The Virgin Islands Opposition came in for high criticism from 'Honestly Speaking' moderator, Claude O. Skelton-Cline following an opposition press conference yesterday, May 19, 2020. Photo: Facebook/File

Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) told the Territory in a live update last night, May 19, 2020, that it is unwise for the Territory to tap into the Reserve Fund to any great degree. Photo: VINO/File

The Current VI opposition is made up of Leader, Hon Malon A. Penn (top right), Hon Julian Fraser RA (bottom left), Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (top left) and Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (bottom right). Photo: VINO/File

Referring to all Opposition Members as the 'Leader', Skelton-Cline said, "I know there is one official leader, and the more and more I listen to them and my own observation, as I saw all three of them who represent three different parties clearly, and they spoke supposedly with one voice with a plan that they say they have."

COVID-19 & VI Playbook

Skelton-Cline, speaking in his 'Honestly Speaking' commentary immediately after the broadcast of the Opposition press conference on ZBVI 780 AM, further said, "I suspect that the Opposition and the leaders therein are doing exactly what they are supposed to do, which is to yell fire whether or not there is a fire."

Pointing to the definition of the word 'novel' in the Novel Coronavirus global pandemic, he said the situation is completely new, therefore, the local government would not have a playbook on how to handle the virus.

"Listening to the leaders of the Opposition, you would think that nothing good has been done as we come out of the heels of this and given the fact that we have just one active case when you look at the region... you would think they would have at least say thank you for protecting us," Skelton-Cline said.

Hon Fraser criticised  

He said somehow the Opposition finds it convenient to come up with a plan, the majority of which is in the government's plan already in motion, "As I listen acutely...some of the people who are in the Opposition now, it's like watching a movie where the arsonist and the fireman are the same people. You can't be the arsonist and firemen at the same time." 

He lambasted Senior Opposition Member, Hon Fraser for comments about VI already in violation of the Protocols for Effective Financial Management, calling the statement 'reckless' and that of 'careless ignorance.'

Hon Fraser had told a reporter that the VI has violated the protocols during the question and answer segment of the press conference, regarding the possibility of the VI tapping into its Reserve Funds.

We must resist tapping into Reserve Fund- Hon Fahie

Hours after, Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) told the Territory in a live update last night, May 19, 2020, that it is unwise for the Territory to tap into the Reserve Fund to any great degree.

"We must resist doing this as much as possible because the BVI, as we all know, is prone to catastrophic events as we saw in 2017. W cannot break the piggy bank and spend it all at once.

"In any event, we are limited in touching the Reserve Fund because this will compromise the BVI based on the ratios in the Protocols for Effective Financial Management that the former Government agreed with the United Kingdom Government," Hon Fahie stated.

Meanwhile, Skelton-Cline also invited Fourth District Representative Hon Mark H. Vanterpool, who was absent from the press conference, to join the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government. "I don't think his absence today is coincidence. I think wisdom is prevailing here," he said.