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'BVI Airways sold their planes!' - Hon Fahie; Wants CoI into agreement

- revealed in the House of Assembly that his research showed the planes were sold to Neptune Airways
Leader of the Opposition and First District Representative, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie has said his research has unearthed that BVI Airways have sold their planes initially intended for direct flights between Beef Island, Virgin Islands and Miami, USA. Photo: VINO
The government of the day led by Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance, had invested some $7.2M of tax payer's money into BVI Airways for direct flights, which to date have not been realised. Photo: VINO/File
The government of the day led by Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance, had invested some $7.2M of tax payer's money into BVI Airways for direct flights, which to date have not been realised. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - The public will remember that the government of the day invested some $7.2M into BVI Airways that has yet to begin direct flights from the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island to Miami International Airport in Florida, USA.

During the First Sitting of the Third Session of the Third House of Assembly (HoA) on Thursday, March 1, 2018, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie, Opposition Leader and First District Representative, called for a Commission of Inquiry into the BVI Airways agreement.

He said, "It should not be a case now where the Premier is deciding how they are proceeding, it should be a Commission of Inquiry. This is the only way that I would advise the Attorney General (AG) to proceed, because you cannot have this amount of money out for so long and no solid questions being answered for it and tax payer's money gone."

In response, Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance, said he is speaking with the AG on how to proceed with the matter.

"Service was to be delivered by August 2017 and I am now in discussion with the Attorney General on the way to proceed since the service has not actually been delivered as yet," explained the Premier.

Hon Fahie then recalled that the Premier has yet to inform the House as to the location of the planes.

It was on November 13, 2017 that Hon Fahie questioned the Premier as to the whereabouts of the planes and in response the Premier stated he did not know where the planes are located.

"Research showed that the planes were sold" - Hon Fahie

Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader disclosed that his research showed that the planes were sold.

He revealed, "It cannot be that difficult. The airlines have a registration number and I went and Googled through the Freedom of Information Act that VP-LOS was sold to Neptune Airways. So, did you receive any money for this sale?"

The Premier responded that he is not in a position to answer the question. "The location of the planes is still being researched."

In July 2017, BVI Airways announced in a press release that it was facing major financial hiccups, forcing it to let go of its entire flight crew and a major setback to the commencement of the flights.

In addition, the airline had also partially blamed government for the setback, but government said that it had provided all the monies to BVI Airways, as agreed under its contract, and had also met the necessary obligations.

34 Responses to “'BVI Airways sold their planes!' - Hon Fahie; Wants CoI into agreement”

  • wize up (06/03/2018, 12:45) Like (24) Dislike (2) Reply
    after so many years our forefathers toiled and see what going on now: this place was declared a bird sanctuary and we overcome that and was well on the way to become a budding little place but our leaders; our very own people have made a muck.
    what a shame, our forefathers roiling over in their graves all now
    • TO WIZE UP (06/03/2018, 19:08) Like (11) Dislike (3) Reply
      I know you will disagree but the main culprit is these NDP who have violated every financial and other laws for years. They got into power claiming that if we don't put them in office then the UK will take us over. Now they hand us over and some of us don't know it yet. We have been enslaved in modern day form by the actions of the NDP.
      • Josiahsbay (07/03/2018, 10:55) Like (0) Dislike (7) Reply
        I don't understand your point, when were we ever not under UK domination. What do colonialism, over seas territory means to you? We have become entrenched in a form of benign servitude that's comfortable and acceptable.
  • Already Gone (06/03/2018, 12:45) Like (27) Dislike (2) Reply
    The sooner this govt. is gone, the quicker we'll be able to tackle the recovery!
  • Welsah (06/03/2018, 13:00) Like (37) Dislike (1) Reply
    The premier is so non-chalant about this as if it's his money he gave away out his own pockets
    • Watch Dog (06/03/2018, 20:06) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Look at the registration number VP-LOS and see if it don't ring a bell
      • pete (07/03/2018, 00:26) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
        I remember reading years ago that because they were waiting for the airport, the planes were rented to another company covering Haiti, DR and other islands I think. We paid and other benefited. Look it up in the news archives. Did we lease them? Did we own them?
        The owners were making money renting to other islands.
        • @pete (09/03/2018, 01:11) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
          Pete: I have been following and posting on this since day 1. We never owned the planes. BVI airways leased them then They were sub leased to a company that conducted the Haiti flights etc.
          The application to the FAA was never applied for! Instead they applied for a landing slot at Miami for the other flights. I honestly believe that these flights were never going to take place and everybody involved knew it. The money was also to be disbursed in progress payments but that was paid in a lump sum!
          the entire thing stinks!
          • pete (12/03/2018, 00:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            thanks for the clarification. Indeed it is unbelievably irresponsible. No wonder UK wants oversight.
  • b ghut (06/03/2018, 13:04) Like (21) Dislike (2) Reply
    still no one will go to jail
    • wize up (06/03/2018, 14:17) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ b ghut: makes you wonder if the laws only applies to certain people
  • Gumption Official (06/03/2018, 13:15) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply

