Booth @ QEII Bridge to promote VI heritage not to collect toll- Premier Fahie
During the October 17, 2019 Seventh Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly, Leader of the Opposition Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8), during the question and answer segment, asked Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) for the cost of the structure, what it is, who authorized its construction, its purpose and if the community, territory or the District Representative were consulted on its building.
Premier Fahie said the structure is being built to showcase the history and culture of the territory and to provide an additional talking point for tour guides, taxi and residents. He added a sign will be erected adjacent to the heritage site showcasing the cultural relevance of the structure.
“The structure is being built with concrete instead of wood to serve as storage for tourism related items and be more resilient to storms,” explained the Premier, while noting it is budgeted to cost some $18,289.26, “for materials and labour.”
Construction was approved under NDP Gov’t
Premier Fahie also expressed surprise that Hon Penn was seeking certain answers, since the project was approved by the previous National Democratic Party (NDP) government of which Hon Penn was a member.
“The BVI Tourist Board has informed that the district’s representative was part of previous meetings held before my tenure in government where the project was discussed and as such his consultation was sought in the past, seeing that the project was already approved by the previous administration and not this current administration.”
Hon Penn insisted he was not consulted on the construction of the concrete structure. “Mr Speaker, as you must appreciate, Premier, as Representative of the District I get numerous calls about what’s happening there.
“People are still wondering if we are still trying to charge tolls again. So I think it is important for us when we are doing these type of initiatives in communities that we have proper dialogue with the representatives and the communities. Even if something was done previously this is something totally [different from] what was built previously.”
Premier Fahie, while noting that he understands the point of Hon Penn, insisted that the project was approved under the previous administration but that the Government was only making the structure storm resilient.
Opposition Leader clashes with Jr Tourism Minister
Meanwhile, a back and forth ensued when Junior Minister of Tourism Honourable Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL) told the House that several attempts were made by a BVITB officer responsible for the project to reach Hon Penn to provide him with information on the structure previously requested.
Hon Flax-Charles contended that the Opposition Leader never responded to the calls and charged that Members should adopt the habit of responding to phone calls made to them. Hon Penn was adamant no one tried to reach him.
The Junior Tourism Minister was also accused by Hon Penn of referring to him as a liar prior to her rising to her feet. Speaker of the House Honourable Julian Willock insisted; however, that he did not hear such a remark and the matter was put to rest.
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