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Budget Day axed for November 21, 2016; No new date set!

- The House of Assembly Sitting was announced for November 21 but it’s now a ‘no go’ as Budget not ready as well as Members travel
A new date for the Third Sitting of the Second Session of the Third House of Assembly (HoA), initially set for November 21, 2016, is yet to be announced. Photo: VINO
Controversial United Kingdom appointed Governor John S. Duncan OBE (right) has been putting pressure on the Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith led NDP Administration for its reckless spending. Photo: VINO/File
Controversial United Kingdom appointed Governor John S. Duncan OBE (right) has been putting pressure on the Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith led NDP Administration for its reckless spending. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The government of the Virgin Islands last week announced that the House of Assembly will convene its Third Sitting of the Second Session of the Third House of Assembly (HoA), which will be Budget Day.

That is the day the Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith will deliver the Budget, setting out his Administration’s spending Bill.

However, in an abrupt turn-around without reason, the HoA announced late this afternoon November 9, 2016 that the Sitting has been cancelled.

Our newsroom caught up with our senior National Democratic Party (NDP) sources who said there may have been two reasons for the cancellation. The sources claimed that the Budget Address and the draft were reportedly not ready for the November 21, date and there are possible issues about two members who would be on duty travel.

When pressed to say why that would stop the Premier from reading the 2017 Budget Address if he is not the Minister traveling, our sources declined to comment further.

Broke & Mismanagement of funds

Controversial United Kingdom appointed Governor John S. Duncan OBE has been putting pressure on the Dr Smith led NDP Administration in a series of letters to the Premier and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) following the 2015 snap election about the reckless spending of his Government.

Mr Duncan has warned the NDP if they do not follow the law in terms of responsible spending and prudent management of the Virgin Islands' finances he could no long defend them to the FCO.

There continues to be speculation throughout the British Overseas Territory that ‘UK direct rule’ is eminent following reports from the Opposition, media, civil society and talk show hosts of consistent mismanagement  of public funds, the NDP leaving the country broke, allegations of corruption and conflict of interest by the Administration.

The Governor has said publicly he sees no corruption; however, in private he has raised many of the same issues with Premier Smith and the FCO both in writing and in private meetings.

16 Responses to “Budget Day axed for November 21, 2016; No new date set!”

  • Yes (09/11/2016, 19:12) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    As expected. They got to get all the lies together to throw on we first. But oh I near forget that it ain't our business what they do with taxpayers money
  • broke (09/11/2016, 19:13) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    No money there
  • See (09/11/2016, 20:12) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is anyone surprised ? Just more of the same and we accept it.
  • Boo (09/11/2016, 21:16) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    No budget, no audit statements, no transparency!
  • ministerial work ethics law. (10/11/2016, 06:55) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    If a Politician wants to be a Minister he should give up all private employments or contracts. However he has an opinion. Be a back bencher and keep your private business. Keep your private business but give up the Ministry. We really need to set some kind of standard. Ethics, rules. Not this out of control system where everyone does what he she feels line doing.
    • Trump (10/11/2016, 07:10) Like (1) Dislike (12) Reply
      You think Trump giving up his businesses to be US President. He'll no. Life is going to go on for him and Trump Plaza and all his brands and he will run them right from the Oval Office. So you cut your crap
      • @Trump. (10/11/2016, 13:10) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        Trump already made it very clear that he will give up running his businesses and turn them over to his children. U need to listen before u talk.
  • W*F (10/11/2016, 07:42) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    There will be a Budget inflated with fraught, so it will take some time to get it together. UK Direct Rule on the Horizon. HMP please hurry come deliver we.
    • Shoofly (10/11/2016, 11:25) Like (0) Dislike (11) Reply
      WTF, you just sounding like a fool who ate your school fees in history class. You think a UK direct rule can be good for our country? Some are so foolish writing all sorts of piss on here knowing that the British held the entire Virgin Islands in slavery to facilitate and build a rich empire in the UK. How dare you wish these people back here to rule you? Don't you know they can't help practicing apartheid and cruelty? They will mistreat you and your children's tail and thief your land. Let the British stay in that gloomy place in their row houses and 'hawk' on the streets all day from the cold weather. We don't need them here to mete upon us 'cruel and inhumane treatment.' In fact it wouldn't work, we would lick out their plait first and leave them limping with a bomma-coo. Let them come; we are good without the British invaders.
      • Topaz (10/11/2016, 11:41) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        @Shoofly, face reality my boy. Like it or not, it's a strong possibility
      • W*F (12/11/2016, 09:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        @Shoofly
        LMAO. I see that you jack a** are standing alone with your rubbish.
  • trrefdrfds (10/11/2016, 11:17) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    When VIP left office they leave 75 million in the reserve and after NDP first election the reserve had a little over 6 million in it and they still got money from Social Security a few times & CDB and they was and still owing many vendors/contractors and still talking rubbish bout economy robust, the real truth is the government is broke and have no money why you think the country is in such a crisis
    • affected (11/11/2016, 06:02) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @TRUTH
      Tell dem pappy
      If dey dont believe u LASSING DOGS talk bout it long time ,
      Who stole d cookie ?
      These guys were allowed to mis manage public funds and not give account when they won d first election . They got cocky and daring ; now they doing wat dey want . IT MUST COME TO AN END even if UK has to come and save us from our own . Economic slavery and Racial slavery is still SLAVERY
  • Fools (10/11/2016, 22:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    do you hear yourselves speculating, do you know why it was postponed.. the court of appeal sits on the 21st and because these fools would not build a proper court facility they have to postpone the budget ( for the ignorant there are three COA tribunals two at the high court and one at the commercial court ) until after the sitting. stop talking mess you idiots you make VI shame....
  • enough (12/11/2016, 07:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Its clear only the VIP can manage our money emd of story


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