Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

‘Country has not been left broke!’ – Premier Smith

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith has debunked the allegation that the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government left the territory broke to finance the June 8, 2015 general election, despite the fact that contractors and service providers cannot be paid as yet for work done in 2015. Photo: VINO/File
Critics have spoken of the lavish spending prior to the elections, including larger than life billboards, and what was seen as an extravagant launch of the cruise pier project when it accepted its first cruise line after the extension of the pier on April 29, 2015, which had ended in a massive fireworks display. Photo: VINO/File
Critics have spoken of the lavish spending prior to the elections, including larger than life billboards, and what was seen as an extravagant launch of the cruise pier project when it accepted its first cruise line after the extension of the pier on April 29, 2015, which had ended in a massive fireworks display. Photo: VINO/File
Fireworks over Road Harbour following the April 29, 2015 launch of the extended cruise pier. Photo: VINO/File
Fireworks over Road Harbour following the April 29, 2015 launch of the extended cruise pier. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith has debunked the allegation that the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government left the territory broke to finance the June 8, 2015 general election, despite the fact that contractors and service providers cannot be paid as yet for work done in 2015.

The Leader of Government business was speaking on Thursday January 21, 2016 during a press conference held at the Central Administration Complex.

Critics have spoken of the lavish spending prior to the elections, including larger than life billboards, and what was seen as an extravagant launch of the cruise pier project when it accepted its first cruise line after the extension of the pier on April 29, 2015, which had ended in a massive fireworks display.

Then there are the new reports of massive overspending on the very project, which ballooned from about $45 million to almost $83 million and counting.

“First of all the country has not been left broke,” Premier Smith said, adding that every year the Government has discussions with all of the heads of Government departments regarding budgetary spending.

“It is important that we look at budgets clearly and stick to budgets so that we wouldn’t have any difficulties going forward through the year. This is a normal procedure,” he said, when asked about the recent reports of heads of departments being warned about spending.

The Premier made his statement despite reports of schools asking parents to assist with basic school supplies, Festival 2015 performers cannot yet be paid for their work, contractors working around the territory cannot be paid for contracts executed since 2015 and many other reports that have reached this news site.

