Deputy Premier Lorna Smith.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has named Junior Minister for Financial Services Lorna Smith among the heroes recognised during this year’s Heroes and Foreparents Day celebration, praising her decades of contribution to the Virgin Islands’ international relations and financial services sector.
Delivering his national message on Monday, Dr Wheatley said the day was “a sacred moment of remembrance and gratitude” to honour the courage and vision of those whose work laid the foundation for the modern Virgin Islands.
He noted that the annual observance was expanded this year to highlight the start of the territory’s first Diplomatic Week, recognising the critical role of foreign service in the BVI’s development.
“Among the heroes whose contributions to national development we recognise this year is the Honourable Lorna Smith OBE, Territorial At-Large Member of the Virgin Islands House of Assembly and Junior Minister for Financial Services and Economic Development,” Dr Wheatley stated.
He credited Smith as “one of our pioneers in international relations and diplomacy”, recalling her key roles in establishing and managing the BVI’s London and Hong Kong offices and promoting the territory’s financial services internationally as head of the BVI International Finance Centre.
Dr Wheatley also paid tribute to other national heroes, including Noel Lloyd, Lavity Stoutt, Isaac Fonseca, Theodolph Faulkner, and Shelly Martin, saying their courage “ignited a spirit of self-determination that still burns in our hearts today”.
He extended recognition to “countless unsung heroes” such as mothers, fathers, teachers, and community builders who shaped the Virgin Islands into “the strong, proud territory we call home”.
Linking the commemoration to the BVI’s modern diplomatic achievements, the Premier emphasised that the territory’s growth “has never occurred in isolation”, citing partnerships through CARICOM, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, and international forums like the United Nations.
Dr Wheatley said the territory’s diplomats “have been a bridge to the international community in our moments of need”, referencing support received after hurricanes and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As we honour the legacy of those who came before us, let us also recognise the torchbearers of today and tomorrow,” he urged, calling on residents to “stand firm for the good of our beloved Virgin Islands”.
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