BVI Airways already pocketed full $7M plus; Are they asking for more?
Opposition Leader and Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) peppered the Premier and Leader of Government Business Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) with questions over the controversial $7 Million bailout of BVI Airways in exchange for direct flights from Miami to Beef Island.
At the House Sitting, Premier Smith declined to answer many of the follow-up questions about his government’s bailout with BVI Airways, but he admitted that there is an addendum to the original agreement, but it was unclear during the session what it entailed.
More lies from the NDP? $7M in BVI Airways’ pocket
The National Democratic Party (NDP) Administration, known for their lies to the people in answering questions in the House of Assembly (HoA), told the public on January 12, 2016 that it had given the defunct BVI Airways $7million and it would be spread (paid out to them) over three years.
They labeled it as an “investment” to help airlift as there was a need for direct flights from mainland USA to the Virgin Islands.
However, in a big u-turn, the Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Smith announced in his answer to Hon Fahie yesterday, April 20, 2017 that BVI Airways after just seven months (not over three years that was told to the public) had collected all government’s money.
In fact, not only did BVI Airways collect from January 22, 2016 to August 26, 2016 the full tax payers $7M, government was required to pay out an extra $207,000, the Premier claimed, to open an account.
However, after being pressed in the HoA by the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Smith claimed that the extra pay out was “shared”.
It’s important to note that the way the agreement is structured, if BVI Airways never flies the VI Government, hence the tax payers, are not eligible to receive a dime back on their “investment”.
No responses now on take off
After promising three dates of when the airline will take off that never happened, Premier Smith yesterday declined to say when it will fly but made reference to a date of June 2017 as announced by BVI Airways. This will be the fourth date announced for when the airline will fly. BVI Airways in a press release a few months ago stated that it had bought a new aircraft.
More money for BVI Airways?
There seems to be confusion as to whether BVI Airways is asking for more money. Premier Smith denied that a request was made by the airline for more money; however our newsroom has other information from our senior NDP sources that a request came to Cabinet for more money. The final conclusion is unclear.
In 2014 BVI Airways pulled its service from the VI, claiming financial challenges. They left owing the BVI Airports Authority almost $100,000 and to date it remains unclear if this amount has been settled.
42 Responses to “BVI Airways already pocketed full $7M plus; Are they asking for more?”
I am very disappointed, because like all of you who are crying foul... about our tax monies being sluggishly spent on a bankrupt company whom under new investors including locals, sort to have their name tarnish by a local company. They to have invested their money into the start-up of this already flying and satisfying the Athletics team including a few from the USVI. Why are we upset at the govt? We should be upset at VI Airlink because they are trying to stop the process for us to even have direct access. I am still trying to get why so much of you are denying or not even backing the Govt proposal, this issue of a next company bias behaviour puts our tax money in jeopardy. We should be trying everything to keep the investment alive than bringing in down, after all, is all of US $7 million.
No one seems to care how they talk about it, but if the plane doesn't fly then we still lose to the idiotic and laughing the govt down... then say they wasted our $7 mill. People be real, understand what is at stake here. We all have to worry about this delaying process because it's wasting time on progress and our money has being spent in the process.
from what I can see the aircraft are not owned by BVI airways. So in short the taxpayer and the airline has acquired no assets at all with that money. So the question is...where did that 7 million go?
HE IS SILENT NOW BUT THROUGH NEW YORK A SET OF CASH WAS PEDDLED AND THAT IS WHY THEY HAVE THE ACCOUNTS BEING HANDLED FROM UP THERE INSTEAD OF HOME IN BVI.
FBI IS WATCHING CLOSELY THE MONEY'S AND THE CRUISE SHIP PIER IS ANOTHER ON CLOSE EYE.
CORRUPTION AT IT'S BEST!
THE GOVERNOR IS ABOUT TO ACT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
Maybe the stamp duty from the sale of riteway can fund the airline investment.
It is our money! How can they claim our money? Under what legalality?
If the governor don't put them in jail worst will happen because they are white collar crooks!
PAULINE JONES - UK CITIZEN 30%
BRADLEY GOGGIN - UK CITIZEN 21%
COLCHESTER AVIATION- US RESIDENT- 49%
Bradley Goggin is the chief pilot that recently moved to the BVI. So which locals? Are there another set of owners that the goverment is hiding? Was this sent to the US DOT under false pretense? BVI wake up. Let the local speak out. US does not take things like this too lightly. Unless there is another company and shareholders. That is what was presented to the US. So thats what we know. They keep saying the planes are owned but yet they are showing as leased under Tronos... ummmm what's the truth. BVI we owe it to ourselves to find out! Stop being blinded!