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Governor to decide on COI into SCB Harbour Project – Premier Smith

-said Government looking at the report; not certain on when they will continue project
Questions surrounding the recent Auditor General’s report of the Sea Cow’s Bay (SCB) Harbour Project arose earlier today September 17, 2014 at a press conference called by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith where he indicated that any further investigations would have to be ordered by the Governor His Excellency John S. Duncan OBE. Photo: VINO
The report which was laid in the House of Assembly during its last sitting on September 11, 2014 fueled heated debates which saw Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party and Third District Representative Honourable Julian Fraser RA strongly standing his ground in his defense. Photo: VINO/File
The report which was laid in the House of Assembly during its last sitting on September 11, 2014 fueled heated debates which saw Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party and Third District Representative Honourable Julian Fraser RA strongly standing his ground in his defense. Photo: VINO/File
Premier Smith said that his government is still in the process of looking at that report. “From the point of view that there will be any further investigation that [is] in the hands of for example the Governor if he wishes… and also certainly the government will look at the report,” said Premier Smith. Photo: VINO/File
Premier Smith said that his government is still in the process of looking at that report. “From the point of view that there will be any further investigation that [is] in the hands of for example the Governor if he wishes… and also certainly the government will look at the report,” said Premier Smith. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Questions surrounding the recent Auditor General’s report of the Sea Cow’s Bay (SCB) Harbour Project arose earlier today September 17, 2014 at a press conference called by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith where he indicated that any further investigations would have to be ordered by the Governor His Excellency John S. Duncan OBE.

The report which was laid in the House of Assembly during its last sitting on September 11, 2014 fueled heated debates which saw Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party and Third District Representative Honourable Julian Fraser RA strongly standing his ground in his defense.

Premier Smith said that his government is still in the process of looking at that report. “From the point of view that there will be any further investigation that [is] in the hands of for example the Governor if he wishes… and also certainly the government will look at the report,” said Premier Smith.

He said that all the discussions that have taken place in the House of Assembly so far they will be taken on board and any deficiency that has been identified will be corrected.

He assured that the report has been in the hands of the Governor; however the government is yet to determine if the Sea Cows Bay Harbour Project will be moving forward at any given time. “It is something that we would have to look at and determine the scope and the time which we would begin work on it,” he added.

Asked if there is any possibility that a Commission of Inquiry (COI) can be called based on the report, Premier Smith responded, “Anything is possible.” Further asked if that response can be taken as a yes, he said, “No.” He further stated that he would not second guess whether or not the Governor could or would call for a COI.

19 Responses to “Governor to decide on COI into SCB Harbour Project – Premier Smith”

  • Voters (17/09/2014, 15:31) Like (13) Dislike (9) Reply
    More ndp smoke and marrow to hide the ports corruption but we will not be fooled
    • LAW (18/09/2014, 03:41) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      This smells all over the world. I say investigate both projects thoroughly, and if there is wrong doing on anyone parth press criminal charges.
  • vex (17/09/2014, 18:01) Like (5) Dislike (7) Reply
    Ndp spin doctors at work yall
    • Vision (18/09/2014, 03:27) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      It would be quite hard to vote for either NDP or VIP but VIP is lessor of two evils
    • shelia (18/09/2014, 04:02) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Typical of any NDP government...but BVI voters have bad memory, n love hug up and kiss,
  • hurt (17/09/2014, 19:43) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    All this flare isn to hide the corruption on the ports pier project. The same NDP who do not want a COI on the ports pier project is now after the SCB Harbour Project. They stopped the project , now asking questions and making rude comments. The NDP ministers must know they are not above the law.. We will watch and see if there is democracy in this territory. Do not forget the letter from Royal Caribbean. Do not forget that consultant who was involved is now head of ports and now involved in the project.. An investigation will shed light on all the underhand things that are happening.
    • zoe (18/09/2014, 03:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Could this be a little glimmer of hope that monkey business in politics might be checked a little bit? Only time will tell; and time might not be soon.
    • Hmm (18/09/2014, 08:03) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      But we want a COI on that too.
  • MDPolitricks (17/09/2014, 21:49) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Striped hoe he dwelling on the SCB project so stripes all a sudden. I loose all credibility with this Premier and Mark and Myron. Damn waste struuupes.
    • xxxxxxxx (18/09/2014, 03:31) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
      Come On Dr. Smith Leave that alone...we have things on the ministry of education and more on Mark many in thoes ministries have NOT a good word to say about your two cats that needs to be bell
  • Jambo (17/09/2014, 22:16) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    The doc is just a poppet on a string
  • fair play (18/09/2014, 03:18) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    How can anybody take the NDP seriously? When the Auditor General did the report on the ports project they hated her, they lamblasted her and one of their cronies even said she was not qualified for her job.

    Now all of a sudden she did one on Fraser project and they love her and want a commission of inquiry. But still say with a straight face that the ports project with its clear corruption and 3 million dollars for piles that is suspicious does not need a commission of inquiry.

    How can I ever vote for the NDP again NEVER? They will get a slashing at the polls mark my words boss
  • qc (18/09/2014, 03:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Come on, people, you cannot be talking about corruption being the bane of BVI politics, and then choose to ignore even the whiff of it.
  • just asking..... (18/09/2014, 03:37) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is why corruption continues in our land. Why wasn't the COI named already for the Ports? Why wasn't some charges/ other action taken and most of the players still in place? What the hell is the Premier trying to shift focus on Sea Cows Bay when no one steal $$$$$$$??? what is the new Governor agonizing over? And why isn't this FRONT PAGE NEWS asking when will the new man act on the Ports project???
  • Liat 521 (18/09/2014, 03:48) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    I just stayed up and read the Sea Cows Bay harbour Report. There is absolutely nothing in this report to even suggest that a crime has been committed. The report is so vague and does not tell us what has actually occurred. We do not know. Do we even know who is involved? We do not know!!!
  • @@@@@@@ (18/09/2014, 03:53) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    The NDP "Trying ah Ting" to get at fraser the Next Premier but it will not Work....Nothing more will be heard about this....the new Dr do little has lost his Morality and credibility to be stright with we the voters ...I am too old to worry about the NDP and their tricks and want now to call for a CIO what after 3 long years of killing the BVI what about tranpracy...they have none...
  • asura (18/09/2014, 04:00) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Fraser good name is intact. It is unfortunate that some people are allowed in this silly season to make baseless accusations before we are presented with the facts. This should act as a reminder of the danger of adopting as fact unsubstantiated conclusions.
  • Well Sah (18/09/2014, 06:44) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    This man has no back bone. I just can't deal with him. Fraser will win because of his spinelessa$$.
  • good house (18/09/2014, 09:46) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Electricity goes off every day for about two hours now. It seems like they are power sharing like they can no longer afford to supply electricity. NDP stop with this foolish mud slinging and be about fixing the state of the bvi. Fine so you aired your disdain about this gentleman but how does that fix the nasty here and now that you are currently overseer of? That you all are partly responsible for creating? How many jobs did this distraction create? How many clean millions trickle into the country from this? How many school children were fed? Plus you all come with talk before election talking so bad about the VIP and the people put their faith in you all and not only did you let them down but you all take the country down too. It is like when you in good house, bad house does call you. Like VIP or not people were in good house with them. Not the best house but every house got fed. People had dignity. NDP turn the place upside down.


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