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  by pltm
• Apr 23, 2018
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(PLTM) - The findings of a recent post-hurricane poll on the political atmosphere in the BVI has not moved Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. D. Orlando Smith, who received good grades from voters.

Premier Smith told reporters that no doubt political parties find surveys very useful as they gear up for political campaign, but noted that the numbers are not always correct.

General elections are constitutionally due in 2019.

“Surveys are sometimes accurate and sometimes they are not. It’s difficult to say what the mood of the country is based on surveys. But I know that this group (Caribbean Development Research Services Inc. (CADRES) is quite a respected group who did the survey in various parts of the Caribbean,” Premier Smith said.

CADRES, which conducted the survey between February and March, explored the issue of leadership in the BVI from different perspectives, beginning with the key question of who is the preferred leader at this time.

CADRES found that the National Democratic Party (NDP) leader, Premier Smith, is the preferred leader at this time with 20% of persons responding in his favour, followed by Opposition Leader and leader of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP), Hon. Andrew Fahie with 17%, and Minister of Education, Hon. Myron Walwyn with 15%.

Of interest is the fact that that 20% of the persons interviewed didn’t care, wouldn’t say or voted none.

The survey also found that Hon. Walwyn was the best performing Minister; the need for a new political party; and most voters are not satisfied with the direction the country is heading post hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Premier Smith said that he would have hoped that the BVI would be far along following the storms, but there are several factors involved.

“But I do understand that we suffer quite a lot by the devastation and it will take some time, and you would appreciate that a significant part of the economy has been affected. And therefore, it takes time to have discussions with institutions such the Caribbean Development Bank, United Kingdom in terms of guarantees, before we can get the funds to rebuild.”

He said however, the BVI is fortunate that there were monies in the Reserve Fund which were used to help with the initial clean up.

“But we are getting there,” Premier Smith said.

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