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Hon. Fraser accuses Premier Smith of poor leadership

- says Minister for Communications & Works Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool has become the fall guy
Third District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser, RA has laid full blame at the feet of Premier Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith (right) following the release of the Auditor General’s report on the cruise pier development project. Photo: VINO/File
Hon. Fraser said the current Minister for Communications and Works, Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool, is now placed in a predicament where he is in no position to help himself, and the one who can help him is not trying to do so. Photo: VINO
Hon. Fraser said the current Minister for Communications and Works, Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool, is now placed in a predicament where he is in no position to help himself, and the one who can help him is not trying to do so. Photo: VINO
Hon. Fraser said the publication of the report corroborates his long standing publicly held suspicion that his and the Hon. Minister's refusal to answer questions in the House of Assembly regarding the Tortola Pier Park Project, and Tortola Port Partners 'were attempts to hide something from the people who duly elected them to office'. Photo: VINO/FIle
Hon. Fraser said the publication of the report corroborates his long standing publicly held suspicion that his and the Hon. Minister's refusal to answer questions in the House of Assembly regarding the Tortola Pier Park Project, and Tortola Port Partners 'were attempts to hide something from the people who duly elected them to office'. Photo: VINO/FIle
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Third District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser, RA, has laid the full blame at the feet of Premier Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith following the release of the Auditor General’s report on the Cruise Pier Development Project.

He charged that the recent publication of the Auditor General's Report entitled: "Port Development Project, Management Report" is a clear indictment on the Government of Dr. The Hon. D. Orlando Smith and added that it serves to corroborate his long standing publicly held suspicion that his and the Hon. Works Minister's refusal to answer questions in the House of Assembly regarding the Tortola Pier Park Project, and Tortola Port Partners “were attempts to hide something from the people who duly elected them to office.”

In a statement issued today, November 4, 2013, Hon. Fraser said the current Minister for Communications and Works, Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool, is now placed in a predicament where he is in no position to help himself, and the one who can help him is not trying to do so, at least not in any visible way. This situation, he added, is classically referred to as being “shoved under the bus".

“While I do not condone the role played by the Hon. Minister in all this, I lay full blame at the feet of the Premier, since a Minister could only have gotten this far with the blessings of the Cabinet, and for those of us who know, that means the Premier,” Hon. Fraser said.

According to the former Communications and Works Minister under the Virgin Islands Party (VIP), the Premier has time after time defended this project, despite Hon. Fraser’s strong challenges in many quarters, including the House of Assembly.

Hon. Fraser expressed that it appears the Premier believes that protecting a whole administration is more important than standing up for someone who has obviously been spurred to gamble with a ‘make-break’, deal, with the hope it would save the government, if successful.

He noted that while this may look like a good strategy, it spells poor leadership to him.

Hon. Fraser felt the Premier should have come before the people of this territory the moment the story hit the streets, “to let us know where he stood in all this, and be clear of his strategy going forward. Staying silent and making his Minister the ‘fall-guy’, while hoping his administration survives, is not acceptable, and therefore not an option.”

The Third District Representative said the whole issue should not have reached this far had the Premier shown sound leadership when he was asked in the House of Assembly on May 14, 2013 whether the Auditor General had issued a report regarding the Tortola Cruise Pier and Park Projects.

“Had he answered truthfully, instead of what amounted to the equivalent of pleading the fifth, by replying, ‘Madam Speaker, there are ongoing negotiations about this project and, as a result of this, it is my opinion that publication of the answer to this question would be contrary to public interest’, this scenario could have been avoided,” Hon. Fraser said.

He further noted that the question in the House of Assembly was asked three and a half months after the report was issued, and this is now nine months before the matter has surfaced again.

“Imagine the damage done within that six months, during which the Premier could have taken corrective measures. For one, public awareness would have helped to stop the haemorrhaging a lot earlier,” he said.

Hon. Fraser argued that the credibility of the territory has been damaged and said and if we fail to recognise the need for urgent action, he is afraid it might become irreparable.

“Only sound leadership can help us going forward. We have to act!” said Hon. Fraser.

