STATEMENT BY PREMIER AND MINISTER OF FINANCE DR. THE HONOURABLE D. ORLANDO SMITH, OBE GOVERNMENT’S FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE JOURNEY TO RECOVERY: CHANGING THE DIRECTION OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS MONDAY, 27TH FEBRUARY, 2012 My fellow Virgin Islanders and residents of this Territory: My Government’s first 100 days in office has been completed and we continue to forge ahead to deliver on our promise to change the direction of these Virgin Islands from a “grim”, sluggish and broken economy to one of prosperity for all. Taking stock of achievements during the first three months in office is no new phenomenon. Around the world, particularly in democratic nations, it has become common practice for new governments to use the occasion of completing the first 100 days to assess the early steps in the administration’s four year journey. This practice goes back to the days of the American President Franklin Roosevelt, who was elected to office during the period of the Great Depression. That great leader, during his first 100 days put in place a vast number of programmes designed to help ordinary people who were struggling with poverty and want. Ladies and gentlemen, as you are very much aware, since taking office officially on November 10, 2011, this Government has been faced with significant challenges that we have moved swiftly to address in order to fulfill our commitment to the people of these Virgin Islands. We have been consulting with you in several fora. We have been listening to your concerns. We have been collaborating on a number of initiatives with you and we have kept you in the information loop, providing you with truthful and accurate reports as we journey together to reclaim and restore the greatness of our Territory. We have kept the grace of God in our decision-making. We have made our decisions in unison, putting these Virgin Islands and you the people above