Former BVI First Lady joins VIP to help form new government

Former First Lady, Lorna Smith, joined forces with the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) to help form the next government.

“Elected members of the Virgin Islands Party and Territorial At-Large member Lorna G. Smith, OBE have signed official documents in the presence of His Excellency John James Rankin CMG.,” a statement from the VIP explained.

It was also stated that the swearing-in ceremony will follow later this evening (April 25).

Negotiations saw newly elected lawmakers locked in dialogue overnight about a possible coalition government and this continued well past noon after election results did not produce a clear winner yesterday (April 24).

A party or a coalition of elected members requires a majority of seven seats in the House of Assembly (HOA) before they can form the government. The person that is selected as leader of the group after this process is completed is then nominated to be appointed as Premier by the Governor.

Smith initially campaigned as an independent Territorial At-Large candidate but later teamed up with the National Democratic Party (NDP), the organisation which her husband and former Premier, Dr D Orlando Smith, led as Chairman for nearly 20 years.

In an earlier statement, Smith assured residents that their objectives in electing her would be at the forefront of her mind.

The party extended thanks to the electorate for placing its trust in the VIP and said it remained committed to fostering a government of inclusion, integrity, accountability and transparency. (BVI News)