An NDP collapse? Efforts to convince rebel backbenchers to vote with leader @ stake
The deep divisions over the terms and conditions for the United Kingdom’s guarantee of the post hurricanes loans, as set out in the UK Framework for the BVI Recovery Plan, have caused much of the debate from within.
Both Opposition Members, Hons Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and Julian Fraser RA (R3), have stood together on this issue, objecting to the loan guarantee conditions. In fact, Hon Fraser at two public meetings and recently in the House of Assembly (HoA) described the conditions “as a noose around our neck”.
Retreat failed to move some Members
In an attempt to convince his rebel backbenchers to vote with him, Premier Smith last week had a two-day retreat, according to a senior NDP official. This was to try to get his government back on track but, according to two members who attended the retreat at a Road Town hotel, said it was a “waste of time”.
After a series of meetings, even as recent as Saturday, March 10, 2018 and on Monday, March 12, 2018 a public holiday, the caucus was still deeply divided over the loan guarantee conditions.
After that failed, Premier Smith came up with the idea of inviting the United Kingdom appointed Governor, Augustus J. U. Jaspert aka ‘Gus’, to help convince his government about the loan guarantee framework and to state again the United Kingdom’s position. That meeting is set for today, Tuesday, March 13, 2018 and should have been ongoing up to the time of publication.
Bringing in the Governor is playing politics?
It is our newsroom’s understanding that it was on the insistence of the Governor that the Opposition members were invited, so as not to appear as if the Governor was playing politics with the issues.
Last evening Monday, March 12, 2018, Dr Smith took to the airwaves with a national prerecorded broadcast that got little attention or media play. The public address was simply a regurgitation of what he had said previously, and in some cases- misinformation.
Immediately after Premier Smith’s speech, his supporters sent around a message, which was condemned by most as spreading propaganda and lies. It claimed that the public should, “join the movement, accept the UK loans and all other donations”.
Message by Dr Smith’s supporters are LIES!
This message is indeed disingenuous as the UK is not giving the Virgin Islands a dime in loans, only guaranteeing loans up to 419M US Dollars and providing other technical assistance which they have started.
As it relates to the donations, it was Dr Smith’s own government that turned away many of the donations while others have been left to spoil at the festival ground in Road Town, on the main island.
The international community has lost faith in the NDP regime and have been telling the world not to give donations to this government, but instead to non-governmental organisations.
Many political observers, civil society and the media are waiting for the loan guarantee to be placed on the HoA agenda to see the fall out, or if the political maneuvering by the 73-year-old Premier and hand wringing will bear fruits.
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41 Responses to “An NDP collapse? Efforts to convince rebel backbenchers to vote with leader @ stake”
BECAUSE TORTOLA PEOPLE ARE LIKE NO OTHER. THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT EVERYTHING.
NEVER SATISFIED, ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT EACH OTHER AND THEY NEVER THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY. THEY WANT EVERYTHING NOW, AND IF THEY DONT GET IT NOW, THEY COMPLAIN AND SPREAD RUMORS.
TORTOLA PEOPLE DONT LIKE CHANGE. TO BAD FOR YOU IF YOU GET OFFENDED, THE TRUTH IS THE TRUTH! I COULD SAY SO MUCH MORE, BUT I'LL LEAVE IT THERE FOR A WHILE.
Second of all the UK is essentially setting up parameters for the gentrification of our community. Therefore we need to be weary not only of the gift but also the giver. And surrender of our political autonomy is simply to high a price even for $400 million.
Third of all we should consider the biblical lessons in “parable of the talents”. The Lord took from his servant who did not invest wisely. And truth be told this servant was only actually guilty of hoarding resources. One shutters to think what the Lord would have done with a servant who blatantly squandered resources. However the important lesson is that those “who are faithful over a little, will be set over much”.
We can not reasonably be expected to trust this government to negotiate and manage a $400 million recovery loan after countless financial missteps including giving away $7 million to BVI Airways and mismanaging over $80 million at Tortola Pier Park. This government is simply not a “good and faithful servant”.