A dramatic shake-up of the government yesterday saw Lorna Smith ousted as deputy premier and opposition member Julian Fraser crossing the floor of the
House of Assembly to replace her.
Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley also fired Ms. Smith from her ministerial position, stating that he did not have confidence that she would continue to support his administration.
The comments drew a sharp retort and allegations of “untruths and fabrications” from Ms. Smith, a National Democratic Party member who previously scandalised her NDP colleagues by forming a government with Dr. Wheatley’s Virgin Islands Party administration after the general election last year.
The political power play this week came in the wake of an opposition bid to topple Dr. Wheatley’s government on Friday The six opposition members,
who then included Mr. Fraser (RD3), only needed one government member to change sides and back
them to bring down the premier.
However, the opposition’s motion of no confidence did not get debated Friday because the order paper was packed with government business that left no time for a parliamentary showdown on the issue.
The meeting is scheduled to continue tomorrow with more government business.
New roles
In the wake of Ms. Smith’s removal, Dr. Wheatley will take over the post of financial services minister to go with his portfolios of finance minister and tourism minister, he said in a hastily announced Facebook address early yesterday morning.
Mr. Fraser — who, as chairman of the Progressives United party, is now the only non-VIP
member of government — took over Dr. Wheatley’s former role as minister of environment, natural resources and climate change and Ms. Smith’s former brief as minister for labour and immigration.
‘Uncertainty’
The premier said yesterday that he fired his former deputy to
avoid political uncertainty.
“She did not give me the confidence that she would remain with my administration for the duration of this term,” he said.
“And this left room for uncertainty and political instability, which we cannot afford at this time.”
Ms. Smith, however, took issue with that account, and claimed she was told she was being sacked only half an hour before the premier’s broadcast.
During a press conference yesterday morning at Maria’s by the Sea, Ms. Smith said she received a letter from Dr. Wheatley at 8 a.m. citing “a lack of support in relation to Commission of Inquiry obligations” as the reason for her dismissal.
“The premier’s reasoning is simply untrue, and I believe it is imperative that he be honest with the people about his true motives rather than fabricating baseless claims,” she told journalists.
‘Selfish threat’
Now an opposition member, she also accused Dr. Wheatley of previously making a “selfish threat” to dissolve the HOA if the motion of no confidence had gone to a vote and he lost.
“It is abundantly clear to me that Premier Wheatley’s decision is less about the COI obligations and more about surrounding himself with individuals he believes are more willing to go along to get along, even if it’s to the detriment of the territory,” she said. “I refuse to be that person.”
She added that the premier had damaged the territory’s relations with the United Kingdom.
“The slow implementation of the Commission of Inquiry recommendations has created significant instability in our relations with the United Kingdom and the new Labour administration,” she said.
Opposition talks?
In response to questions from the media, Ms. Smith denied that she had held talks with the opposition surrounding last week’s proposed motion of no confidence. However, she did say there were “merits” in many of the criticisms of the government cited by the opposition.
The former minister also stated that she no longer has confidence in Dr. Wheatley’s leadership.
In a parting shot at the premier, Ms. Smith said she had become increasingly concerned about the government’s failure to tackle infrastructure issues that had left the territory looking “dirty.”
She also again criticised Dr. Wheatley for spending $220,000 of public funds on a music event to bring Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel at a time when schools need extra resources.
Doughty visit
In the premier’s statement, however, he painted a picture of a busy government that is trying to focus on important tasks ahead of a visit next month from UK Overseas Territories Minister Stephen Doughty.
“We must ensure that the order in council is lifted, we repair our infrastructure, deliver public services at a much higher level, grow our economy, and continue to build a sustainable nation,” Dr. Wheatley said in his statement yesterday.
Referring to Ms. Smith as a “hard-working” and “very capable” minister, the premier added that he took the action with a “heavy heart.”
Swearing in
Mr. Fraser was sworn in by Governor Daniel Pruce yesterday morning, and Dr. Wheatley praised his record.
“Honourable Fraser brings much to the table as a former Cabinet minister and the House of Assembly’s most senior member today, having served as a parliamentarian for over 25 years,” he said.