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Gov't's call to audit itself an insult – Hon Fraser

- says decision to audit ports project a departure from the commitments made under the Protocol for Effective Financial Management
Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith's decision to determine who to audit the controversial ports project has drawn much criticism from sections of the public who believe that such a decision leaves too much doubt as to how transparent the audit would be perceived. The name of the company to conduct the audit has not yet been named. Photo: VINO/File
Leader of the Opposition Honourable Julian Fraser RA has come out swinging at Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith for effectively announcing that the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government will be investigating itself on the cruise pier development project. Photo: VINO/File
Leader of the Opposition Honourable Julian Fraser RA has come out swinging at Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith for effectively announcing that the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government will be investigating itself on the cruise pier development project. Photo: VINO/File
The Premier on Thursday January 21, 2016 announced that he would be doing an audit of the cruise pier development project, as he wanted to put all of the rumours to rest and to be transparent. Photo: VINO/File
The Premier on Thursday January 21, 2016 announced that he would be doing an audit of the cruise pier development project, as he wanted to put all of the rumours to rest and to be transparent. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Leader of the Opposition Honourable Julian Fraser RA has come out swinging at Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith for effectively announcing that the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government will be investigating itself on the cruise pier development project.

The Premier on Thursday January 21, 2016 announced that he would be doing an audit of the cruise pier development project, as he wanted to put all of the rumours to rest and be transparent.

“As you know since the cruise pier project began a few years ago there has been quite a lot of discussion about it and in order to be able to be transparent I decided to do an audit. I do not want to continue to be listening to rumours which are totally false and this is why that I want to put everything to rest,” said Premier Smith.

However, in a statement sent to this news site and posted on his Facebook page, Honourable Fraser said that this announced ‘self-audit’ falls short of the much touted transparency and openness to which Government had stated it was committed.

“Not this time Mr Premier, and I hope the people of this territory can agree with me when I say that you cannot investigate yourself and claim that your government ‘is committed to the highest standard of transparency and accountability’, as it relates to the development of this project,” said Honourable Fraser.

According to Honourable Fraser, for them to accept this would be a travesty tantamount to sanctioning him judge, jury and executioner.

“We are talking about over $50 million of public spending which as Premier he must be aware requires the highest levels of scrutiny if at all he is serious about living up to the Agreement he made with the Protocol for Effective Financial Management which he signed on April 23,2012 with the British Government, committing his Government to delivering goods and services to the people of this territory exercising full transparency and accountability with the assurance of good governance,’ he said.

Honourable Fraser said that under that Agreement the British Government has a shared responsibility to the people of these Virgin Islands to see to the Smith Government living up to the terms and conditions of the said Agreement.

He said that unfortunately, however, he could not say that they are living up to their obligations, as it is obvious that the NDP Government is doing “as they wish.”

Honourable Fraser called the Premier’s proposal an insult that will be a disaster and an abandonment of the people's trust.

10 Responses to “Gov't's call to audit itself an insult – Hon Fraser”

  • wize up (23/01/2016, 10:07) Like (3) Dislike (24) Reply
    will the member make up his mind...cries for an investigation now one in the pipeline the member still fussing.... he sits in house of assembly as the opposition leader and say nothing on issues that affecting the territory (free air time and says nothing, then in the background whimpering and grumbling....( Free air time during house settings)..
  • Gemma (23/01/2016, 10:19) Like (22) Dislike (2) Reply
    How can the governor sit there and allow the corrupt government to investigate itself? Is that transparency? Is that good governance? In time like these we need the UK to suspend our constitution
  • Charley Rose (23/01/2016, 23:43) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some times I wonder if the governor is not allowing the BVI government to make mistakes that will result in the British Government declaring the government incompetent to govern themselves. If this occurs, it will be a disaster for the territory. The Premier should not be the one to ask for an audit of the project. The Public Accounts committee has requested an inquiry earlier and the governor said that there is no need for the inquiry. Is it the Premier who is the Head of State or the governor?
    • ta ta (24/01/2016, 13:37) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree, he and all his ministers should fly to Disney World to join Goofy and Mickey Mouse. What a pack of clowns.
  • Local (24/01/2016, 08:17) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    You are definitely right. I also wonder if the governor is not deliberately ignoring the wrong doing of the leaders of government here so later they can have a strong case to take over the BVI. Fraser is right with his statement and I think all of them who have been dishonest with the people's finance should be prosecuted those from the past like Fraser, Cookie Monster and also mark, the premier Claude the holy preacher who was not even in government but was allowed to act like a minister of government and the premier
    • Aha (24/01/2016, 14:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Same thong I was saying to some people just this week end. Food for thought.
  • vex (24/01/2016, 10:25) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The governor told unthruths on the police chief he just like them
  • Concerned (24/01/2016, 12:50) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    In my opinion and bearing in mind the high level of corruption in play here, no one will never end up in jail over this
  • Beggin (25/01/2016, 19:47) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    I am building a house and already I am overbudget..Please don't send me to prison. I was not aware that this was a crime.


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