Smith Sidesteps Questions on Guyana Mission
Junior Minister for Financial Services Lorna Smith has declined to answer questions regarding the outcomes of the Virgin Islands' 2023 trade mission to Guyana during a recent media briefing. Smith stated that the press conference was intended to focus strictly on a recent visit to India and constitutional matters, suggesting a separate briefing be arranged to review the Guyana trip.
Junior Minister for Financial Services Lorna Smith has deferred questions regarding the tangible outcomes of the Virgin Islands' 2023 trade mission to Guyana, stating that a recent government press conference was not the appropriate venue to address the subject. The exchange occurred during a media briefing led by Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, which was convened primarily to update the territory on a recent official mission to India and ongoing constitutional negotiations.
During the session, journalist Cindy Rosan asked Smith what concrete benefits the 2023 Guyana visit had produced and how the government was measuring its success. In response, Smith emphasized that officials had prepared exclusively to discuss the India mission and constitutional developments.
She suggested that a separate press briefing should be scheduled to properly address inquiries concerning Guyana. When pressed by Rosan for details or updates she could recall from memory, Smith declined to elaborate further, and the moderator proceeded to the next question. Smith led the high-profile trade delegation to Guyana in 2023 while serving in her previous capacity as Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour, and Trade.
Prior to that visit, she informed the House of Assembly that the initiative aimed to strengthen bilateral relations, identify mutual commercial opportunities, and expand the footprint of the BVI’s international financial services sector. The 2023 delegation comprised both public officials and private sector representatives, with discussions centered on key sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, and financial services.
Following the trip, Smith highlighted Guyana’s rapid economic expansion and noted that the BVI possessed established investment and corporate structures capable of supporting that growth. Since the mission concluded, several bilateral policy steps have been undertaken. In August 2024, Cabinet approved a proposal to negotiate a formal memorandum of understanding with the Guyanese government covering trade, tourism, financial services, and technical assistance.
Subsequently, in November 2024, the BVI implemented a visa exemption policy for Guyanese visitors in an effort to deepen economic and social ties between the two jurisdictions.
Primary source: BVI News