibility for what we didn’t know about. After Tuesday, everything’s changed.”
Meanwhile, the opposition has called for an inquiry to determine whether the premier leaked confidential state secrets during the press conference.