Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Too much focus on negativity in the territory - Smith

Too much focus on negativity in the territory - Smith

Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly Neville ‘Sheep’ Smith says there is too much focus on negative things in the Virgin Islands and not enough focus on celebrating positive things that have happened since Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Captain Owen G. Harrigan Visitor Centre at Gun Creek, Virgin Gorda earlier this week, Smith said people take too much time to look at negativity and not enough time highlighting the positive things many government agencies have done to help put the Virgin Islands back on its feet.

“I am saying that because if you realise what happened, a lot of the buildings were damaged that Ports Authority were in charge of and if you go around Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke, you see the kind of work that Ports Authority have done to get these buildings up. They need a round of applause,” Smith said.

The Deputy Speaker said some people try to make others forget about where the territory is coming from with the devastation that happened in 2017. However, Smith said the floods and the hurricanes were real to everyone.

“So, let us not forget it. Some people want us to forget about the past and only focus on what is happening now and they say we are finding excuses. We are not finding excuses. I want you to go back to Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria, talk about the floods, talk about the war on our hands, talk about the pandemic. God knows what else and every time we speak, we speak negatively. Not a positive we say. We must start being positive and talk positive to each other,” stated Smith, who is also a Territorial At-Large Representative.

He noted that after hurricanes Irma and Maria, the people of the territory banded together to fix the Virgin Islands as one people without division.

“That is what we are about, that is what built the Virgin Islands — togetherness. We can not let anyone and nobody come and try to separate us, divide us and conquer us. We must continue working together to build these Virgin Islands,” Smith said.

“Ports Authority, I really tip my hat off to you all because you have done tremendously, and we need to recognise that. There are a few things that need to be done but look at this building. You don’t need any air conditioning in here. Little by little we build, and things will be fixed shortly with time,” the Deputy Speaker continued.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
×