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Are Fahie & Fraser trying to embarrass the gov’t? – Cromwell Smith asks

Criticisms leveled by legislators Hon. Andrew A. Fahie (left) and Hon. Julian Fraser, RA have been questioned as attempts to embarrass the government. Photo: VINO/File
Commentators Natalio Wheatley (left) and Cromwell Smith argued for and against criticisms levelled by the legislators. Photo: VINO/File
Commentators Natalio Wheatley (left) and Cromwell Smith argued for and against criticisms levelled by the legislators. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – “Regarding [legislators] Fahie and Fraser, I don’t quite understand what they are attempting to do; I think the country is at a stage where we need solutions to challenges and maybe I haven’t been paying enough attention, maybe I haven’t been paying attention at all, I hear a lot of criticisms but I’m not hearing solutions,” remarked Cromwell Smith aka Edju En Ka.

Co-host Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru on the other hand, felt the two legislators, First District Representative Hon. Andrew A. Fahie and Third District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser, RA have raised valid concerns.

“[Hon. Fraser] knows that the government is a major revenue earner in the Territory… and he knows that in order for the economy to grow and to have meaningful activity, a lot of the money that comes from the financial services sector in particular needs to be channelled into the country to create economic activity,” Smith argued.

He contended that one of the ways governments have done this is by means of infrastructural development and capital projects and one of the ways used to circulate funds on a wider basis is taking it into components and stretching it around to contractors so that “everybody gets a piece of the pie”.

Smith said Hon. Fraser’s claims that government campaigned against contract splitting is an inaccurate statement and suggested that there is a difference between contract splitting and bid splitting.

“The government campaigned against bid splitting. Bid splitting is when you take one contract and divide it into smaller contracts so that you can give it to one contractor without having to go through a bidding process,” he argued.

Smith further reasoned that contract splitting occurs when a contract is divided into smaller contracts so that you can give it to a wider set of contractors.

“[With] bid splitting, you just take the bid and break it up into smaller sections so that you could give it to the same contractor and you don’t have to go through the bidding process because each process is less than a hundred thousand dollars… over a hundred thousand dollars you have to have a tendering process,” he said.

“They definitely campaigned on the lack of a tendering process… I would say both governments have been guilty of that. There are a number of contracts that have gone out this administration that have not been tendered,” Wheatley asserted.

Smith asked in being aware of the importance of giving everyone a piece of the pie, “Why is [Hon. Fraser] trying to embarrass the government into not giving everybody a piece of the action as a result of a protocol that I’m not sure that he is interpreting correctly or he’s interpreting conveniently? Why is he speaking out against contractors getting a piece of the action? Is it to embarrass the government or is he seeking power? Is he trying to hurt the contractors? I don’t understand the purpose of that.”

Wheatley said the people of the Virgin Islands need to pay attention to the whole process of awarding contracts and said they deserve better value for money than what they have gotten so far.

“I don’t think that Hon. Fraser is saying that he doesn’t want contractors to get a piece of the pie,” Wheatley offered, “I wouldn’t say that that’s the conflict. I think the conflict is moreso seeking to point out ways in which he feels perhaps the NDP have been hypocritical.”

“That’s my point, hypocritical to what goal, to what end?” Smith asked, “Hypocritical to the benefit of the country or hypocritical to your quest for power? That’s my concern.”

20 Responses to “Are Fahie & Fraser trying to embarrass the gov’t? – Cromwell Smith asks”

  • Progressive (30/08/2013, 08:53) Like (6) Dislike (23) Reply

    Me aint want to hear a thing from Cromwell he has no credibility! When the VIP was in what the hell he aint talk about his continued criticism about the VIP...because he got hush $%^&*$ now he change his tune...that is why no one studying he…

  • trrefdrfds (30/08/2013, 09:24) Like (8) Dislike (11) Reply
    Hush money at play
  • xxxxxxxx (30/08/2013, 09:46) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    if the VIP was in he would not have such a problem.

  • Politics (30/08/2013, 09:50) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
    Wheatley running with vip next.time around hence u read this garbage. Watch for it.
  • The Usual (30/08/2013, 10:00) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    When someone isn't part of the solution, thy become part of the problem. It is easier to question,criticize and point fingers rather than to buckle down and resolve problems. These 2 have started their campaigns way before the next election. I have yet to see them offer any ideas or solutions to current problems.
  • visitor (30/08/2013, 10:01) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    What we need out there are more fear minded talk show hosts who are not against the VIP and for NDP
  • party (30/08/2013, 10:48) Like (3) Dislike (14) Reply
    #1 get rid of all illterate people on the radio chatting piss just to support the NDP
  • So Real (30/08/2013, 11:08) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply

    It is quite obvious that S**** is a sell-out and a cr**k. He was loud mouthing the NDP up until he got $35K to "Hush". With option for renewal. No, as he claimed he didn't beg for it, but he accepted it. That's okay. For what? He is now trying to fool people into believing he defending them? Corruption at play. Swonde, watch your back. You are known by the company you keep. Don't cruise on that ship with him. You are hereby being warned.

  • ABC (30/08/2013, 11:23) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply

    He has demonstrated that he is a man who cannot be trusted. On the alleged receipt of that $38,000 dollar contract from Government Cromwell has been as one sided as a drunkin sailor man. I cannot believe that this man is so spineless.

  • DarkVader (30/08/2013, 11:25) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I wonder which one of them two talk show hosts have a public relations contract with the NDP government????
  • cromwell (30/08/2013, 11:40) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Cromwell first you are and embarrassment to yourself and second the N.D.P government is the same, two peas in a pod. You was very vocal against the VIP on every issue, you opposition to the VIP government was unjustified on many issues but you did it to advance the cause of the N.D.P, so Mr. Fraser and Mr. Fahie have every right to speak out on issues of national interest.
  • ooooo (30/08/2013, 11:41) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    we all know that this guy is a ndp so dont expect him to say anything different
  • dead man (30/08/2013, 13:03) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    This whole talk show thing has been a fiasco from the begining with conflicts of interest so blatant and so obvious comwell go from here boss we are tire of you
  • Garbage (30/08/2013, 13:18) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Cromwell you get piece ah deh pie so shut up and sit down you don't even know you own name...struuuppppsssss
  • HMMM (31/08/2013, 10:19) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply

    Let C... go sit down from talking piddle. He is a full NDP & everyone knows this. He now trying to carry out NDP's dirty work of trying to discredit Fahie & Fraser. I never heard him dissing NDP when they were in the Opposition criticising all day with no solutions but he want to jump on the only two persons who keeping we the public informed of how the NDP selling us out to their rich friends again but in a more sophisticated manner this time. C.. is a real "sell out".

  • Liat 521 (31/08/2013, 16:05) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Remember too dem have an island women so they wants rights for all island people...Big fat hypocrite
  • Chris (01/09/2013, 16:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    are these shows online as I am not in BVI but I am interested in hearing them
  • Disinterested (02/09/2013, 22:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Edju En Ka, your partisanship is really showing. Journalists, talk show hosts, bloggers, opinion writers, commentators should discuss just the facts. Bias partisanship poison the integrity of the deliverer. Under the West Minister system, the Legislative and Executive bodies are control by government. Opposition ( the operative word is opposition) members have little influence over decision making. Nevertheless, they have an obligation to vigorously discussed and agitated fro issues. They must get on Sage Mountain holler as loud as they about germane national issues. Tell me again why are they embarrassed the government? If government does nothing to get embarrassed about, it cannot be embarrased; the opposition will embarrassed itself. Would it not? Edju En Ka, you provide a valuable service but you are out in left field on this one.


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