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Governor Duncan can no longer defend VIG position to FCO on spending!

Following the 2015 snap elections, Governor John S. Duncan has been warning the NDP Administration and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) about the lack of accountability and transparency with taxpayers’ monies. Photo: Internet Source
From left: Governor John S. Duncan OBE, Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith, and Financial Secretary Neil M. Smith. Photo: VINO/File
From left: Governor John S. Duncan OBE, Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith, and Financial Secretary Neil M. Smith. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Since the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government took office in 2011 to current, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Opposition, the Media, civil society and talk show hosts have been complaining loudly about the mismanagement of funds and the reckless spending of taxpayers money.

They have all accused the NDP of leaving the country broke to win the 2015 general elections and the evidence is being unearthed.

While Governor John S. Duncan OBE has denied this in public for the past two years, he has been harassing both the Minister of Finance and Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith and the Financial Secretary Mr Neil M. Smith over the careless spending.

You will lose my support- Duncan

In a series of memorandum back and forth between the Governor and the Premier, most often copied to the Financial Secretary within the last year particularly, following the 2015 snap elections Governor Duncan had been warning the NDP Administration and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) about the lack of accountability and transparency with taxpayers’ monies.

In one of many letters to Premier Smith, the United Kingdom appointed Governor was very concerned even about the Government Medium Team Fiscal Plan (MTFP).

The letter stated, “In discussion with the Financial Secretary and in recommending approval of the 2016 MTFP, FCO officials stressed the need to ensure that BVIG project financing was properly prioritised, supported by well-reasoned business cases demonstrating value for money.”

Governor Duncan in the same letter concluded that “I recognise from our discussion in Cabinet that this represents an ongoing challenge.” So in other words the Government cannot guarantee fiscal responsibility.

Can’t defend VIG Spending- Duncan

In the letter sent this year from the Governor, he warned the Dr Smith led 5 year old Administration that “without evidence that it is being done I am unable to defend the BVIG position and the government will find itself subject to increasingly difficult discussions…” with the Secretary of State by the end of this year.

In the increasing lack of confidence with how the NDP Administration is managing the British Overseas Territory’s Finances Governor Duncan, who has one year left as an FCO senior civil servant, urged that “the Ministry of Finance officials work closely with the FCO to ensure BVI is on the right path to achieve agreement.” This again is further evidence of the control of the VI Finances by the Governor and the FCO.

In another letter, Mr Duncan raised outrage on the request made for $96,000 by a Government Ministry/Department for catering at a training course. He said this kind of reckless spending is “deep rooted and has a long history.”

History of direct rule!

While he used other examples in his letters of mismanagement of funds, Governor Duncan described the $96,000 for catering at a training course as “particularly egregious.”

The Governor has already reportedly imposed a high paid consultant from the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Treasury Department. In 2009 the UK Government imposed direct rule on the TCI for reasons of reckless spending, mismanagement of funds and corruption.

27 Responses to “Governor Duncan can no longer defend VIG position to FCO on spending!”

  • voter (26/10/2016, 15:22) Like (45) Dislike (2) Reply
    The British are coming
  • W*F (26/10/2016, 15:24) Like (52) Dislike (8) Reply
    The UK should impose direct rule over the British Virgin Islands. NDP is a National Disgrace.
    • miss (26/10/2016, 15:50) Like (32) Dislike (0) Reply
      National Disgrace Party
      • Concerned (26/10/2016, 20:04) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
        This proves that education without commonsense is truly a disgrace.
    • Yes (27/10/2016, 21:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Fully agree. That will be the only way to deal with these despots in training we have masquerading as a government.
  • VG Realist (26/10/2016, 16:07) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wellsah.......what a time in the BVI. It's beyond sad.
  • just asking.. (26/10/2016, 18:04) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Who to blame?
    • @just asking (27/10/2016, 06:54) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      We the people who voted them in. Mind you I said we as a collective even though I didn't vote them in but I have to claim them cause they representing me... very sad situation
  • Law Abiding citizen (26/10/2016, 19:03) Like (15) Dislike (4) Reply
    I hope the U.K comes and take over. We have incompetent representatives at the top who don't have a clue. If they can't account for $40 plus million for the "over spending" of the pier park in the span of 18 months, then the Queen needs to come and take over. Has anyone noticed that the best locations have been allocated for their supporters? We're in serious trouble.
    • @Law Abiding citizen (27/10/2016, 07:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      And the offices watching out at the ocean. No vision.
    • Citizen (28/10/2016, 03:46) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
      @Laww Abiding Citizen: You are foolish to be calling for the Brits to come and take over. An idiot actually. Do you know what it will mean it that was to happens? You are probably to shallow to even imagine. Idiot!
  • Observer (26/10/2016, 20:34) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    people of the BVI brace for what is to come. We had our chance to build a country for our people but this government put self , friend and family in front of country.A government without vision is causing us to perish , careless spending poor planning and some with blind by power action man was out of control and premier did nothing when he should have bell that cat he was warned.
  • Concerned (26/10/2016, 20:56) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    My mom always says book sense without commonsense is a disgrace
  • who the money comes from (26/10/2016, 21:03) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    So neither the Governor nor the Premier do a damn thing about the wrongful and destructive practices of certain
    financial institutions here and certain businesses that get away with serious criminal and immoral acts against
    the depositor or customer - the source of their money. The Governor refers one to the Premiers side of the gov,
    and 'Doc' or his cabinet simply do nothing. Except ransack people. Then they slobber and obey ridiculous demands
    from the likes of the US or UK to peer up everyone's kazoo at the same time. I'm sick of being ripped off and I hope
    something dramatic happens. The BVI is basically good people, but is being pirated by satanic trash buckets.
  • Political Observer (26/10/2016, 21:30) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    The British are coming! They flrd once, describing the islands as a desolate and poverty stricken place and good only as a bird sanctuary. Starting in the 60s, things started to bloom and flourish. Now, due to our mismanagement of financial resources, we are inviting them back to rescue us from ourselves. What a shame and embaraasment!

