Mr Smith was at the time speaking during an October 19, 2020, edition of his ‘Umoja’ radio show on ZBVI 780AM where he also urged the local business community to not just think about profits, rather, unite and take their social and community responsibilities more seriously in the current climate.

Pandemic & job loss

”What’s happening right now… the pandemic has got everybody, put a whole bunch of people out of work,” Mr Smith said, adding that society could further break down should individual businesses fail.

“We might not even be able to import food because if we get to a certain point where Dominica and Saint Lucia and America start saying well, we need the food for our people we can't be shipping none out, what [are] we going to eat? Where the boat will come from?” Mr Smith questioned.

He said in the VI; however, there is a lack of trust in the business community where people don’t understand the importance of businesses and businesses don’t understand their role.

“If you don't provide a job for me, I can't pay my rent, I can't pay for my food, I can't pay for my clothes, I can't send my child to school… the whole society breaks down if your business is not successful,” Mr Smith remarked.

Mr Smith called for more support for organizations like the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA), a body that can speak with one voice with more impact and influence on policies in the current economic climate given the importance of businesses.

Support for the BVICCHA

He called for more support for organisations like the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA), a body that can speak with one voice with more impact and influence on policies in the current economic climate given the importance of businesses.

Smith said business owners should therefore unite for the forward movement of the country and take more social responsibility while ensuring that organisations like the BVICCHA push policies that would be beneficial to the territory and the community as a whole.