Did the Premier lie about knowledge of Auditor General’s Report?
It was the Virgin Islands Premier and Leader of the National Democratic Party, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, who shocked the Territory with what he told the third sitting of the third session of the second House of Assembly (HOA).
At the time Dr. Smith, who is also the Leader of Government business in the HOA, was responding to a question put forth by First District Representative Honourable Andrew A. Fahie about the controversial Auditor General’s Report on the Ports Development Project.
The member for the First District Hon. Fahie asked; “Now that the Premier is fully aware of the Auditor General’s Report on the Ports Development project when is he going to lay on the table the report in accordance with Sec 109 (3) of the Constitution of the Virgin Islands?”
I never seen the report, no one sent it to me –Dr. Smith
After Premier Smith danced around the answer to the question and said that section 109 (3) of the constitution speaks to government accounts being laid on the table and there is no requirement for him [Minister of Finance] to lay the Auditor General’s Report on the Ports Development Project on the table and that reports are usually laid on the table of the HOA by whomever is requesting them, it was what came after that shocked residents.
With a straight face, Dr Smith told the people of the Virgin Islands that; “the member is saying that I am fully aware of the existence of the Auditor General Report, ….Madam Speaker, I have heard of this report floating around, I have not seen it, I am not sure I could find it, no one has sent it to me, so I know nothing about it!”
Is he telling the truth? Premier issued Statement on November 1, 2013 on the Report
Saying he never saw the report and knows nothing about it was indeed shocking as the same Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith issued a four page statement dated November 1, 2013 on the same controversial Auditor General’s Report.
One will have to ask how can one issue a response [now on public record] to the Auditor General’s Report after not knowing anything about the report, not seeing it, not knowing where to find it, or having no one send it to him. Did the Premier forget that he had publicly addressed the Report? Was he trying to mislead the public? Was the statement written without his knowledge of the details in the statement? These are all questions now being asked of the public.
In the statement’s second paragraph, Dr. Smith referred directly to the same report he suddenly had not seen, or not sure where to find. His statement issued on November 1, 2013 said, “Firstly and very importantly you should be aware that much of what has been reported and indeed what was contained in that Auditor General’s Report focuses on matters related to a Heads of Understanding Agreement between the Government and TPP….”
A Lie from the Pits of Hell – Hon Andrew A. Fahie
While shying away from calling the Premier a liar, in responding to his question at the December 17, 2013 sitting of the HOA, First District Representative Honourable Andrew A. Fahie lashed out at Dr. Smith.
He told Virgin Islands News Online in an interview late yesterday evening that the Premier continues to mislead the public and play games with words and while continuing to violate the Protocol for Effective Financial Management.
The former Minister for Education and Culture in the Ralph T. O’Neal Administration said “since the National Democratic Party took power they have engaged in the most reckless spending of any administration in the history of the Territory...but because of good marketing they continue to fool the people.”
He went on to alleged that every project the NDP have done since the Protocol was signed violated the same Protocol for Effective Financial Management such as, the Georgie Hill Road, Crafts Alive, Hospital Park, the Paul Wattley Road and the Park in Virgin Gorda to name a few.
Hon. Fahie told this news site that “when you hear them trying to fool you about their financial stewardship be careful for it’s a lie form the pits of hell, as the facts show otherwise.”
While this news site has not called Premier Smith a liar, but simply put the facts out there in the most fair and objective way, one political commentator who spoke to this news site said many aspects of Virgin Islands (VI) Politics reminds him of American politics.
When pressed to give examples, the local educator said just look at Richard Nixon -- "I'm not a crook" -- to Bill Clinton -- "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky" -- to Marion Barry -- "It's all made up... I don't know what happened" -- to John Edwards -- "The story is false... It's completely untrue, ridiculous" –
He said “it seems like VI politicians are now creating an unfortunate legacy and history of political deception, or at least stretching the truth.”
Please click on link to see full text of Premier Smith's November 1, 2013 Statement on the Auditor General’s Report on the Ports Development Project
62 Responses to “Did the Premier lie about knowledge of Auditor General’s Report?”
While it is good for Smith to be help accountable by the opposition, it is rather disingenuous of Fahie to pretend he is somehow a good financial steward. Please remember that it was Fahie who allegedly spend tax dollars to run political ads for his last election. There needs to be a serious conversation to overhaul all our political leaders.
Very dubious of the timing of that expenditure out of the gov't treasury.
The point is that both NDP and VIP have lost credibility.
Maybe it is time that Doc Smith just give up on this political drama and live his quiet life as a doctor, because he do good you make a scene he do bad the same Andrew he who never lie or sin throw the first stone , so you have your fault too. Fraser lied too about the water issue, so people stop killing each other and try and live in peace
So we got our Xmas gift from doc a bag full of untr**hs
For real the governor called him out on FOOT apointment and judge Mattis did the same. Same like its a trade of the NDP
I feel a shaking in the spirit, there gonna be a mighty fall in the political parties many hidden secrets with be expose. Mysteries will be reveal, the sacrifices that was made on many hills, beneath the sea, and in the grave yards will all be brought to the light. Again God is rising up a people out of the nowhere to pluck up, and to pull down will you hear them? Before this great fall, I hear the Lord saying to me tell the people to come together and repent, call a country fast. Let all the leaders in government bow down, let the church leaders bow down, let the high an mighty bow down, He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
caught red handed shame shame shame
red handed in a big fay l*e