    Who do blame for this looming and embarrassing disaster? In every organistation, the leader has to step forward and should the blame. It was obvious even to the sight challenge that there was a severe lack of oversight of ministries. The Premier needs to institute an immediate standdown of government spending, except for essential functions. This problem is not going to be solved through procrastination. Urgent action is needed. Independence is not a panacea. The BVI is not ready for independence. I have no evidence but wonder if the calls for independence has anything to do with our financial situation. Looking forward to the Premier's address to the territory and in that adddress he will announce strict restrictions on spending. This will be painful but needed; the pain is needed to get well.
  • Remember (26/10/2016, 21:45) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    BVI people remember that we were told about these cavalier financial conduct of the NDP but we let the NDP fool us telling us that they were lies. Now we see the truth. What a shame.
  • liberal (26/10/2016, 23:12) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Before and after the 2015 snap elections. The people were crying out that the NDP Administration wasn't doing a good job with the country but yet them vote overwhelmingly and return them to office. However, we all know the Governor had to hear the cries cause he's living on Tortola. Furthermore, people who been supporting the NDP knows and seen things not going right but felt in a certain way, shame or imbrace to this very day.. The last Governor advised about the matter and now out new Governor is following up on the matter which he is right cause it's his job to see the people are treated with respect and not taken advantage of by putting hard headed people to run our country. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will continue to do it's work for the betterment of the people and country on the whole. But I do think if Fraser was elected with the VIP, this shit wasn't have gone down this way now but we the people didn't want to give Fraser a chance which he should have given it..
  • facts man (26/10/2016, 23:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Myron and Mark to blame
  • not we i hope (26/10/2016, 23:45) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who is paying this highly paid consultant???
  • Where is our Mandela? (27/10/2016, 07:04) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Can't in my life understand this code of silence and cover up by NDP elected members. Not one member is Godly enough, Courageous enough, Care about the people enough to speak out . Martin Luther kinng, Bob Marley, Mandela, Malclm X they suffered and died for speaking up for the oppressed. Speaking against unfair systems. But in our hearts they lived. They were a voice for the voiceless that bring about changes. So sad that it takes a white man to do this.. Such a shame
  • NHI (27/10/2016, 07:20) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
    I just lost hope i feeling like let the white man take over since none of our boys can stair the ship not vip,ndp,ppp or any p
    • imagine (28/10/2016, 10:10) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Imagine in this day and age people are calling for a return to Colonial Rule. Anyone who can speak that way clearly do not know our history, clearly do not understand white slave masters, clearly do not know or understand the underlying issues of why the UK would want to bring us to our knees. We Virgin Islanders need to take a step backwards and re-organize ourselves, the British only want to return here because we appear to be an island for them to conquer again. Europeans looking out for the interest of the Virgin Islands? No, they don't. They want to bring us down because this little 2 X 4 nation is catching up with them in the Financial Services Business. The quicker we move away from their rule, the better off we will be. Remember King Leopold of Belgium? That is who the British will be to us under direct rule. Virgin Islands please VIEXIT from the UK.
  • Mawning (27/10/2016, 07:21) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wha yuh balling fah?
  • bojan (27/10/2016, 08:58) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is the thing when government send u on a seminar over sea's with a few hundred dollars you have to bring in all the recipts for their money you spent or it comes out your money but these 2 smarts keep doing as they like with tax payers money every project they put their hands on been over spent on and still have not finish and they still going hone will full salaries and the small have to pay for all the SH** they doing and they know Dr.Smith is so soft so they do as they like give him papers to sign don't have a clue of what he sign.And they have to heart to be going on like they so Godly and they are not their brothers keeper. My God Bless the people of this Country.
  • Boo (27/10/2016, 11:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hope the governor does not go public with some cock msy may story on this!


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