Hon Fahie not letting up! Where is the taxpayers' $7.2M given to BVI Airways?
The issues of the tax payers’ $7.2M given to a bankrupt BVI Airways in exchange for direct flight between Miami International Airport and Beef Island are in the news again.
The National Democratic Party (NDP) Administration has ‘egg on its face’ after telling the public that this deal between the Government and BVI Airways, with little or no strings attached, will be a “game changer” for airlift and had announced three take off dates. None of them came to pass.
The Airline itself ducked out of the deal after getting all the $7.2M within six months when the deal called for it to be doled out over a three year period.
Months after having all the money in hand, BVI Airways announced that they ran out of funds and was forced to layoff all staff, including pilots, and said they could no longer fly.
Answer to the people- Hon Fahie
In addition, how the BVI Airway deal is interpreted by many, taxpayers may not get a dime back.
At the December 14, 2017 Sitting, Leader of the Opposition Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) is to ask Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) to inform the House whether or not the Government of the Virgin Islands issued or served any formal notification of Breach and Default of contract/agreement to BVI Airways/BV Airways under the terms specified in the agreement between BVI Airways/BV Airways and the Government of the Virgin Islands? If not, why not? If yes, when was it done?
In addition, the Opposition Leader will be asking Dr Smith to say whether or not BVI Airways/BV Airways has issued or served or has threatened to issue or serve any formal notification of Breach and Default of contract/agreement to the Government of the Virgin Islands under the terms specified in the agreement between BVI Airways/BV Airways and the Government of the Virgin Islands (VI)?
Furthermore, Hon Fahie wants to know if BVI Airways/BV Airways provided quarterly financial reports to the Government of the VI as required by the agreement signed between BVI Airways/BV Airways and the Government of the Virgin Islands.
Way forward? Conflict?
It is our newsroom’s understanding from a senior NDP source that The Smith Administration has retained a local law firm to pursue how they get monies back from BVI Airways for alleged breach of contract. It is also believed that the law firm chosen could pose some conflict of interest.
Meanwhile, at Thursday’s Sitting, the Government will be looking for some $101M to keep the government running until April of 2018 with no new 2018 Budget.
This is not an unusual request as many Administrations have made such requests over the years.
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17 Responses to “Hon Fahie not letting up! Where is the taxpayers' $7.2M given to BVI Airways?”
Let’s lead like eagles, not careen off the cliff like buffaloes.
I said it way back when it was first announced and I repeat it today.
This airline will NEVER fly. I checked the paper trail regarding the registration of the planes, I checked the applications for landing rights etc. I did all my homework and every time I came to the same conclusion.
This is nothing but a shell game of corporations and tax deductions and skullduggery.
I have no idea who actually signed off on the cheques but they have a lot of questions to answer.
Long story short....this cash is gone. We will never see it again and the promised flights will never come.