Hon Turnbull falsely claims Gov’t spending $17K per barge
The erroneous claims were made by Opposition legislator, Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) at an August 28, 2020, press conference where he questioned whether the Territory even has the infrastructure to support its enhanced border patrol services.
$17K per platform, $1.5M total per month – Hon Turnbull falsely claims
“We have $1.5 million dollars per month now, going out the door… $17,000 a day for each barge, its three barges… to facilitate the patrolling of our shores to help with border patrol,” he said.
“That might sound good, but do we have the infrastructure between Customs [and] between Immigration?... Where is the RVIPF in all of this?" he questioned.
Now, according to Premier Fahie, speaking to Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), the statement from the legislator is ‘totally false’ and also irresponsible given that they were made in the public domain.
4,500 per platform – Skelton-Cline
Hon Fahie’s statements come after Government Consultant, Claude O. Skelton-Cline said on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, that he was privy to information about each of the three barges costing just $4,500 per day, for fuel and crew.
“But I want to go a step further, what if it was costing $25,000 a day, but it was doing the job that we need most now which has to do with securing our borders… and we know for a fact that our borders have always been porous,” he said.
“We have known for years we need coast guard, we need to always beef up our border patrols... It’s not new, but the chicken has come home to roost given this COVID stuff.”
Facts coming – Premier Fahie
The VI Government has turned to the barges to boost border security following a spike in COVID-19 cases linked to human smuggling into the VI.
Premier Fahie told VINO that it remains a sensitive issue since the barges involve security details; however, he promised that the Government will soon issue a statement on the initiative.
38 Responses to “Hon Turnbull falsely claims Gov’t spending $17K per barge”
its so very easy for government to back peddle now they taking heat.
they should swear under oath that this was the deal to begin with...this 4500 per barge per day...let us see the signed and notarized contract which will be in place...where is the transparency with tbis.
its all words. talk is cheap.
You all forgetting Governor authorising his white crony friend from New Zealand being paid USD350,000 a year BY US!!
Plus accommodation & expenses!!
Similar to what white governor and white commissioner get now...
Wake up VI!!
Investigate governor and his all white office for corruption favoritism.
Why no blacks or belongers get employed for top jobs there?
Why they just hire black house servants?
Why we still being enslaved by this imperial emperor Augustus??
Even uk don’t want him.
Couldn’t even protect his own black servant.