Confidential! Dr Smith refuses to reveal UK Framework documents to HoA!
Premier Smith; however, has ignored those urges, including to a recent request for the documents to be made available to the House Members by Opposition Leader Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) on March 15, 2018.
Hon Fahie had asked the Premier to produce every correspondence between the Virgin Islands (VI) and the United Kingdom (UK) Governments on the Territory’s recovery plan since November 2017.
On the day when the Virgin Islands Recovery & Development Agency Act 2018 is being debated and voted on in the House of Assembly, Opposition Member Hon Julian Fraser RA made one final attempt to get Premier Smith to lay all the cards on the table during the Question and Answer Segment of the Third Sitting of the Third Session of the Third House of Assembly today, March 22, 2018.
‘Documents are confidential’- Dr Smith
However, Hon Fraser failed in his bid moments ago. The Opposition Member wanted to know whether Premier Smith signed or agreed in any other manner to the term in the document titled: High Level Framework for UK support to BVI Hurricane Recovery and to provide the full document mentioned.
According to Premier Smith, they “are confidential documents” and referred to Standing Order Section 17A (ii).
“Madam Speaker, Premier, you can’t furnish me with your response or the documents?” Hon Fraser asked.
“Madam Speaker, as I have determined, these are confidential documents…” Premier Smith responded.
Hon Fraser then stated that the Premier must appreciate that he is seeking the support of the HoA Members “to aid in furthering the aims and objectives of the United Kingdom Government that was triggered by that particular document and if we do not have that document it is going to be almost impossible for us today...”
He added: “You have given us three pages of that document, and from my knowledge, there are five pages, the other two pages you are saying we can’t have?”
Premier Smith then refuted that he gave Hon Fraser three pages of the document.
“That is true, you didn’t give me any at all. I kind of stumbled on it somewhere, but there are five pages of this document and we are not getting it. That is what you are saying?” Hon Fraser asked.
“Let’s just set the stage for later,” Hon Fraser remarked to Premier Smith’s silence.
No one disagrees that loans are necessary
While no one disagrees that the Virgin Islands needs to borrow monies to aid in its recovery following the devastation of two category 5 hurricanes in September 2017, members are sceptical about the implications of the UK Framework document to the VI. The secrecy of the NDP Government regarding the documents have heightened suspicions and sparked many concerns, including from the Backbenchers.
The Bill entitled ‘Virgin Islands Recovery & Development Agency Act 2018’ was read a second time today and is currently being debated.
.png)
.png)
.png)
Follow Us On
26 Responses to “Confidential! Dr Smith refuses to reveal UK Framework documents to HoA!”
If you cant dazzle them with brilliance you baffle them with bull sh**.
It is like a child telling a parent, I have more rights than you, so don't question me.