45 Responses to “Hon. Fraser accuses Premier Smith of poor leadership”

  • Well Sah (04/11/2013, 09:49) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Eventhough I am not a Fraser fan, I have to agree with him here. Dr. Smith for the first in your political life you in trouble. Act quick before you and the entire sink ship. OUR country and YOUR legacy is at stake.
    • the rock (04/11/2013, 12:09) Like (7) Dislike (7) Reply
      frazier go sit down talkin nonsence..u should be the last one talking about poor leadership..when u and omar was running the poor premier ralphie down to the ground..none of your colleagues could not tell u s...! real and come again!
      • hm (04/11/2013, 12:39) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
        Somebody should have had corrective measures for that traffic light debacle. Hehe
        • lessons (04/11/2013, 14:09) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
          It appears Dr. Smith never read 1Kings 12:8 " But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him." The advice of the young cost the king dearly, he lost his kingdom, is Dr. Smith about to suffer the same fate.
        • >o< (04/11/2013, 14:12) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
          @hm, you still with these campaign propaganda? We now have the facts: The NDP told us VIP emptied the Reserves, we now find out that they lied. The NDP told us the VIP left the country broke, we now find out that they lied after learning about the many over priced consultants, airport & port multimillion dollar projects, over priced one night dinner & speechwriter; 10yr old millions in payment to cronies for airport; over priced manse road, Craft Alive project, Georgie Hill, & many more projects by the NDP.

          The one most unforgivable act that has damaged this country financially is the NDP's Santo eternity corrupt hospital construction project which sucked & is sucking the Treasury dry but ayo want us to leave that alone & forget it while you try to blame others for the nonsense Ronnie & the NDP has done. Millions & millions & millions & more gone through the hospital door thanks to the can't do no wrong NDP.

          The NDP is the political party of choice & majority but it is obvious to most of us now that they got the office through lies and malicious behavior and now it is coming back to haunt them which I don't mind but we the people suffering also which is where I have a problem. THE NDP MUST GO NOW!
      • wise up (04/11/2013, 13:49) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        to Rock & Well Sah; i agree 100%
        • open mic (04/11/2013, 20:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          Lights on, Nobody's Home...

          Seriously though, if you cannot handle the basics, fundamentals, how can anyone trust you to efficiently represent them, at the level of of Parliament?
  • ooooo (04/11/2013, 10:00) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    we all know that doc is clueless...thats like the owner for apple doesn't know that his company got a new iphone on the market
    • black boy (04/11/2013, 20:20) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      The man is showbiz, showbiz and more showbiz....

      The people's business is being turned into a showboat environment
  • . (04/11/2013, 10:01) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lead, follow or get out the way dr.clueless. Don't allow those loose cannons to sink you.
  • Binocs (04/11/2013, 10:08) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Government needs to be dissolved now and let the people go back to the poles. Too much corruption for this little territory. We have no leadership. We have lost confidence in this government.
  • DON Q (04/11/2013, 10:19) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    Good job Fraser
  • Ah saw (04/11/2013, 10:27) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Premier needs to fire Mark & Claude forthwith to save this Territory from further major internatiinal embarrassment.
    • ABC (04/11/2013, 19:00) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      The Doctor is between a rock and a hard place. He can't fire Mark for fear that he would not be able to sleep at nigt and he can't touch Claud for fear that the hospital project may come to a halt. Well may boy.
  • cay (04/11/2013, 10:32) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
    Where is Ralph is Fraser the new leader.
  • Hmmmm (04/11/2013, 10:41) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    There is ineffective leadership, then there is corruption. Frankly Dr Smith, too many projects are coming up smelling fishy. Like Shakespeare said " Something is rotten in the state of Denmark"
  • Impeachment Call (04/11/2013, 11:00) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    I make another call for the Premier and Minister of Communications and Works to be impeached. What is equivalent to Congress in the BVI? A person cannot investigate himself. If the Governor does not take a stand on this, then the people will be forced to stand up. Look at what's coming out on the Airport issue with this Barbados company. You think Barbados coming to Tortola to give a project of such magnitude to the BVI for nothing? Wheel and come again - what is the truth in that fishy market?
    • Really (04/11/2013, 11:28) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
      Just like Biwater didn't give us something for nothing but you supported it. Stop acting like you love the country, this is all politics from all around.
  • mother hen (04/11/2013, 11:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    A rookie who acted like a veteran? Is he teachable? Every good leader is a good follower.
  • glover parks (04/11/2013, 12:02) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    My advise to the NDP is to Tell the story of how you will manage crime and how you will get the economy moving again. stay on these messages. All else is fluff.
  • Box Cutter (04/11/2013, 12:16) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    @Really, check who is paying Biwater for the Pump at round about, who is paying for burt point sewage plant, who is paying for piping from round a bout to burt poin to slaney. NO ONE IS. It is free... If you don't believe that, tell your sweetheart Mark to tell Biwater not to do them and see how much money biwater will give him.

