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$323M budget presented; Disappointing says Hon Fahie

- Opposition Member said not a single substantive statement was made regarding absence of audited financial statements since 2007
Opposition Member Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has criticised the 2017 Budget presented by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith (left) today, January 16, 2017 as a 'disappointment'. Photo: VINO/File
In the Budget Address given today, January 16, 2017 in the House of Assembly, several tax increases were announced. Photo: VINO/File
In the Budget Address given today, January 16, 2017 in the House of Assembly, several tax increases were announced. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The National Democratic Party (NDP) Government of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith (AL) presented a $323M budget in the House of Assembly today, January 16, 2017.

Government expects to generate some $323M in revenue, with tax increases being one of their sources, and has estimated a recurrent expenditure of some $277M.

The budget, known as an Appropriation Bill, has already been described as one of “disappointment” by Opposition Member Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1)

“I can safely summarise the 2017 budget which ironically is entitled "CHARTING OUR COURSE: Positioning the Virgin Islands for the Future" as one of disappointment. The requirements of the Constitution CANNOT and MUST NOT be subjectively complied. Not a single substantive statement has been made by the Premier with regards to the effects of not presenting, in accordance with Section #109 of the VI Constitution, to the House of Assembly the audited financial statements of 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and now 2016. Our current Financial Secretary has been engaged in his post by the National Democratic Party since 2004,” stated Hon Fahie in a press release sent out shortly after the budget presentation that lasted just under 1 hour and 20 minutes.

The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Chairman further said that in order for anyone to chart the course forward for any future destination they must be clear of their present position.

“The people of the Virgin Islands are tired of fancy speeches with some well-intended goals but void of transparency and accountability. We cannot continue to put on put. This is now eleven budgets totaling approximately $3.3Billion dollars with absolutely no accurate account of how the people's money has been spent for the last ten budgets and now adding an eleventh one. This is a clear definition of non-transparency and the abuse of power.

More details to follow.

22 Responses to “$323M budget presented; Disappointing says Hon Fahie”

  • YAWN (16/01/2017, 16:53) Like (15) Dislike (29) Reply
    What do you expect to hear from Fahie and Fraser, congrats? Please.
  • Ahhhhhhhh (16/01/2017, 17:21) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wow! 10 years and no audits? Y'all voted for them. Hahaha
    • pat (16/01/2017, 19:18) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
      but we all paying. not funny.
    • Truth Sayer (17/01/2017, 08:24) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      Could someone tell me if all the years quoted by Mr. Fahie that no financial audits were produced were under the NDP. As far as I recall before they took office, it was Fahie's Party that as in power.
  • Chance (16/01/2017, 17:33) Like (27) Dislike (2) Reply
    Thanks to Fahie and Fraser for opening the public eyes.
  • vip (16/01/2017, 17:46) Like (3) Dislike (28) Reply
    Why fahie running ahead of the opp leader?
  • Friday say (16/01/2017, 18:12) Like (30) Dislike (3) Reply
    No More NDP, No More NDP, No More NDP...NDP Must Go, NDP Must Go, NDP Must Go...Vacate, Vacate, NDP.
    • --------------------- (16/01/2017, 20:40) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      the people must defend themselves in the face of NDP financial attacks.
    • open mind (17/01/2017, 09:55) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
      I think regardless of what the NDP are doing that we may not agree with, they're doing a FARRR better Job than what VIP was doing last in POWER a far better Job!. Then when the people Vote them back in (VIP) they will regret and say "VIP must go Must Go"! Think about it!
  • Straight Up Abuse of Power (16/01/2017, 18:33) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    (IMO) BVI High Society, along with GOV'T, & the Legal System is now engaging in ABUSE of POWER on OUR POOR SOCIETY.

    DEMOCRACY as we know it is being eroded.
  • question (16/01/2017, 18:57) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
    Please clarify, isn't it the audit department responsible for conducting audits?

    Are they suppose to get the okay from a government agency or a particular minister to get them done?

    If not then we should be looking at the agency of the Auditor General.

    Please clarify
    Thanks
    • No (16/01/2017, 22:30) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      The Govt's Department is an internal audit function. The accounts should be audited by an independent third party accounting firm.
  • Only the poor will feel it (16/01/2017, 19:04) Like (21) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mr govenor plz I beg of u sir can we all call for a other election plz this NDP government goin to kill us ....if the NDP stay in office a next 2 more years we all finish ohoh lord send help but Frazer had wah the ppl of the bvi that NDP is a wicked ...... These wicked need to get out how do the leader of this NDP government sleep at high with all these wickedness that he an is government doing to the people of this country ....we need back our country from these wicked ppl ayo got all these gun man out killing an robing ppl ayo need to go mehson .....
  • DISRESPECT (16/01/2017, 19:09) Like (12) Dislike (16) Reply
    10 yrs means neither NDP or VIP is honest, truthful, transparent and care about the people. They all ruled heavy handedly like dictators. Non produce a financial report in 10 yr....Total disrespect
    • @DISRESPECT (16/01/2017, 21:22) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
      The audits from VIP time has been ready from 2011 but they are not being made public by the NDP because it will prove NDP to be liars in that it shows that the VIP didn't leave the country broke. That's why Fahie includes them.
      • sorry (17/01/2017, 00:16) Like (3) Dislike (6) Reply
        Was it not the VIP responsibility to ensure that its audits are conducted and presented? So what happened before 2013.
  • BLOOD NEEDED (16/01/2017, 21:21) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    The opposition and the people say we will not allow the local economy to “drift along” for another 12 months and called on the NDP government to provide a true state of the economy to the population.
  • help us lord (16/01/2017, 21:29) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dr. Smith should recognise that his stony silence on national issues has become offensive to all residents of the BVI bordering now on contempt for the very citizens that elected him.
  • Why (17/01/2017, 10:33) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    We are already overtaxed. The average income is about $2000.00 monthly. That can hardly buy sugar. Then, there is Water and Sewerage. Why should the fees be raised? The potable water is hardly user worthy . Some people are being charged lots of money because the meters are not read. They just estimate an amount that they feel is appropriate to them. That in my opinion is highway robbery. Next, the water is off two weeks out of four. I think this is outrageous.
    Then, the staff are some arrogant bitches who believe they are the moral authority. If they say it is $10,000.00 you must fork out the money and pay. I think this practices of cheating out of their hard earned money should be investigated.


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