Governor John S. Duncan refused to comment on Hon Julian Fraser's allegations regarding the Premier's role in the cruise pier Commission of Inquiry decision. Photo: Provided

Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) had on the VIP’s radio show Let’s Talk of May 18, 2015 expressed concern regarding the decision by the Governor not to put in place a Commission of Inquiry for the Cruise Pier Development Project and called into question his making a decision based on a study that Premier Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith had a hand in commissioning. Photo: VINO/File

During a broadcast to the territory on the evening of May 17, 2015, Governor Duncan after speaking for a little over 14 minutes, said that he does not see any reason for a further Commission of Inquiry into the cruise pier project or any of the other projects flagged by the Auditor General. Photo: BVIPA

During a broadcast to the territory on the evening of March 17, 2015, Governor Duncan after speaking for a little over 14 minutes, said that he does not see any reason for a further Commission of Inquiry into the Cruise Pier Development Project or any of the other projects flagged by the Auditor General.

“I think that the statement I made on Tuesday night (March 17, 2015) was very clear. There are a number of reports that I considered and I looked at a number of papers, including those of my predecessor and those of the Caribbean Development Bank and also my independently commissioned report which draws together all the other reports from a professional perspective and allowed me to make my decision that I made on Tuesday,” said Governor Duncan during a brief interview with this news site last week.

Asked to respond to the allegation that the Leader of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) administration, Premier Smith, “muddied the waters” regarding the need for a Commission of Inquiry, Governor Duncan declined to comment.

“I am not going to respond to that,” he said. “The statement said what it said and I don’t think I have any reason to add to that…only to say that as was pointed out there are a lot of report, a number of dossiers, the internal documents from the Governor’s Office from my predecessor, the Auditor General Report, the Caribbean Development Bank, which is an impartial regional body and I also commissioned a separate report to provide me with professional advice over all the dossiers,” he said.

VI people misled - Hon Fraser

Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) had on the VIP’s radio show Let’s Talk on May 18, 2015 expressed concern regarding the decision by the Governor not to put in place a Commission of Inquiry for the Cruise Pier Development Project and called into question his making a decision based on a study that Premier Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith had a hand in commissioning.

“The People of the Virgin Islands have been misled into believing that with the signing of the Protocols For Effective Financial Management on April 23, 2012 that the National Democratic Party (NDP) Administration would uphold their side of the Agreement to become the guardians of Good Governance, Transparency, and Accountability, but what has been demonstrated thus far is the exact opposite. And most troubling in that regard is that the United Kingdom Government seems unwilling to call them out,” he said.

“I recognise the authority of the Governor and I respect his decision regarding the request for the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry into the Cruise Pier Project by the Public Accounts Committee,” said Hon Fraser.

In pointing to what he referred to as Government’s manipulation of events, Honourable Fraser had said. “I also recognise the hand Government has played in effecting this outcome through the careful manipulation of events and the control of facts relevant to the study and the case.”

Governor under fire

Governor Duncan has been under fire from many quarters of Virgin Islands society for his delay in making his announcement with regard to the call for a Commission of Inquiry on the Cruise Pier Development Project.

Chairman of the People's Empowerment Party (PEP) and Representative for the Second District Honourable J. Alvin Christopher (R2) had said the Governor did not take the will of the people into consideration when making his decision.

Talk show host Edmund G. Maduro was livid following the conclusion of the Governor’s speech. “The Governor has usurped the powers of the Public Accounts Committee…he has deliberately and wrongfully from an administrative and constitutional point of view embarrassed the Public Accounts Committee. Does he have the power to throw the Public Accounts Committee aside and do whatever he wants to do? He did his own inquiry. Is he supposed to do that? As far as I am concerned the Governor should get his a** out of here,” said Maduro.