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Derrick Smith speaks
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
The Minister of Mining and Telecommunications, Derrick Smith has broken his silence about the circumstances under which he was removed from his previous portfolio of National Security.
Mr. Smith, fresh from extensive medical treatment overseas sat down last week with RJR's Earl Moxam, where he revealed his pain and disappointment with his party's handling of his illness.
It was a leaner, but healthier Derrick Smith who sat down to talk about his controversial removal from the Security Portfolio.
He said he was caught off guard by the announcement in early June that he was being replaced by Colonel Trevor MacMillan.
Mr. Smith says he first learned of the proposal after being summoned by the Prime Minister one Saturday morning.
"He broke the news that he was under tremendous pressure- he didn't expand as to where the pressure was coming from- but he was under tremendous pressure and he would have to remove me as Minister of National Security," said Mr. Smith.
"We had further discussions, I asked him who he had in mind to replace me. He mentioned...I reinforce the point that individuals change...and I left with the understanding that the issue would be put before Cabinet on Monday morning but of course it was obviously leaked,"
He says he and his family were caught completely off-guard when newspaper headlines blared news of his replacement.
"I was very hurt. I came home, I discussed it with my family and they were very hurt because the buck stops with the Prime Minister and I am not questioning his right to make a decision and he has made a decision which I am forced to accept,"
The regret in his voice comes from the fact that Derrick Smith spent 14 years understudying the Security portfolio in Opposition, but only had 14 good weeks in the portfolio, before being booted.
He alludes to other factors at play such as class prejudice.
"I feel it [class prejudice], I feel it. I have been out there and I hear the comments and I get the calls...I wouldn't dispute it," he said quietly.
Despite this he insists he is not bitter, especially given the severity of his diabetes and the long road to recovery that still lies ahead.
"It's bittersweet really. Bitter in that I had been taken away, the sweet aspect of it is that it is a very high stressed job and in order to do you best you have to be on the ball. In my condition that is now exposed it might in the long run prove beneficial to me," he said.
Mr. Smith leaves the island again Thursday for follow treatments.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
The Minister of Mining and Telecommunications, Derrick Smith has broken his silence about the circumstances under which he was removed from his previous portfolio of National Security.
Mr. Smith, fresh from extensive medical treatment overseas sat down last week with RJR's Earl Moxam, where he revealed his pain and disappointment with his party's handling of his illness.
It was a leaner, but healthier Derrick Smith who sat down to talk about his controversial removal from the Security Portfolio.
He said he was caught off guard by the announcement in early June that he was being replaced by Colonel Trevor MacMillan.
Mr. Smith says he first learned of the proposal after being summoned by the Prime Minister one Saturday morning.
"He broke the news that he was under tremendous pressure- he didn't expand as to where the pressure was coming from- but he was under tremendous pressure and he would have to remove me as Minister of National Security," said Mr. Smith.
"We had further discussions, I asked him who he had in mind to replace me. He mentioned...I reinforce the point that individuals change...and I left with the understanding that the issue would be put before Cabinet on Monday morning but of course it was obviously leaked,"
He says he and his family were caught completely off-guard when newspaper headlines blared news of his replacement.
"I was very hurt. I came home, I discussed it with my family and they were very hurt because the buck stops with the Prime Minister and I am not questioning his right to make a decision and he has made a decision which I am forced to accept,"
The regret in his voice comes from the fact that Derrick Smith spent 14 years understudying the Security portfolio in Opposition, but only had 14 good weeks in the portfolio, before being booted.
He alludes to other factors at play such as class prejudice.
"I feel it [class prejudice], I feel it. I have been out there and I hear the comments and I get the calls...I wouldn't dispute it," he said quietly.
Despite this he insists he is not bitter, especially given the severity of his diabetes and the long road to recovery that still lies ahead.
"It's bittersweet really. Bitter in that I had been taken away, the sweet aspect of it is that it is a very high stressed job and in order to do you best you have to be on the ball. In my condition that is now exposed it might in the long run prove beneficial to me," he said.
Mr. Smith leaves the island again Thursday for follow treatments.
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