Governor Jaspert is the new Finance Minister- John I. Cline
The outspoken Bishop Cline was at the time speaking on the online radio show, Fresh Radio Vybz with host Paul A. Peart aka 'Gadiethz', aired on December 22, 2017.
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) has been under pressure to give up the portfolio of Finance by his own National Democratic Party (NDP) members. In January this year, Virgin Islands News Online had first and accurately reported that former legislator and NDP spokesperson Eileene L. Parsons OBE had written a letter in November 2016 to NDP Members stating that Dr Smith needed to let Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) take over the reins of Finance.
Bishop Cline had publicly supported the call and was subsequently sacked as Chairman of the BVIHSA by Premier Smith.
And recently, Second District Representative Hon Melvin M. Turnbull declared in the House of Assembly that members of the NDP agree that Premier Smith was not the right person to manage the Territory's purse.
In fact, Hon Turnbull made it clear that he feels Hon Skelton was the best man for the job.
'Stop the bus from going over the cliff'
Returning to the subject that cost him is chairmanship of the BVIHSA Board, Bishop Cline said the issue of leadership should have been addressed by the party ever since Ms Parsons had brought it to the attention of party members.
“We come back to this tree, this mountain we’ve been going around, from the day Hon Eileene Parsons sent this letter in recognising that this thing was about to fall off the cliff and we need to make a move to stop the bus from going over the cliff where you don’t have control over it anymore.”
Bishop Cline also stated that Premier Smith should do the decent thing and resign, since his leadership lacked vision.
“A good leader would recognise when they have nothing, no new vision, no new direction, nothing else to give to the position that they are in and the honourable thing to do when you have reached point is to pass the baton along. I think that time has come for our Premier, that he passes the baton along to someone a little more astute. We need visionary leadership, we need strong leadership to navigate what the UK is now putting on our laps and on top of our heads to carry.”
UK taking advantage of Dr Smith's weaknesses
Documents unearthed by our newsroom recently showed that the United Kingdom (UK) has put a tight grip on the Virgin Islands' borrowing and spending.
In order for the Territory to get any money for its rebuilding efforts following hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017, they had to agree to a new set of rules. They had to agree to good governance and transparency in all ministries. The UK also wants an Investment Development Agency Board to manage the money, taking it out of the hands of the politicians.
The UK is to have an additional representative on the investment board, and the VI cannot get any loans going forward unless they adhear to these polices where the UK will manage the hurricane funds.
The measures, already signed off by the Smith Administration, has tied incoming governments' hands for years, according to a senior NDP Cabinet Member, and many believe that Hon Smith has sold the country out, taking us back to grant-in-aid.
“What England is recognising is that we are not in a position to negotiate. Then they send the Minister of Finance to negotiate this loan and him not being astute in terms of financial negotiations just thinks it’s a good thing. He [Premier Smith] is a nice man but when you are negotiating these kind of things, you have to say no to some things, accept some things, go away think about it…. He was not protected because he didn’t take wise counsels from the people that support him, hence we find ourselves here,” Bishop Cline asserted.
He further explained that the disunity in the last vote in the House of Assembly of December 20, 2017 was because of lack of knowledge. According to him, the backbenchers don’t know that the frontbenchers were thinking nor do they know what the monies would be spent on.
It was during the continuation of the Twelfth Sitting of the Second Session of the Third HoA on December 20, 2017 that the NDP Government failed to get full support from its Members while voting on a Motion to borrow some sixty five million, two hundred and ninety one thousand dollars ($65,291,000), according to Government "for the purpose of rehabilitation and assisting the Territory in recovering from the impact of Hurricane Irma while reducing risks associated with high winds and flood hazards and to support the population in re-establishing sustainable livelihood."
Speaking about the Governor, UK National Augustus J. U. Jaspert, Bishop Cline said, “He is going to be the one basically dictating how the money is spent, he is literally playing the role of the Minister of Finance.”
See links below to radio show, Fresh Radio Vybz with Paul A. Peart aka ‘Gadiethz’:
https://tunein.com/radio/ Freshradiovybz-s297104/ and http://rdo.to/FRV2
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39 Responses to “Governor Jaspert is the new Finance Minister- John I. Cline”
We are the ones in the dark... And suffering. So yes they are making good on their promise
"A Government in the Sunshine".
...It is all about perception and perspective.
This government has managed to steal so much money from the treasury and not only steal but bad spending, it is unbelievable! And none has spent one night in prison. Thank you UK government and Gov Jaspert. Thank you for putting things in place where the money is out of the POLITICIANS hands....
Let’s lead like eagles, not careen off the cliff like buffaloes.
We must face the fact that the BVI is lawless and CORRUPT. The events following the hurricanes prove that. Now we have to follow a different path or we will descend into failed state status.
No argument from me on the quality of governing performance. Further, the territory needs to pursue greater internal self governing arrangements, ie, contro of civil service, control of RVIPF, control of HMP.........etc. BVI is not ready for independence. The natural disasters demonstrated that it is not ready.
Let’s us lead like eagles, not careen off the cliff like eagles.
Moreover, government poor governing performance, especially in financial management, paved the way for the UK to come in and set borrowing guidelines and take control of our finances. Indeed, to use the phrase of another blogger (think it was Socrates), government’s piss poor performance set the table for the Governor becoming the de facto MoF. What a ting! What an embarrassing tory! Further, government’s abnormal financial management approach put it in this unenviable position. It has created the opportunity for return to colonialism. It has taken us backward, not forward, with its poor financial management.
Further, was poor staff work, lack of leadership, poor management..............etc the catalyst that thrust us into this position, setting the territory back decades. We cannot put all the blame on Irma and Maria, for the territory was dangling off the financial cliff before the monster hurricanes roared ashore with a vengeance so Irma and Maria just fling it (VI) off the cliff. Every refutable company, agency, government entity........etc produce periodic(annual) financial statements to see how they are performing and to make adjustments, if any, as needed. Nonetheless, the BVI bucked this trend by going 5-6 years without issuing any certified audited financial reports. Who will loan the BVI hundred of millions of dollars or even a farthing without reviewing the financial reports? Thus, the UK has to come to the rescue by co-signing loans for us. Of course, if I’m co-signing a loan for you, I will take actions to protect my interest.
Pay back is a bi#$h keep pounding john your pal Ronnie needs that portfolio fast fast
The days of wasteful spending is coming to an end. The feeding trough is empty - sub standard work and outrageous invoices will no longer be tolerated. Get used to the new reality.
treatment of customers here. the premier sat on those and did nothing. maybe he gets a pension check from
toronto canada to not touch anything. bvi as a financial center? good place to bank? ha ha ha ha ha....yeah sure.
This is the best thing that could have happened, now we get to see where the money going.we tried to have faith in these local politicians obviously they been robbing the territory