31 Responses to “‘Country has not been left broke!’ – Premier Smith”

  • tretretrete (28/01/2016, 09:44) Like (50) Dislike (3) Reply
    More LIES yet they even cannot process 1 payment for 2016!
  • Yes (28/01/2016, 09:46) Like (33) Dislike (1) Reply
    I honest think Doc need a psychological evaluation. He must be crazy in the head.
    • Agree (28/01/2016, 10:39) Like (40) Dislike (3) Reply
      He think he can fool people all the time but I guess he see they are waking up. When you all were saying the VIP left the country broke you all were spending the same money that the VIP left . But you all have the country broke that bills can not be paid ,since the country isn't broke pay the people you all owe .You are the worst leader in the history of this country plus you are a serious ////.We need a good leader no one is perfect but a good person who will look out for the country MR STOUT tries his best MR WHEATLY do the same I agree things are different now but you all are making mess of the country to get rich.
  • NEW NAME (28/01/2016, 09:47) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    Spin Doctor Smith.....LOL
  • VIP is the best so far (28/01/2016, 09:53) Like (31) Dislike (4) Reply
    Bands cant get paid up to yet...No cheques printed for 2016 up to yet...Overspent on the cruise pier...Lied about the 93 million in the reserves...Bounced cheques...Depleted funds for road projects...Several projects unfinished and on hold and the list goes on and on. To sum it all up, one word, NDP.
  • demallarefrigs (28/01/2016, 09:57) Like (26) Dislike (2) Reply
    neil, doc & leslie....All Smiths...Do the maths.
  • lord nelson (28/01/2016, 10:02) Like (30) Dislike (2) Reply
    "teacher percy say if yo tell a lie yo going to hell as soon as yo die--yo hear lie that is lie"
  • calling a spade a spade (28/01/2016, 10:04) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
    Now i don't want to call doc a liar.
  • Youth (28/01/2016, 10:07) Like (19) Dislike (5) Reply
    Now he statement don't make any sense! Why is his ministers not being warned about spending but the department heads are? Bunch of thieves if you ask me.
  • Yes (28/01/2016, 10:15) Like (22) Dislike (4) Reply
    He is having another senior moment.
  • no dis respect (28/01/2016, 10:23) Like (17) Dislike (2) Reply
    Doc you has got to go because you lived out your useful political life.
  • BradBoynes (28/01/2016, 10:23) Like (21) Dislike (2) Reply
    Ok Doc. We had enough of the Cloaked and Forbidden Truth from you and your political gang.
  • Tingtotalk (28/01/2016, 10:29) Like (19) Dislike (6) Reply
    nhi got people fighting outside the building
  • jim carrey (28/01/2016, 10:43) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    liar liar
  • wize up (28/01/2016, 11:35) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    is it me; because I keep reading the same things over and over and over and over.....
  • Guest (28/01/2016, 11:44) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    Based on how the spending has gone for the pier project from what it should have been to what it is now we kinda figured that. If funds were tight you all would have acted with common sense and try not to overrun something by tens of millions. I know project managers who go over an initial budget by $500,000 and they feel bad and explain to their customer. You all have gone almost $35,000,000 past the initial figure. Where in the modern world could the project manager with such a overrun, be employed again?
    • duh! (28/01/2016, 13:37) Like (0) Dislike (15) Reply
      Stop talking nonsense. Just like the hospital, what they were claiming could be built for that small amount was never so. These things can only be built at those costs if you import labor, material and all equipment to do the jobs. The cruise pier is a gem and could never cost $35 mil for landside and the pier, absolute rubbish. The $75 mil figure that was thrown out by the original TPP group is more like it which mean in usual BVI style it went over by about $7 mil.
  • cnn (28/01/2016, 12:00) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    Broke is joke what about the bvi has crash
  • whats goes... (28/01/2016, 13:32) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
    What goes around, comes around. Ndp for their own. Worst than what they accused the VIP of
  • wize up (28/01/2016, 16:07) Like (9) Dislike (7) Reply
    it's very shocking; the very same administration that is deemed to so curpt, the united kingdom have given them the approval to go ahead with the airport project...this project is value far more the cruise project...yes !!! the united kingdom approved the multi million dollar airport project( yep, the same UK thay some folks asking to come in to the territory and launch this massive investigation into mass corruption).....talk talk and more talk day after day!!!!!
  • question (28/01/2016, 17:21) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    When will i get pay gor my land least gor 2016?
  • That's right (28/01/2016, 18:42) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    wize up is God! Yep...
  • wake up (28/01/2016, 20:31) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    Stop the LIE man the country is dead broke you even cannot open the treasury for 2016 who you fooling Bossie?
  • Real (28/01/2016, 21:16) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    If the country was not broke why borrow money to keep government running at beginning of the year? Why so many incomplete road projects? Time to stop telling lies.
  • 123 (28/01/2016, 22:55) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    All that $$$$ that gang of smart man stole could be helping this poor man bring a budget to the people....
  • affected (29/01/2016, 07:55) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Government projects MUST over run because we B V I ppl feel the Government owes every one employment /a living .Look at the number of trucks and hi macks that was on HOSPITAL project and on CRUISE SHIP DOCK project ,some of them didn't make two trips for the day OR do two hours work , but them getting a FULL days pay .These $$ add up . But WRONG is WRONG and what start wrong CANNOT finish RIGHT . Same thing with rental buildings ;Some HIGHER UPS secure rental contracts for them friends and family for the duration of the mortage .SUGGESTION: Let EVERY POLITICIAN give up their allowances for 12 months -but keep their salaries . HELP!! The small man HURTING, Doc; you are NOT listening to the cries of the people
  • still waiting (29/01/2016, 14:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    All these government contracts given out before and right after the election to look good. Yes we did the work 6 months ago so now pay us. How would you all like it if no money flowing to your bank account for months and months?
  • Wink Wink (30/01/2016, 00:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The country isn't broke because we have 90mil monopoly money in the bank.
  • W*F (01/02/2016, 13:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Doctor Smith I am really beginning to think that there is something emotionally wrong with you. I work in the Health Services and every pay we hold our breaths hoping we get paid. Do you really know what is going on, or you just have your head buried in the sand, or you are just simply naive. What ever it is Doc something is wrong with you. You turn a blind eye to the overspending of over almost $50 mil on the cruise pier project, and the project is not finished. Road works are left hanging island wide and no money to complete. You need your head examined. OK. You sày the country is not broke, well tell us where NDP hiding the people's money, because Ray Charles can see the financial struggles in the BVI. Stop talking no sense.
  • no money (02/02/2016, 00:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am one of those.. since last easter I can't yet paid. Every time is, no funds yet. . Almost a whole xxxx year


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.