    No man, this government is a disgrace

    • where de money (06/03/2018, 17:42) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      gone. this is more than melee this is jail wuk. Lock them up and throw away the key.It is said we must not judge but Father I commend the BVI into your hands
  • Eagle Eye (06/03/2018, 13:25) Like (14) Dislike (4) Reply
    What is Mathews waiting on to ack? One man looted more than a whole country of looters.
  • Sold Ornot (06/03/2018, 13:38) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Follow the money!
  • Planes Money (06/03/2018, 13:45) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    Follow the money or it will disappear just like the planes.
  • TOLA PPL (06/03/2018, 13:46) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    Them too thief,we need a snap election asap cause we going to suffer in Tortola
  • rainbow (06/03/2018, 13:48) Like (25) Dislike (2) Reply
    So the BVI Government ain trying to get back that 7.2 Million? I mean that can rebuild schools etc.
  • one eye (06/03/2018, 13:55) Like (33) Dislike (1) Reply
    keep the pressure on foy
  • Hes right (06/03/2018, 14:10) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    a two second google search shows the planes are now under the management of Nepune Air since Feb 7 2018


    http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-bae146-3282.htm
  • Music (06/03/2018, 14:17) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    I understood that the planes were leased rather than purchased. If so they would have gone back to the leaseholder/owner, who would be the one to re-lease them or sell them on.
  • Boo (06/03/2018, 15:20) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who pocketed the money?
  • chad (06/03/2018, 15:47) Like (31) Dislike (4) Reply
    The entire BVI knows where two million of the seven million dollars went but the Governor and the Police are not interested because they done drink the ndp cool aid. Yet for less than this persons are being investigated and arrested. I am so ashamed and disappointed in the Auditor General, Governor and the police. The NDP can do what they want with our tax dollars and get away with it while the common man goes to jail for lesser offenses.
  • Diplomat (06/03/2018, 16:44) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    The NDP was slack in giving away $7.2M of taxpayer money. How was it so easy to give away $MM to BVI Airways, a bruk ass and bad pay airline ( owed BVIAA), without debate and approval by the HOA? The rules on expenditure must change. Except for a genuine emergency, all acquisitions above a certain dollar value, eg, $100K should go to the HOA for approval. Was the $7.2M to buy planes or it was a subsidy to start direct flights from MIA to TBLIA? Why was the money front loaded in the 1st year of a 3 yr agreement? Should the agreement have been performance based? The NDP was embarrassingly out of their league on this agreement; it seems like it was check mate from the on set. There needs to be accountability on this issue, ie, who negotiated the deal, who had knowledge of it, who approve the payout, what project was done as a result of payout, was the money to buy planes, who owns the pianes, if they were sold how much were they sold for, who got the money, who owns BVI Airways, was there a quid pro quo, are there any local interest in BVI Airways........? Lots of ???? COE is needed.
  • VIlander (06/03/2018, 18:00) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    If a local had told our primer give me 7 million & I will produces planes and direct flights from Miami intl, they would've laughed him out of town and not mentioned it again. But one who likes like a colonialist says it to our premier and he is so happy to throw our millions away at him. When Marcus Garvey & our leaders spoke obviously the NDP's obviously ignored and didn't listen, didn't watch history of our people and learned. Forget all this nonsense you want to do with education and start teaching African history & we will become a nation.
    • Yep (07/03/2018, 18:12) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Those young brothers who made sure that the 7 million was usurped is a prime example of lack of education regarding Black history .
  • Ndpsocks (06/03/2018, 18:49) Like (7) Dislike (8) Reply
    This government has failed so much and yet i predict the people will still vote them back in once the white envelopes start flowing again
  • Jaigon (06/03/2018, 20:32) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is it that VP-LOS represents Virgin Islands ✈️. L & O Smith.
  • BUSY BEE (07/03/2018, 16:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I found it on Google too:
    Address: http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-bae146-3282.htm
  • Rubber Duck (07/03/2018, 16:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Don’t worry. We have obtained a beam me up Scotty machine from Star Trek that can move you anywhere in the world instantly for $50. We are asking the government to invest $20 million to get the service going. it’s looking good.
  • Earhart (07/03/2018, 18:09) Like (0) Dislike (14) Reply
    As far as I am concerned that locally subsidized airline that held up the transaction with their frivilous lawsuit to stop the deal deserves to be sued for return of the 7million. The company announced that the money's were being spent and dwindling for rental offices,personnel and a crew while these local brothers were fighting the Gov. No secret about where the money went. The info was was printed on these sites.
    • To Earhart (08/03/2018, 10:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Nonesense. Government did a draw down schedule for payments to be made over 2 yrs but give them the $7mill in a few weeks after signing the agreement and 2yrs later nothing. This needs an immediate investigation
  • money trail (08/03/2018, 06:20) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes follow the money. If I bought a car and the seller sold it to someone else and kept my money then police would investigate and lock up the offender. Because this matter involves high value planes doesn’t make the issue any different.


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