    You NDP paid bloggers have no concience. Just talk lies after lies to sway public opinion
    • Really (04/11/2013, 13:11) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      We just paid $1.2mil for their generator and will be paying their entire electricity bill for the life of the contract with no cap. FREE? LMAO!! GTFOH!
      • Box Cutter (04/11/2013, 14:07) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        @Really, tell the truth and may be, may be, you would feel like a real-ly person. That generator is not Biwater generator, it belongs to BVIEC who is obligated to supply electricity to the plant. And get this, $1.2 million cant buy a generator, it is a pi** in the pan. You go pick up your NDP incompetents and find money to buy what generator you need. By da way jack, all water company including your ocean conversion ger paid for all electricity them use to make water. So it aint biwater alone. Speak da truth.
  • shark (04/11/2013, 12:35) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is one time o have to agree with the hon julian frazer.
  • Huh? (04/11/2013, 12:47) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    In MY opinion, YOU ARE 100% CORRECT MR FRASER
  • Fed Up (04/11/2013, 13:39) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    i am not voting in 2015
  • alpine (04/11/2013, 13:47) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    sink again the ship done sink
  • Captain (04/11/2013, 14:06) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    NDP NEEDS TO GET BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
  • xxxxxxxx (04/11/2013, 14:11) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I have to agree completely with the content of this statement By Fraser which further strengthen my support for him as the leader and NDP must go
  • spanish (04/11/2013, 16:18) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    mark looking handsome in that photo
  • NPolitico (04/11/2013, 18:40) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The sanitized AG’s report tore the scab clean off the bleeding Port Project wound. To clear the air, set the record straight, and reset the table, Government need to initiate a more indepth investigation. A more indepth investigation may show if any laws were broken or that the project was just riddled with cronyism, inept handling, ambitious bungling, exploiting loop holes to help friends, exploiting weak conflict of interest rules….etc.

    The Premier, as the leader of the NDP and of government, must accept and shoulder the responsibility for the lapses and failures on this project; he has ultimate responsibility. And must move swiftly to regain the trust and confidence of the people and investors. He must take the right action at the right time by putting the right people in the right places to do the right things for the right reasons in the best interest of the territory; he must ministers and other employees responsible and accountable for the action they take or the action that should have taken but failed to. Strong policies must be put in place and vigorously enforce to deter anyone from even thinking about using his/her position as a passport to personal gain.

    A valuable lesson from this sordid episode is that is that the Premier must be in control and act in control. He must walk with a “BIG” stick to keep the loose cannons from misfiring. He must know what ministers are doing ( how, what, when, why, where) and checkmate them if needed. The bottomline is that the Premier must be strong, act strong, lead by example, lead from the front and be intolerant of non-sense.

    A cabinet reshuffle may be needed. Loyalty should only go so far, for the Premier has an obligation to Virgin Islanders and residents to put the best qualified people on the field. The bench is weak yet the deck needs to be reshuffled.

    The government image is tarnished and it is time for a little burnishing. Family and party loyalty aside, it is high noon and it is time to lead from the front. It is time to arrest the ready, fire, aim style. It is time to make the BVI a preferred place to live, work and play. It is time to develop a development master plan to build a country (territory) and a sustainable economy.

    Moreover, we have wasted too much precious time, energy and resources already. Fellow Virgin Islanders, it is time to pull the wagon, not just ride in it; if we all do our part the BVI can get back on course. Let's not brush aside that there are thick, dark, gathering, ominous clouds swirling above, along rough squalls building offshore and roaring towards the BVI that we cannot ignore at our own peril. Our economic foundation is at best structurally marginal; it is showing signs of structural failures---cracks and differential settling. Our economy needs an urgent engineering evaluation to stabilize it and make it structurally sound. This engineering evaluation process is urgent.
  • gl (04/11/2013, 20:12) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    these ndp people jokey we...smh
  • war (04/11/2013, 20:17) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Smith all over bloody facebook

    he waging an internet war
    • black boy (06/11/2013, 00:48) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Dr FRASER has guts, education, credibility, focus, drive, honesty and humanity. Why don't we support him?
  • to late shall be your cry (05/11/2013, 13:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    bell thoes cat doc before its too late
  • Really (05/11/2013, 14:46) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    another episode of 'pot calling kettle black'.
  • @ Really (06/11/2013, 00:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    mvw..YOU need some help...Go and cry on aunty K shoulders.

  • sam the man (07/11/2013, 02:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Unfortunately there is no proper organised leadership from the Premier, he is in my opinion just simply out of his depth and needs to hand over responsibility to someone that can get things done and properly prirotise projects. He recently talked about progress with a golf course on Beef Island!!!! when the hospital is still nowhere near finished even after 14 years? Stand down and let someone else sort out what you are clearly incapable of sorting.....
  • gram (07/11/2013, 22:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ sam the man...And whose hands should we put it in???? Not one capable person in the BVI.


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