Gov't accused of using EE/LL sewerage funds for cruise pier project
Honourable Fahie was on March 24, 2016 responding to Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith's explanation to the “questionable” transfer of $8 million from the sewerage loan to the Cruise Pier Development Project.
The cruise pier development project was declared fully open and functional with the opening of Tortola Pier Park on February 16, 2016. Minister for Communications and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool had disclosed that the cost for the entire project, on which works are still ongoing, is $82.9 million.
Honourable Fahie said Premier Smith failed to disclose the facts of the matter when asked about it in January this year.
“It was during the Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands on Monday January 25, 2016, the Premier, when asked in the House under the Questions and Answers Segment of the Order of the Day failed again to either disclose the facts regarding this $8 million expenditure or he simply had no idea where the funds were sourced,” said Honourable Fahie.
He noted that only the House of Assembly has the legal authority to approve loans for any Government and its purpose.
“The House approved a loan to take care of the sewerage problems at the Eastern End of Tortola. Subsequently, without the authority of the House, $8 million was removed from that loan and transferred to the Cruise Pier Project," Honourable Fahie alleged.
He then suggested that the response by the Premier on the issue can be deemed as a defamation of the House because of the suggestions of impropriety.
“The Premier's explanation of this matter lends itself to be a defamation of the House of Assembly as well as strongly suggests that Cabinet as well as his other government members were aware and also approved the transaction,” he said.
He hit out at Government Ministers who voiced their concern over the length of time it was taking to fix the sewerage issues in East End and suggested that these problems were compounded with the alleged transfer of the money from its originally intended purpose.
“This course of action has no legal basis. Also the course of action taken by this government has no legal authority over the legal authority of the House of Assembly,” he said.
“Hence no one in the government can now complain that the sewage, especially in the Eastern end of Tortola, is not being fixed because the funds to do so were transferred with the government's blessings despite the laws violated in doing so,” said Honourable Fahie.
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28 Responses to “Gov't accused of using EE/LL sewerage funds for cruise pier project”
We got to inhale the funk and drive thru the shitty nasty water. And these incompetents, airheads don't give a rats A$$.A dog should not have to deal with this. One set of idiots don't know the right hand from the left hand is suppose to be representing us. If my cat was in charge he would get the job done.
your self of sink deeper into the mud.
The people didn't see the piss VIP was doing for themselves ? LMAO
Knowing E Pars. She gotta be feeling SHAME as shit the way her boys got our little country BROKE !!
This neva happened when money was small. So wat happn now Ms P ? Tell us