Hons Maduro-Caines & Christopher object to airport project now!
The second term district representative warned that her district is not a dumping ground and asked residents to take their old cars, refrigerators, stoves, beds and other solid waste to the dumpster and not place them on the road side.
She also blasted the government for cutting the district allocation through the Ministry of Communications and Works under civil works and asked her Administration to restore the money.
Districts are suffering under this budget-Maduro-Caines
Hon Maduro-Caines told the House of Assembly that “I am having a problem with this….I hope that the premier will find a way to put this money back so we can find a way to help our people in our district.”
The Member referred to going back to the Standing Finance Committee; however, the committee deliberations are over and it’s on to the debate of the 2017 Appropriation Act that is taking place currently today February 23, 2017.
She also blasted her own NDP government for reducing the Grant to help students who are overseas on scholarships.
Not now for airport runway- Maduro-Caines
Further, showing her displeasure with her own NDP Government, Hon Maduro-Caines told the public that she does not support her Government building the airport runway extension now. While saying she is not against the airport, the second term Legislator made clear “now is not the time to do it.”
The Representative said under the ruling administration of which she is a part, roads are still a mess, schools need help, sewerage are still a mess, “our whole infrastructure needs a complete facelift, our financial services is under attack, we do not know what to expect this year in terms of money being received from them. How are we to pay for this airport at this time?” she asked.
Hon Maduro-Caines made clear she does not support the runaway expansion at this time. She said the government cannot afford to pay for it now as there are so many other priorities.
This is indeed a firm departure from her Government as up to this morning February 23, 2017 Leader of Government Business Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) told the public his government is moving ahead with the runway expansion.
A couple months ago the Smith administration announced that China Communications Construction Company Ltd., was its preferred bidder over another bidder with local involvement.
We have concerns- Hon Christopher
Meanwhile, Fifth District Representative Hon Delores Christopher also expressed her objection to the airport runway extension being done now.
Hon Christopher said she and others have concerns and Premier Smith should not take them lightly. “We have concerns Madam Speaker.”
The Deputy Speaker of the House asked how the VI was going to pay for the project. “Can we afford it?...As a responsible Government, Madam Speaker, you still have to ask the question is this the time?”
Hon Christopher also wanted to know what is the state of our finances in the Territory at this time? According to her, sometime we have to chew slowly and that even if the airport project is not done, tourists will still come.
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74 Responses to “Hons Maduro-Caines & Christopher object to airport project now!”
LMAO...
stay the course.
Ting to talk.let the show begins.
Revolution starting to take root in this place against this administration. Even their own can't take it no more. I bet Delores and Alvara disagreement didn't start today in HOA. Nahh like the Governor, it's been ongoing and people can only tolerate so much and no more.
Talk bout fire. Nobody can't do youall anything. It's the people od the 5th and 6th elect youall not Mark, the doctors or the first lady. Stand your ground. Wrong is wrong
Well done Ladies but I believe Ms. P ignited the fire and these ladies are just fanning the flames. Remember in her leaked letter she criticized the lack of relevance of the Women in the party.
The ting start!
Next step! When election time comes again let the candidates debate the issues from our questions. That is the political evolution that needs to happen.
I don't get your point. Alvera and Delores are NDP too aren't they? Being NDP doesn't mean that you have to agree with everything. Bring a better option. That's all you have to do....
Moreover, doing the right thing and speaking truth sometimes comes at a cost. D-5 and D-6 may suffer for position taken by their reps. The good thing is that the Premier cannot fire you. You were elected by your constituents and only your constituents can remove you thru the ballot box. Truth be told one of you should have been appointed Junior Minister.
Is the airport project the top capital project in the VI? Can the BVI afford it? Will it have to add to its growing debt to fund it or it has the cash on hand? Should it focus on education, health, public safety, physical infrastructure (sewage, water, road, sea ports, electricity), diversifying the economy first? Is the economy robust? What is the health of the territory's finance ? Is the country broke? Are structural adjustments needed? Is the VI traveling down the same rocky road as its neighbor USVI? When can we expect to see the audited financial statements? Is the cost of not publishing them worst than publishing them? Is the VI following the Trump model relative to his tax returns?