Hon. Ethlyn E. Smith
Hon.
Andrew Fahie
Governor Revokes Minister's Appointment - -Hon. Ethlyn Smith and Hon. Andrew Fahie To Be Sworn In As Ministers
On the advice of the Honourable Chief Minister, Mr Ralph T O'Neal, and in accordance with the Constitution of the British Virgin Islands, the Governor has on Thursday morning (20 July) revoked the appointment of the Hon Eileen L. Parsons as the Minister for Health, Education and Welfare. On the advice of the Chief Minister and in accordance with the Constitution the Governor will appoint Honourable Ethlyn E. Smith as the Minister for Health & Welfare. Hon. Adrew Fahie will be appointed Minister for Education and Culture.
Hon. Ethlyn Smith will be sworn in as a Minister of the O'Neal Government at the same time. Details of the full allocation of portolios will be announced later. The Chief Minister has assumed the portfolio responsibilities of the Ministries of Health, education and Welfare until the new ministers are sworn in.
In the meantime Hon. Parsons gave a press conference at 1:30pm on Thursday, 20 July, to explain the unexpected turn of events. The former Deputy Chief Minister confirmed that she has joined the National Democratic Party (NDP) and that the party can now be considered a "solid and cohesive six". With Hon Ethlyn Smith joining the O'Neal government the Virgin Island Party (VIP) is still maintaining an unchanged majority of seven. Hon Parsons said that there were disagreements even before last year's elections and revealed that while campaigning she was undermined "by a certain set of people".
She said during the 1999 elections people voted for her not because of her affiliation with the VIP but because they wanted to vote for Ms Parsons. Hon Parsons noted that her disagreement with the VIP leadership became very strong over the abolition of the Rasta Law and later on over the motion on Domestic Violence. She was in favour of the NDP motion on Domestic Violence and she viewed the Rasta Law as a foolish law.